BizTalk Server 2009 Beta Launched

BizTalk Server 2009, available now as a feature-complete beta, promises improved clustering and failover support, enhanced application connectivity, and a better developer experience. The final product, planned for general release in the first half of 2009 depending on beta feedback, is the first full release since BizTalk Server 2006 shipped in June 2006. However, overlapping functionality with a planned set of extensions for Windows Server call into question BizTalk Server’s long-term future as a stand-alone product.

Latest Platform Wave Supported

BizTalk Server is Microsoft’s product for application integration and business-to-business commerce. It includes a messaging engine that serves as a hub for application-to-application communication and a workflow system (called Orchestration) for programming business processes that cut across applications. BizTalk has built-in management tools, such as Business Activity Monitoring, which enables organizations to capture and analyze status data from business processes, and Visual Studio plug-ins for coding custom integration solutions on top of the product. BizTalk Server also provides a large collection of components for specific types of solutions, including messaging adapters for connecting to specific applications; messaging support for electronic data interchange (EDI) standards in finance, healthcare, and other fields; and support for asset tracking and supply chain management with Radio Frequency ID tags.