FastForward 2009

The first FastForward conference since Microsoft purchased FAST Technology for 1.2 billion opened with lots of light an music and about 1,000 attendees from 29 countries.  It reflects a strong commitment, vision, and roadmap for search.  Today, Microsoft released information about new search products:  FAST Search for SharePoint which is the old FAST ESP tuned for SharePoint available at lower cost through SharePoint enterprise user-based licensing (a simplified package based on per uers licensing) that will be availalbe with the release of Office 14.  However, for those who want to get started right away, Microsoft will provide a licensing bridge for SharePoint clients, ESP for SharePoint.  Another new product, FAST Search for Internet Business, which will also be released with Office 14 and then roughly annually going forward, includes interaction management to help drive revenue for users, content integration and  simplified licensing.  For more info on these new products, check here.