MicroStrategy unveils 7i Universal Edition

MicroStrategy has launched a Unix-based version of its 7i software, 7i Universal Edition, which it claims is the first business intelligence (BI) software compiled for 32-bit Windows and 64-bit Unix modes from same code base so it can run on Windows, IBM AIX and Sun Solaris.

The company said that the single code base allows new features, service packs and patches to be released across all operating systems simultaneously.

Chief operating officer Sanju Bansal said: "Universal Edition enables you to serve more concurrent users on one server, instead of managing several server farms with different instances of BI tools."

By extending the interoperability of its platform, MicroStrategy hopes to broaden the user profile of its existing install base, as well as offer reporting and analysis capabilities to more new users without complex integration.

According to analyst IDC, 22 per cent of the BI market is based on Unix.

Ian Charlesworth, senior research analyst at Butler Group, said: "MicroStrategy is not the only BI vendor extending its platforms. And any technology that spans platforms and embraces more end users rather than just power users is to be welcomed."