Press release:

Oracle Press Release

Oracle Unveils Migration Tool for Microsoft SQL Server to MySQL

New MySQL Tools and Features Enhance User Experience on Windows; Help to Lower Database Total Cost of Ownership by up to 90 Percent

Redwood Shores, Calif. – July 25, 2012

News Facts

Continuing to enhance the MySQL user experience on Microsoft Windows, Oracle today announced a new migration tool that allows users to easily and quickly migrate data from Microsoft SQL Server to MySQL.

In addition, a new “MySQL for Excel” application plug-in enables data analysts to seamlessly access and manipulate MySQL data within Microsoft Excel, without requiring prior MySQL technical knowledge.

An enhanced version of the MySQL Installer for Windows is also available, helping users through the setup of advanced security and logging features, and a new MySQL Notifier application for Windows allows users to easily monitor and manage MySQL instances.

All tools are available for download now.

By using MySQL over Microsoft SQL Server 2012, users can reduce their database total cost of ownership by up to 90 percent.*

The latest MySQL release MySQL 5.6, currently available as a Development Milestone Release, additionally delivers numerous improvements for Windows.

These new tools will be featured during the upcoming MySQL Connect Conference taking place in San Francisco September 29th and 30th. Follow the MySQL Connect conversation on Twitter at #mysqlconnect.

New Features Further Improve MySQL Manageability and User Productivity on Windows

The new migration tool is integrated into MySQL Workbench, which allows the visual design, development and administration of MySQL databases, and now provides a complete solution for migrating Microsoft SQL Server database tables and data to MySQL with less time and effort.

With MySQL Workbench, SQL Server developers and DBAs can quickly and easily convert existing applications to run MySQL on Windows as well as Linux and other platforms.

Addressing the growing demand from business analysts using MySQL for data marts and analytic applications, the new “MySQL for Excel” application plug-in allows users to easily import, export and manipulate MySQL data.

Enabling users in most cases to go from download to development in three minutes or less, the enhanced MySQL installer provides point-and-click configuration of new MySQL database instances, as well as advanced logging and security features.

The new MySQL Notifier application for Windows helps developers and DBAs to easily monitor, start and stop their MySQL database instances, with the Microsoft SQL Server look and feel.

Supporting Quote

“Oracle continues to deliver MySQL innovations and more value to Windows users and ISVs,” said Tomas Ulin, vice president of MySQL Engineering, Oracle. “Easier migration, better data management, administration and monitoring, as well as easier installation and more configuration options make MySQL the ideal platform for developing, deploying and managing business-critical applications on Windows.”

Supporting Resources

Oracle and MySQL

MySQL

MySQL Community Edition

MySQL Enterprise Edition

MySQL on Windows Resource Center

Learn, share and connect with the community at the MySQL Connect Conference, September 29-30, 2012 in San Francisco. Follow the MySQL Connect conversation on Twitter at #mysqlconnect.

MySQL Blog, Twitter, Facebook

The MySQL 5.6 Development Milestone Release can be downloaded here. Terms, conditions and restrictions apply.

Windows users can reduce their database TCO by up to 90 percent with MySQL vs. Microsoft SQL Server 2012. Users can calculate TCO savings with the MySQL TCO Savings Calculator.

About Oracle

Oracle engineers hardware and software to work together in the cloud and in your data center.  For more information about Oracle (NASDAQ:ORCL), visit www.oracle.com

Super 8 Hotels (China) Selects SQL Server 2012

Press release:

Super 8 Hotels (China) Selects SQL Server 2012

June 21, 2012

Hotel chain chooses business intelligence tools from Microsoft to guide rapid growth across China.

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REDMOND, Wash. — June 21, 2012 — Super 8 Hotels (China) Co. Ltd, partner of Super 8 Worldwide in China, chose the powerful business analysis capabilities of Microsoft SQL Server 2012. Super 8 Worldwide is one of the largest operators of budget hotels around the world and operates more than 2,300 hotels globally. Super 8 Hotels (China) manages more than 500 opened and to-be-opened hotels inside of China. The decision to deploy SQL Server 2012 in China enables Super 8 Hotels (China) management to analyze the performance of individual properties and the Chinese business as a whole while also determining the best growth opportunities within the region.

“Our rapid growth in China can be traced to the superior market and business insights we have gained from Microsoft SQL Server 2012,” said Joe Xu, senior vice president of distribution, Super 8 Hotels (China). “We can better determine our long-term development strategy.”

