As Convergence 2011 activities ramped up today with the AXUG DayOne keynote session, Microsoft Dynamics AX product managers emphasized their desire to seek a balanced tone between the present benefits of the well-worn AX 2009 and the promising glow of the new release of AX 2012. The new version of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 will be a major component of the main Convergence conference beginning tomorrow (Monday).

Related to AX 2012, the director of product management for Dynamics, Kees Hertogh, confirmed that a public beta of the new release will be offered in April and the general availability set for August 2011 will be formally announced this week. This general release date is consistent with earlier estimates of a third quarter launch.

Hertogh explained that AX 2012 will adhere to a stricter release schedule than AX 2009, with better synchronization of release of fixes and features.  Following the GA release, a second release is planned with 12 languages supported including some European countries and the BRIC countries.  And localizations will all be supported in a single instance of AX 2012 server, a first for the product.

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