By now, you've probably seen the press releases stating that Microsoft will be acquiring ProClarity, a top-notch maker of front-end tools for SQL Server Analysis Services. If you haven't read the details yet, check out these sources:
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/apr06/04-03ProClarityPR.mspx
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060403/nym073.html?.v=39
It's interesting to gauge how this is playing in the community. Some users were interested in ProClarity going with an IPO. They felt like ProClarity was a sure fire money maker. Others have expressed some interest in how ProClarity tools will fit into the stack, especially since Microsoft had been making a lot of noise about Office 12 and especially Excel as the next wave of front-end tools for their BI stack. I've also heard some users voice concern over how Microsoft will sustain ProClarity's key personnel. Microsoft does most of their R&D work on the Redmond campus. So there's some concern about what will happen with the core talent located in Boise, Idaho.
So, I'm curious. If you're a BI user, does this announcement impact you? I'd love to hear what you think. You can answer here or send private email to [email protected].
Cheers!
-Kev
