Satyam (SAY) and Microsoft (MSFT) have announced the opening of two Business Intelligence facilities in Singapore and Shanghai, respectively.

The two sites will be centers of excellence where researchers will use real-life scenarios and data to test, develop, and implement innovative solutions for the Financial Services sector.

The companies also announced the availability of Satyam's iDecisions business intelligence application, built to run on the Microsoft platform, including Microsoft SQL Server 2005. By optimizing Microsoft and Satyam's BI solutions and services, a broad range of financial business customers will be able to realize enhanced customer benefits including greater ease of use and reduced ownership and integration costs.

The labs will use SQL Server 2005 as the database engine, utilizing its comprehensive analytical, reporting, integration, and data migration capabilities. This will be integrated with Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server 2003 to provide collaboration, dashboard and scorecard functionalities and enable companies to extend the value of their existing applications.

Satyam iDecisions, built on SQL Server 2005, will enable customers to better manage critical, timely information, empowering them to benefit from the close integration of SQL Server 2005 with Microsoft Visual Studio, the Microsoft Office System, and a suite of new development tools, including the Business Intelligence Development Studio.

Microsoft and Satyam developers will be able to perform a wide variety of standard and non-standard demonstrations at the new sites, both on-site and online. Test scenarios will include simulating fluctuating user volumes (stress testing) and performing advanced analytics using data mining to predict credit card attrition.

Local media also report that Microsoft is negotiating with Beijing Science Park Development Company on purchasing the last two large parcels of land in western Zhongguancun for its Asian headquarters. Occupying a total of 51.44 hectares, western Zhongguancun is one of the key areas in Beijing that is used for technological development. Microsoft plans to have its Asian headquarters built there in 2008 if it can successfully win the deal.