Microsoft sets sights on data mining dominance

ENT News | at | by Mike

When it comes to data mining and predictive analytics, Microsoft might not be the first company that comes to mind.

That could change, however, especially if Donald Farmer, Redmond's principal program manager for SQL Server Data Mining, has his way.

Microsoft has come a long way in the data mining and predictive analytics segment, Farmer says, and with a game-changing Excel 2007 release under its belt -- and a promising SQL Server 2008 revision in the pipeline -- Redmond hopes to challenge established powers SAS Institute Inc. and SPSS Inc. for data mining and predictive analytic bragging rights.