Seattle, November 7:

Microsoft Corp is releasing a new version of its popular software for helping companies house large amounts of data, one of the first in a series of product launches that the company is hoping will bolster its competitive edge.

The Redmond-based woftware giant is officially releasing a new version of SQL Server 2005 at an event today in San Francisco. At the same time, it also is launching updates of BizTalk Server 2006, which pulls information from different applications together, and Visual Studio 2005, which is a product for developers.

The software releases will be followed a few weeks later by the release of Xbox 360, a new version of MS video game console. The company promises many more new releases.

Google’s offer:

MOUNTAIN VIEW:

Google Inc is introducing software designed to make its local search and mapping service easier to navigate on mobile phones, continuing the Internet search engine leader’s effort to extend its reach beyond PC. — AP