Microsoft's SQL Server Tops Databases Used For Wireless ApplicationsMicrosoft's SQL Server Tops Databases Used For Wireless Applications

Microsoft's SQL Server is the database system most frequently used as the back end database for wireless applications, according to an Evans Data survey released today of 380 wireless developers in November.

Thirty percent of wireless developers rely on SQL Server as the central, server-based database from which a wireless application receives data. In some cases, wireless applications also upload data and engage in synchronization exchanges with a central server. John Andrews, president of Evan Data, said Microsoft was gearing SQL Server to work with "the occasionally connected user or application," a hallmark of mobile device use.

Microsoft's strength with its Office suite of applications, often used by mobile workers, contributes to Microsoft's strong showing as the background database. Mobile users are looking for "a continuum of data across all products from the data center to the mobile device," Andrews added. The number two position was held by the open source system, MySQL, with 20% of developers using it.

Third-place Oracle had 16% market share. Oracle announced this week it would like to see more of its databases embedded in other vendors devices and products, such as the wireless device market. The embedded market is one of Oracle's fastest growing areas of its database business.

Andrews said wireless developers were engaged in producing location-based services 40% of the time. A wireless application can derive the approximate location of user by determining where the wireless device's signal is coming from and then respond with location-specific information, such as restaurants in the area. These developers tended to use both development tools from Google and Google Maps in building their applications.

For all developers in the survey, 47% were targeting smart phones. The number producing applications for PDAs is down 20% compared to last year, Andrews said.