Paul Krill

Whether the future of databases is the traditional, relational and SQL model with XML technologies incorporated into it or a new XML-based model is a matter of debate, according to panelists during a session Tuesday at the Software Development Conference & Expo here.

Whether the future of databases is the traditional, relational and SQL model with XML technologies incorporated into it or a new XML-based model is a matter of debate, according to panellists at a software development conference last week.

Among other things, the competition between human and artificial intelligence was pondered during a panel session at CTO Forum on Wednesday.

As the company looks ahead to the planned release of Yukon, the next major version of the SQL Server database due in late 2003, Microsoft Corp. on Wednesday at its TechEd conference in New Orleans announced beta offerings of two precursor products that focus on data management for handheld devices and information alerts.

Looking to promote access to data mining functions via a Web services computing paradigm, SAS Institute Inc. will take a co-chairmanship with Microsoft Corp. and Hyperion Solutions Corp. on the XML for Analysis Council, named for a protocol intended to provide an industry-standard messaging interface for accessing business intelligence functions.

When Oracle Corp. ships the upcoming upgrade to its database, designated Oracle9i Release 2, in May, it will mark the end of the Oracle Express OLAP (online analytical processing) product line and the dawn of an offering more tightly integrated with the main database.

Sybase Inc. later this year plans to extend its Adaptive Server database to increase its ability to access external data such as XML content, a company official said this week.

The JavaOne show this week will host a slew of companies detailing new wares ranging from development tools for data integration and Web services to B2B functionality.