The much touted and anticipated R2 version of Microsoft’s much loved Small Business Server 2008 package is now looking likely to be released 3rd-4th calendar quarter this year.
I was recently at a Microsoft event in the UK (http://wp.me/pcs3j-7G) and speaking with a very well respected Microsoft guy who knows a thing or two about SBS.. The educated feeling is that SBS 2008 R2 will be announced at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC 2010) in Washington D.C. on July 11-15, 2010.
It is likely to be scheduled for Released to Manufacturer (RTM) a few months later, possibly in time for the European leg of Tech-Ed (back in Berlin for the next couple of years) around October-November.
So, a disapointment for those that thought (like I did) that the R2 release would be around 120 days post Windows Server 2008 R2 which was launched October 22nd along with Windows 7, but at least it is coming!, unlike EBS 2008 R2 which was shelved along with discontinuation of development of EBS see www.microsoft.com/ebs/en/us/faq.aspx#dis for more..
Update on this… of course, it wasnt announced at WPC 🙁 and SBS v.next is now codenamed SBS7… My money is on a name of SBS 2011 to coincide with a 2011 release.. fingers crossed for an announcment at TechEd Europe..