In order to better analyze increasing customer and staff information following the expansion goal of 1,000 hotels in China, Super 8 Hotels (China) deployed SQL Server 2012 to create a centralized information-sharing and business intelligence platform, aiming to lower total cost of ownership while improving availability, scalability and business insights for its mission-critical environment. Previous solutions forced management to manually gather data from each hotel, which was time-consuming and susceptible to human error. Super 8 Hotels (China) determined that SQL Server 2012 was the security-enhanced, reliable and cost-efficient cloud-ready solution it needed to improve its data management software, which allows managers to collaborate with one another for improved business insight.

SQL Server 2012 offers several valuable features that help address the company’s concerns. For example, SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn helps ensure high availability of business systems; SQL Server 2012 support of cloud computing allows it to run databases on-premises or in a cloud environment to meet changing business needs; and SQL Server Master Data Services enables the company to create, maintain, store and access the master data structure used for object mapping, data referencing and metadata management.

More information on Super 8 Hotels (China) choosing SQL Server 2012 is available in the case study, and more information about how organizations are turning to Microsoft technology is available on the Microsoft Customer Spotlight newsroom.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. 

Aboitiz Jebsen Adopts Microsoft SQL Server 2012 to Enhance Crewing System

Press release:

Aboitiz Jebsen Adopts Microsoft SQL Server 2012 to Enhance Crewing System

May 24, 2012

Aboitiz Jebsen gains access to Microsoft innovative technology and a wealth of experience.

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REDMOND, Wash. — May 24, 2012 — Aboitiz Jebsen Co. Inc. (Abojeb), dB Wizards Inc. and Microsoft Philippines recently announced a three-way partnership that will enable Abojeb to meet the needs of its organization and stay competitive in its field by enhancing its crewing system with Microsoft SQL Server 2012. 

This partnership is a renewal and extension of the relationship that started 10 years ago when Abojeb first tapped dB Wizards to develop its crewing system. After maximizing the usage of the system, both technically and functionally, Abojeb realized the pressing need to upgrade its crewing system to address the many changes in the business rules and its business models, as well as to stay competitive. This paved the way to the company’s most recent adoption of SQL Server 2012. 

“The company’s move from the existing platform to this sustainable system architecture offered by Microsoft Corp. allows for the accommodation of the complexity and additional functionality requirements in our operations,” said Bjorn Jebsen, chairman of the Board, Aboitiz Jebsen Co. Inc. “We evaluated various providers and applications and chose dB Wizards based on overall company stability, technical expertise and its relationship with Microsoft to allow us to use the company’s newest version of SQL Server.”

“We are happy that more and more Filipino companies such as Abojeb are realizing the value of making sound IT investments,” said John Bessey, managing director, Microsoft Philippines. “This is a major step for Abojeb and we, together with dB Wizards, are committed to ensuring that it maximizes this investment, ultimately making its operations more streamlined and its people more efficient,” 

Abojeb is a company that provides ship management, crew management, training and other fully integrated maritime services to shipping companies worldwide. Abojeb services the maritime industry by efficiently managing its shipping and crewing system, with the objective of answering the specific needs of its key stakeholders — its business partners, ship owners and managers worldwide as well as more than 7,000 Filipino seafarers. 

A key element most useful to the Abojeb partnership is the tight relationship with Microsoft. As solutions partner, dB Wizards designed the system on the Microsoft platform, taking advantage of SQL Server 2012 advancements in scalability, security and reporting, making possible the major enhancement to Abojeb’s crewing system. 

“With Abojeb being one of our first customers, we are delighted to be chosen once again by Abojeb as its partner of choice for this project,” said Pocholo Reyes, dB Wizards managing director. 

dB Wizards, a leading IT organization, provides world-class solutions and services to enable customers to achieve their business objectives. It takes pride in being a 100 percent Filipino-owned corporation, and an award-winning company, earning the title Systems Integrator Partner of the Year in 2011 and 2008. The value-add it brings to the partnership with Abojeb are its 13 years of experience in application development discipline, change management and SLA-based support via its manage service practice. All of these are valuable in its co-development effort to train Abojeb’s IT team. 

Through partnerships such as this, Microsoft is making its products and innovations more accessible and available to companies, organizations and corporations in the country. 

“With its successful track record of 10 years in information and communication technology, dB Wizards is a good choice of partner to work with,” Bessey said. “dB Wizards brings a wealth of experience to the table. And one important thing that Microsoft believes in is that we are dependent on our partners for our success.” 

More information on the partnership between the Aboitiz Jensen and Microsoft is available in theMicrosoft Customer Spotlight Newsroom.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services, and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.