Up Next: On Redmond-watchers' radar screens

Here are a few Microsoft-related conferences and confabs slated for this fall that might be of interest to Redmond watchers out there. The biggies are TechEd Developers and TechEd IT Forum in Barcelona. But there are some more off-the-beaten-path events to watch, as well.

• October 3-6: Microsoft SOA and Business Process Conference in Redmond. The focus is on BizTalk Server, Windows Workflow Foundation and Windows Communication Foundation.

• October 6: Convergence EMEA in Munich. Microsoft’s conference for its Dynamics customers and partners in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

• October 9-12: Patterns & Practices Summit in Redmond. On the docket: Agile development, software factories and other software-architect-specific topics.

• October 9-10: PowerShell Developers Conference in Redmond. An event aimed at ISVs looking to plug into Microsoft’s new command-line scripting shell and Management Console products.

• October 13: Microsoft Search for the Enterprise at Microsoft’s Thames Valley, UK, campus facility. Info on Vista’s desktop search and Sharepoint’s enterprise search technologies.

• November 6-9: DevConnections in Las Vegas. If you’re a Visual Studio, ASP.Net, SQL Server, SharePoint, Mobile and/or Office developer, this conference is aimed at you.

• November 6-9: TechEd Europe Developers in Barcelona

• November 13-15: Microsoft CIO Summit in Redmond. Stuart Scott, Microsoft’s own CIO, is the host. Panels on Exchange Server 2007, security and other enterprise topics.

• November 14-17: SQL Server PASS Community Summit in Seattle. Both CEO Steve Ballmer and Senior VP of server applications Paul Flessner are on the keynote list. Isn’t it about time to hear about “Katmai,” the next version of SQL Server?

• November 14-17: TechEd IT Forum in Barcelona