Microsoft to beat the 'software + service' drum on the ERP front

Another hot button at this week's Microsoft Convergence conference is expected to be the whole "software plus services" -- as opposed to "software as a service" (SaaS)-- push that Microsoft has been espousing, as of late.

On the ERP side of the Microsoft house, "S+S" has a couple of different connotations. First, it involves hosting. As it already does with several of its products, like Exchange Server and Windows Server -- as well as soon on the CRM front (with the CRM Live version of CRM 4.0) -- Microsoft allows partners to sell and support some of its products in the form of services.

There's also the add-on services idea, as exemplified by Windows Live and Office Live. Windows Live services are a bunch of add-on services designed to complement Windows software on the desktop. Ditto with Office Live services. It sounds like Microsoft is thinking along the same lines on the Dynamics front.

At this week's Convergence conference in San Diego, Microsoft ERP customers and partners are going to hear more about "on-premise Microsoft Dynamics solutions (that) are complemented by hosted services provided by Microsoft and its partners."

So what will Dynamics ERP Live look like? More than just another business mash-up/composite application? I'll be looking for examples this week as I troll the cold Convention Center show floor (while the 85 degree weather outside calls my name).