Microsoft has unveiled a Community Technology Preview (CTP) of BizTalk Services, which is part of the company’s “Software+Services” vision. BizTalk Services focuses on enabling developers to integrate services across internal enterprise systems, systems running at business partners and Internet services. BizTalk Services features Internet-hosted services to help developers build and run composite applications at an Internet scale. Featured are hosted versions of technologies developed in the Microsoft Connected Systems Division.The BizTalk Services platform includes an “Internet Services Bus,” which is similar to but different than a traditional enterprise service bus, Microsoft said. An ESB provides connectivity that stops at the corporate firewall, while the Internet Services bus accommodates applications that span networks. Capabilities are provided for workflow, identity and access management. Also, data can be moved between end points regardless of the location of firewall. Microsoft’s Steve Martin, director of product management in the company’s Connected Systems Division, covers BizTalk Services in his blog. The CTP is available here.Also, Microsoft began on Wednesday its Financial Services Developer Conference in New York City. The event brings together technical persons from financial services firms to preview Microsoft technologies. Topics will be covered such as application performance analysis, writing secure code and building Web sites with Microsoft’s ASP.Net AJAX technology. Software Development