SQL premium connector alternative

[Anonymous]

Hi Everyone, I have a question, as powerapps have made connectors like SQL and on-premises data gateway Premium and made compulsory for all the users to get the Premium license to use any app having a Premium connector. The price is around 40 pounds per user per month which is making it difficult to get the stakeholders on board... is there any solution to connect to or retrieve on-premises SQL data in powerapps? Will a custom API work? Or any other solution anyone can propose will be a great help! Thank you.

[garzamalanLCG]

I'm just wondering if we could use a power automated flow to upload information into a collection in power apps, then use another flow to write back to SQL. That way we only pay for 1 power automate license.

I don't know, maybe I'm just talking nonsense.

[Pstork1]

Power Apps collections are local storage, so there is no way to upload to them.  You could potentially do the same thing with SharePoint.  Upload the information to SharePoint and have an automated flow that copies the info to SQL when an item is created or modified.  The automated flow uses a single license.  But it isn't really feasible for any extensive use because there is no way to get the info out of SQL without a premium license and the user would need to have access to the SharePoint list. So its technically possible, but realistically doesn't do much.

[PaulD1]

While it may be technically possible I suspect MS may say this falls under 'Multiplexing' rules and expect a license to be purchased for every user anyway. 

Definition of multiplexing:

”Multiplexing refers to the use of hardware or software that a customer uses to pool connections, reroute information, or reduce the number of devices or users that directly access or use the [X] service. Multiplexing does NOT reduce the number of subscription licenses of any type required to access the [X] service. Any user or device that accesses the [X] service – whether directly or indirectly – must be properly licensed”

[garzamalanLCG]

My other thinking is, could have a Flow to fill info into Dataverse (for teams), then connect the power app (also for teams) to the data verse ... and have an schedule flow to write and read info from SQL to the dataverse table ...

[PaulD1]

I'm still not sure that circumvents Multiplexing - I think that would be up to some very expensive lawyers to interpret/decide 🙂 

I think the other issue to consider here is that such solutions become very complex, increasing technical debt and introducing multiple additional points of failure.

If you want to build against SQL (a good plan imo) and don't want to pay premium licensing (which is too expensive/complex imo) then maybe just build a traditional web/desktop/mobile app as applicable. This may have a longer development time (depends on size of the App and skills of the development team) but would avoid lock-in and likely be cheaper to operate and much more robust, capable, supportable and reliable.

[Karluzo]

Hm I was planning to use Power platform for my next app but I see it is designed to be useless by Microsoft.

[Gianluca_big]

No sense..

Prices too high..

I can't pay every time I go the bath.. This is data slavery