Microsoft: No Yukon, Whidbey Until 2005

Microsoft has told beta-testers not to expect the next versions of SQL Server, code-named Yukon, and Visual Studio, code-named Whidbey, until next year.

In a message sent Wednesday, Fernando Caro, head of SQL Server customer programs at Microsoft, said the decision to delay Yukon and Whidbey until the first half of 2005 was made "to ensure that the products meet the high-quality requirements of our customers."

Microsoft previously had promised to deliver both products this year.

To ensure quality, Microsoft has opted to add a third major beta cycle to Yukon, which will officially be dubbed SQL Server 2005, according to the message to customers and testers.

Industry observers say both of the long-awaited products are critical to Microsoft's push into the enterprise and are key steps toward the release of the next version of Windows, code-named Longhorn. Yukon and Whidbey already have been delayed several times. Just last week, Microsoft said the Yukon beta two was on track to ship in the first half of this year.Microsoft has long-promised that Yukon will incorporate support for its Common Language Runtime (CLR) and sport advanced ETL tools.