BizTalk 2006 R2 Launch Statistics

This fifth full version of BizTalk Server hit a number of key milestones including:

· 7,000 customers globally

· 90 of the Fortune Global 100 run BizTalk Server

· 12 of the 15 largest Retailers in the World run BizTalk Server

· 9 of the 10 largest Insurance Companies in the World run BizTalk Server

· 6 of the 8 largest U.S. Pharmaceutical Companies run BizTalk Server

Product highlights include:

· RFID capabilities to reduce the complexity of managing intelligent RFID device hardware and connect real-time RFID events to relevant supply-chain processes and back-end business applications.

· EDI capabilities to connect to partners using EDI (X12, EDIFACT) and full support for AS2

· ESB Guidance which includes technical documentation and sample code to assist organizations deliver a robust and fiscally responsible enterprise service bus

· More Adapters and Accelerators in the Box

o All BizTalk Accelerators including (HIPAA, HL7, SWIFT, RosettaNet) included in the base offering for Standard and Enterprise editions

o Host Integration Server functionality ships with Enterprise, Standard and Branch Edition

o Branch Edition for hub and spoke scenarios (especially RFID and Host Integration), $1,800/processor

o ISV Embedded Licensing for BizTalk Server 2006 R2,  per processor for runtime

· SOA and Business Process Pack – (BizTalk, SQL, VSTS, MOSS sold together)

Also announced:

· Beta 2 of the BizTalk Adapter Pack

· Availability of the WCF LOB Adapter SDK