OK, so SharePoint is now being used for all new Information Worker type applications, as well as serving as the unofficial de-facto UI for a number of other mission critical systems where it doesn’t make sense to have users learn a new application. What’s next? How about Business Intelligence, or, more correctly “BI-Light”. Using items like Pivot Tables, Excel Services, Reporting, Charts, Data enabled web parts, etc. it becomes more feasible to build many of the view-only screens that used to use a BI vendor’s user interface in SharePoint instead. It doesn’t replace the power-users desktop where interaction with data is a key requirement, but for users who mostly consume data via charts or simply view existing BI-type reports SharePoint makes another nice way to go.
So eventually SharePoint becomes the user interface for many IW applications. Combined with Office desktop products it is the "Most Viewed" screen for most workers. Exactly as Microsoft planned I assume. ;-)
It will be interesting to see how much of this comes to pass. The trend that first brought about portals, greater desktop consolidation, is helping SharePoint become the uber-portal that sucks up everything in its path. Agree? Disagree? I’m interested in your observations based on what you have seen at your company or your clients.