The clock is ticking and the time is near for the 2008 Server and Tools Launch of Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 marking the largest ever IT Professional and Developer outreach in the history of Microsoft.

Ihsan Anabtawi, Marketing Manager of Microsoft Jordan said, “The 2008 Server and Tools Launch is a celebration of the great work that IT Professionals and Developers do with Microsoft technologies every day, as they are the true heroes that keep their businesses up and running.”

He added, “During the launch, two Microsoft customers will be featured to tell the story of our products from their point of view. Our goal during the 2008 Launch Wave is to engage the community by creating ample opportunity for IT Professionals and Developers to receive intense training and gain knowledge on our products and partners’ solutions.”

Together, Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 will offer customers new capabilities in key areas such as security, Web, virtualization and Business Intelligence, enabling them to drive their businesses forward.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 is the most advanced Windows Server operating system yet, designed to power the next-generation of networks, applications, and Web services. New Web tools, virtualization technologies, security enhancements, and management utilities help save time, reduce costs, and provide a solid foundation for companies’ information technology (IT) infrastructure.

Visual Studio 2008 delivers on Microsoft's vision of enabling developers and development teams to rapidly create connected applications with compelling user experiences for Windows Vista, the 2007 Microsoft Office system, mobile devices and the Web, and Microsoft SQL Server 2008 provides a trusted, productive, and intelligent data platform that enables companies to run their most demanding mission critical applications.

As part of the 2008 launch wave, Visual Studio 2008 and the .NET Framework 3.5 have already been released to manufacturing (RTM) and are now available for download to Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) subscribers; Windows Server 2008 is scheduled to be released to the market in March, followed by the scheduled launch of SQL Server 2008 in May.