Dive Brief:

• In order to entice customers, Microsoft Corp. announced Thursday that it will give away free database software to current Oracle customers. 
• Companies that are considering switching from Oracle can apply to get the new SQL server software for free. 
• Microsoft is not including hardware in its offer and still requires that customers pay for a three-year Software Assurance licenses, which includes support and services. 

Dive Insight:

Microsoft is trying to boost database sales, which the company increasingly relies on as a major income generator. Traditionally, Microsoft has gained customers by offering products at a lower cost than Oracle, which the company said it will continue. 

Customers will get a free SQL Server license for every instance of Oracle, according to Judson Althoff, president of Microsoft North America. 

The company is also offering free training for database administrators and will help invest in migration costs. 

Microsoft wants to both improve sales of databases and better compete with Oracle, which currently has twice the market share of Microsoft's existing database customers, according to IDC.

The news comes after Microsoft unveiled plans to make SQL software available for Linux systems earlier this week.