Microsoft Australia is offering a discount code available for user group members that will take 30% off the full ticket price for Tech-Ed 2010 on the Gold Coast (brings cost down to $1550).

You simply need to email me with a request for the code, after which I will forward your name and email address to Microsoft.

This will work much the same as it did last year (if you were able to take advantage of it then). Here are the rules/caveats as laid out by Microsoft:

• Each person must have one and only one email address
• Microsoft will send codes directly to the delegates batched up to send approximately weekly
• Please understand that Microsoft is doing this on a best-effort basis and that Microsoft does not accept any liability for not getting a ticket this way. That said, it seemed to work pretty well last year.
• Getting a code DOES NOT GUARANTEE YOU A TICKET. Registering and paying is what gets you a ticket, and if Tech-Ed sells out before someone registers, even if they’ve got a code then there’s not a lot anyone can do.

Please RSVP as soon as possible if you're interested.

BizTalk Server 2010 offers significant enhancements to help integrate heterogeneous Line-of-business systems with Windows .NET and SharePoint based applications to optimize user productivity, gain business efficiency and increase agility . BizTalk Server 2010 allows .Net developers to take advantage of BizTalk services right out of the box to rapidly build solutions that need to integrate transactions and data from applications like SAP, Mainframes, MS Dynamics and Oracle. Similarly SharePoint developers can seamlessly use BizTalk services directly through the new Business Connectivity Services in SharePoint 2010.

BizTalk Server 2010 includes a new data mapping & transformation tool to dramatically reduce the development time to mediate data exchange between disparate systems. It also provides a new single dashboard to manage performance parameters and streamline deployments from development to test to production. BizTalk 2010 includes new, scalable Trading Partner Management (TPM) model with a graphical interface for flexible management of business partner relationships and efficient on-boarding process. BizTalk Server 2010 also provides extended connectivity to IBM systems with Host Integration Server. 

Check out this entry on Mark Burch's blog:

The BizTalk product group has announced that the next release of BizTalk will be 2010 and not 2009 R2. This name change reflects the fact that the next release has more value in it than just a minor release.

BizTalk 2010 is still scheduled to RTM in H1 FY11 (H2 CY2010). This name change will not impact the RTM dates.

Following is list of key capabilities added to the release:

1. Enhanced trading partner management that will enable our customers to manage complex B2B relationships with ease
2. Increase productivity through enhanced BizTalk Mapper. These enhancements are critical in increasing productivity in both EAI and B2B solutions; and a favorite feature of our customers.
3. Enable secure data transfer across business partners with FTPS adapter
4. Updated adapters for SAP 7, Oracle eBusiness Suite 12.1, SharePoint 2010 and SQL Server 2008 R2
5. Improved and simplified management with updated System Center management pack
6. Simplified management through single dashboard which enables IT Pros to backup and restore BizTalk configuration
7. Enhanced performance tuning capabilities at Host and Host Instance level
8. Continued innovation in RFID Space with out of box event filtering and delivery of RFID events

Public statement from Microsoft:

"Over the past few months we have talked to a number of customers and partners about our plans for upcoming Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) events.  We have heard loud and clear that travel budgets are limited, and have evaluated the various ways we can share Real World SOA best practices and training to our customers and partners.  As a result of these discussions we have decided not to host the Microsoft SOA conference this year; instead, we will deliver SOA related sessions (including sessions on .NET, Visual Studio, BizTalk Server and SharePoint Server content) at the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference in Los Angeles (November 17 – 19) and at TechEd EMEA in Berlin, Germany (November 9-13).  "

We are pleased to announce the immediate availability of the Microsoft BizTalk Server Management Pack for Operations Manager 2007 (SCOM). Many customers were waiting on this to move forward with their BizTalk Server 2009 deployments. With this availability, we are in a stronger position to drive BizTalk Server 2009 opportunities.

Download the SCOM Management pack from the Microsoft Download Center.

What better way to get acquainted with the powerful new features of BizTalk Server 2009 than to spend a day with experts like Bill Chesnut, Mick Badran, Miguel Herrera, and Brisbane's own Dean Robertson leading you through a supervised hands-on lab experience!  

The Australian BizTalk User Groups will host a series of one day Hands On Labs that will tour Australia in May and June. These labs are designed for anyone who has used a previous version of BizTalk Server and wishes to explore firsthand the new features in BizTalk Server 2009.  You will have an a dedicated BizTalk 2009 development environment to use during the event and the option to work on the hands on labs modules or experiment with the new features. The BizTalk Server 2009 development environment will include BizTalk Server 2009, RFID, ESB 2.0, Windows 2008, SQL Server 2008, Team Foundation Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008 Team Suite.  

The Brisbane event will be held on Saturday 13 June at Cliftons, 288 Edward Street, and will cost $200 (incl GST & lunch). Register early at http://brisbanehod13june.eventbrite.com/ to ensure your seat!  
For more info, including the day's agenda, please go to http://www.melbiz.org/Home/tabid/79/EntryId/82/BizTalk-2009-Hands-on-Days.aspx

BizTalk Server 2009 has now been officially released for general availability. Check it out at http://www.microsoft.com/biztalk/en/us/default.aspx

Also read the press release, and access the online doco at MSDN!