SQL Server has for the last couple of releases been extending beyond the traditional relational model for storing and retreiving data. For example, we now have support for indexed XML datatypes and Semantic query extensions on top of FullText engine, which extends the variety of data that can be effectively managed within a database. Analysis Services has been around since v7.0, and we could think of OLAP has a type of NoSQL solution. ColumnStore is promising as a "big table" solution (even though 2012 doesn't provide update capability).