Sybase's SQL Anywhere launched for workgroups

Abstract

Sybase Inc.'s workgroup database division will open its doors this week and ship its first product, SQL Anywhere Version 5.0. SQL Anywhere is a new version of Sybase's workgroup Watcom SQL database that can run SQL Server applications and support peer-to-peer replication. SQL Anywhere, Version 5.0, includes compatibility features designed to let workgroups run applications that were written for the full-fledged Sybase SQL Server.

SYBASE INC.'S workgroup database division will open its doors this week and ship its first product, SQL Anywhere.

SQL Anywhere is a new version of Sybase's workgroup Watcom SQL database that can run SQL Server applications and support peer-to-peer replication. The workplace database division, in Waterloo, Ontario, is charged with pushing SQL Anywhere and Sybase SQL Server 11 for Windows NT. The two databases replace the company's existing Workgroup SQL Server low-end database lineup, according to company officials.

SQL Anywhere, Version 5.0, includes compatibility features designed to let workgroups run applications that were written for the full-fledged Sybase SQL Server. It supports Sybase's Transact-SQL query language dialect and Open Client API and works with the Sybase Replication Server data distribution tool to replicate data between SQL Server and SQL Anywhere databases.

The SQL Remote option adds support for peer-to-peer replication between copies of SQL Anywhere. Sybase will also announce a SQL Central administration tool that manages SQL Anywhere databases and SQL Remote replication.

SQL Anywhere runs on Windows NT, Windows 95, Windows 3.x, NetWare, DOS, and OS/2. Concurrent user pricing ranges from $599 for a four-user version to $4,999 for an unlimited user license. A version that includes SQL Remote and can be used as a client or server is priced at $299 per seat; each additional client costs $119.A stand-alone version of SQL Anywhere with SQL Remote for developers is priced at $179.