The SQL Azure Database Community Technology Preview (CTP) is now available for download. SQL Azure Database is Microsoft’s cloud-based relational database platform, which used to be called SQL Data Services. (To learn more about SQL Azure Database, see "SQL Data Services Is Now SQL Azure Database.") You can register for the free SQL Azure Database CTP at msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/dataservices/default.aspx.
Microsoft also announced today that SQL Server StreamInsight will ship as a component of SQL Server 2008 R2, and the CTP is available to MSDN and TechNet subscribers for download today. According to Microsoft’s Data Platform Insider blog, "StreamInsight will bring a low-latency complex event processing (CEP) platform to SQL Server, and will enable organizations to derive insights from streaming data in near real-time in scenarios such as web analytics, algorithmic trading and industrial process control." The StreamInsight CTP will be available to the public tomorrow, August 19th.
Last week, Microsoft made the SQL Server 2008 R2 August CTP available for download at technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/ee315247.aspx. SQL Server 2008 R2 is expected to be released in the first half of 2010