AMD Phenom II won't have a short life

One of the computer hardware sites I respect the most is PC Perspective, especially due to Ryan Shrout's meticulous reviews.
Ryan is speculating(the permalink may be wrong in the future, for now it works) that the upgrade path for current AM2+ users is rather short, now that AMD has release an updated roadmap which states that the Phenom II 940/920 will see end of life (EOL) in May of 2009.

This is completely normal since, as performance parts, they will be replaced by the Phenom II 945 and 925 models, which support DDR3 and come in an AM3 package. The catch is that the 45nm "Shangai" cores support both DDR2 and DDR3, the only difference is the package they come in: either the 940 pin AM2/AM2+ socket, or the 938 pin AM3. The motherboard itself will have either DDR2 sockets or DDR3, changing the socket with it.

The upgrade path is safe since AM2+ users will be able to plug AM3 CPUs in their motherboards - the layout is about the same for the socket, but the two extra pins on AM2/AM2+ CPUs make it impossible to plug them in AM3 sockets.

For instance, when the Phenom II 945 is released, you just plug it in your AM2+ board, like you would with the 940, and it will just work. Just be sure you have a compatible motherboard. Asus and MSI, for instance, both have already released AM3 CPU compatible AM2+ motherboards: ASUS - MSI

AM3 CPUs will allow for higher HyperTransport speeds of 3.2GHz, instead of 2.6, which equates to 6.4GT/s. You will have to just use the 2.6GHz link in your AM2+ board but other than that, you will still have a fast system, coupled with the good old DDR2 sticks.

The Phenom II is here to stay, not just as an AM2+ CPU.