special note:  I had to take this entry down yesterday because I guess it wasn't pushed out to the press yet.   Sorry PPS team.   I guess it is live news today! 

another note:  I think these are all great changes, more small, mid and enterprise size customers will be able to get performance management and analytics tools within one SharePoint license.

Just read the press release on the changes coming to the PPS group.  Monitoring and Analytics to be moved into the SharePoint group and be called PerformancePoint Services.  That is good news.  Planning is being discontinued.  That is bad news.  I guess they are putting their gets on SQL Gemini in 2010...

Microsoft External FAQ about the changes
Click link to read: EXTERNAL_Microsoft_BI_FAQ_Final

Summary of the annoucement
Based on customer feedback, Microsoft will consolidate PerformancePoint Server (PPS) with its scorecards, dashboards, and analytic capabilities into SharePoint as “PerformancePoint Services” with the release of SharePoint 14 in late 2009.  Microsoft will invest in these capabilities to enable customers to deliver performance management broadly to their information worker’s and at a low TCO. 

In mid CY2009, Microsoft will release PerformancePoint Server 2007 “Service Pack 3” which will include updates to the current product’s planning module. Thereafter, customers should not expect further investment in standalone versions of PerformancePoint Server.