Many businesses and IT professionals are excited about the new version of Microsoft”s enterprise content management (ECM) software, SharePoint 2010, which will be released in beta this year and have general availability by the first half of 2010.

The new version will feature a new user interface, web edit and rich theming capabilities, enhanced rich media support and multiple browser supports.

However, before jumping on the SharePoint 2010 bandwagon, SharePoint 2007 users may want to focus on streamlining and improving their use of the current version, said IT research and evaluation firm CMS Watch.

To ensure the best performance of SharePoint 2007, users may want to consider applying third-party products, and should always evaluate viability, fit and scalability. Applying these skills to the current version of SharePoint will also help with the deployment of SharePoint 2010, CMS Watch noted.

"Enterprises need to develop specific skills to successfully engage the SharePoint ecosystem of consultancies, integrators, third-party module-developers, and community resources," said CMS Watch principal Alan Pelz-Sharpe. "Those same skills will surely remain necessary for effectively implementing future versions of the platform."

Microsoft”s fourth quarter financial report showed that SharePoint”s tremendous growth is helping to bolster the company”s performance during the recession – SharePoint revenue grew "at a double-digit clip" in the fourth quarter, reported ZDNet.