Microsoft kicks off its "Jupiter" e-business server ramp-up by issuing Beta 1 CDs of its "Voyager" code to attendees of its Dallas confab.
Attendees of Microsoft"s annual TechEd conference here found Beta 1 disks containing Microsoft"s next version of its integration server in their goodie bags.
Bearing the name "BizTalk Server 2004," the CD includes the code for the first phase of Microsoft"s vaunted "Jupiter" e-business suite. According to the CD packaging, Microsoft plans to include BizTalk Server 2004 as part of its recently coined "Windows Server System" brand.
Microsoft brass have said since last fall that it planned to introduce Jupiter in two phases. The first phase, code-named "Voyager," is the new release of BizTalk Server. Company officials recently said that Voyager would go to beta in June and ship by the end of the year. It"s unclear if the year-end 2003 ship date is still in the cards, given the new 2004 name designation. It"s possibly, but seems unlikely.
Microsoft officials also said last fall to expect phase two of Jupiter to ship in 2004. That release, code-named "Discovery," will include new versions of BizTalk, Commerce Server, Content Management Server and possibly also Host Integration Server, according to sources.