Microsoft has announced that the next version of its SQL Server database will launch June 1. SQL Server 2016 includes a number of built-in tools for data warehousing and big data analytics, including support for the R language and the ability to process both structured and unstructured data. It also includes some performance and security improvements. In fact, Microsoft says most queries should run about 25 percent faster in SQL Server 2016.
The company first tested many of the new features in SQL Server on its Azure cloud computing service, and Microsoft says it should be easy for companies to run SQL Server in hybrid cloud environments.
SQL Server will come in two free versions: Express and Developer. Prices for the Standard and Enterprise versions will remain the same as for SQL Server 2014.