Microsoft on Friday described its next service-oriented architecture (SOA) solution -- BizTalk Server 2009 -- which is "on track for availability during the first half of 2009," according to the company's announcement. Microsoft is giving advance notice because many organizations plan their SOA projects as much as five years in the future, according to Oliver Sharp, Microsoft's general manager for BizTalk Server. Sharp provided some additional details, as described in Microsoft's press release.
One plan is for Microsoft to release a new version of BizTalk Server every two years, Sharp said. A community technology preview of the next BizTalk Server product is currently available, but just to "select customers," he added. However, Microsoft plans a "broader CTP later this calendar year." Sharp didn't specify an exact date.
