Convergence 2009 Preview: A More “Intimate” Setting

What should attendees expect at Convergence 2009, beginning on Tuesday in New Orleans?

Well, for one thing, it should be less crowded than last year's event in Orlando. Microsoft observers generally expect a 20% to 30% decline in attendance from last year's approximately 10,000. That would put attendance at 7,000 to 8,000 new week.

"My sense is that Convergence is going to be smaller andmaybe a bit more
intimate this year," says Mark Polino of I.B.I.S.

As for the likely high points.

Emphasis on "The Cloud." According to JeffOnesto of Advanced Systems Integration, "I don't think anybody will argue that ‘CloudComputing' is where the next major battle will take place.  I believe withthe current success of Dynamics CRM Live, the Windows Azure Platform will behighly discussed as well as Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS), whichconsists of Exchange Online, Office Sharepoint Online, Office CommunicationOnline and Office Live Meeting."

Exploiting Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009. Withall the hoopla at last year's Convergence over AX 2009, observers expect thefocus this year to be on helping customers get more from their investments, orto upgrade from previous versions. " I don't think this year you will seeanything very ‘new' about Dynamics AX," says Brandon George of Sunrise Technologies Inc.  "The road map will be updated, but I think this year's focus will be more about helping customers get use out of their investments already made, and how Dynamics AX can fit into that with customers that are already Microsoft platform customers."

Anticipating Microsoft Dynamics GP 11. Users of GP will, at this year's Convergence, be seeking ...