BizTalk Server upgrade

Microsoft has announced that the fifth major release of its BizTalk Server is now generally available.

BizTalk Server 2006 R2 is designed to allow users to extend their business processes to the corporate "edge" to collect RFID data from a warehouse or link with trading partners, Microsoft says.

R2 includes native support for RFID and EDI and also adds support for regulations like SWIFT, HL7, HIPAA and RosettaNet that are aimed at supporting various vertical industries such as healthcare and financial services.

It is also available in a new Branch Edition aimed at supporting the connection of intra-organisational supply chain processes.