OLAP is certainly not new or even leading edge. Multidimensional products date back more than 20 years. It s a proven technology that so far has been mostly a niche application used in large companies with sophisticated staffs. Microsoft can enlarge the size and scope of a market in several ways. Once OLAP opens the door, the rest of the data warehouse industry will rush in.
Competition is a good thing.
To the degree that a rising tide lifts all boats, an expanding OLAP market may actually help other vendors and indirectly help users too. Microsoft will consume a large portion of the market, but not 100 percent. But other vendors will find supporting roles Microsoft is not yet gobbling up. Yet others will try to compete based on features and innovations. Over time, this will raise the overall level of capabilities as Microsoft and other vendors match and leapfrog features.