With announcement of.Net 4.0, VS2010 and other related products: One of common questions that I hear is “What’s next for BizTalk Server?”. My answer: it would probably be BizTalk Server 2009 R2.
BizTalk Server 2006 R3 was renamed to BizTalk Server 2009 and we know the list of features new version provides. I wonder why BTS2009 and why not BTS2006 R3. I see the BTS2009 more of a technology parity with other Microsoft products. Yes, it does have some enhancements but does is qualify for a new major release! I don’t think so. This looks more of a strategically decision than a technical/logical one : Just because all other (many related) Microsoft product have a new major releases do not qualify to have major release for BizTalk.
Very recently BTS2009 was released so, I doubt if BizTalk Server 2010 is released next year! If next release is around making it .net 4.0, VS2010 and related technologies compatible then It would probably be named “BizTalk Server 2009 R2”. It should be named BTS2010 only if some major enhancements are released as it was done with 2004 and 2006. Lets see what Microsoft comes up with.
Roadmap for BizTalk Server: http://www.microsoft.com/biztalk/en/us/roadmap.aspx