REDMOND, Wash. — March 21, 2005 — Microsoft Corp. today detailed pricing and licensing terms for Visual Studio® 2005, its comprehensive application development tool set, as well as simplification of its Microsoft® Developer Network (MSDN®) subscriptions, the primary vehicle through which most developers obtain Visual Studio. Microsoft will reduce the estimated retail price1 of Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition while offering special pricing to existing MSDN subscribers for Visual Studio 2005 Team System, the expansion of the Visual Studio product line to include integrated software life-cycle tools. In addition, current Visual Studio users will be eligible for promotional pricing to acquire MSDN subscriptions now, in preparation for Visual Studio 2005, expected in the second half of calendar year 2005. This will enable more developers to take advantage of the productivity, security enhancements and improved deployment capabilities of the .NET Framework.
“With Visual Studio 2005 Team System, Microsoft introduces features and technologies to support application development through all phases of the software life cycle, from development to deployment,” said S. Somasegar, corporate vice president of the Developer Division at Microsoft. “In addition, more accessible tools pricing for small businesses and simplification of MSDN subscription levels for our enterprise customers will enable Microsoft to deliver a complete development platform to satisfy developers at all levels.”
New subscription and renewal estimated retail pricing for Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Professional and Standard editions follow:
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Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition: $799 (upgrade: $549)
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Visual Studio 2005 Tools for the Microsoft Office System: $799 (upgrade: $549)
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Visual Studio 2005 Standard Edition: $299 (upgrade: $199)
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Visual Studio 2005 Express editions will be $49.
Visual Studio 2005 Team System and MSDN Subscriptions for New Customers
With the addition of Visual Studio Team System, Microsoft expands the definition and audience reach of the Visual Studio product line beyond developers to development teams, adding new tools for project managers, software testers, infrastructure and software architects, and IT business decision-makers. The Team System also offers new advanced features for software developers. With tightly integrated application design, development and quality tools, as well as a customizable software process methodology, Team System offers development teams the tools and processes that will help them increase the predictability of successful projects, gain greater organizational efficiency and lower overall development costs. Visual Studio Team System’s role-based product line includes Visual Studio Team Edition for Software Architects, Visual Studio Team Edition for Software Developers and Visual Studio Team Edition for Software Testers. Also included in Visual Studio Team System is the Visual Studio Team Suite, which contains all three role-based products, and the new Visual Studio Team Foundation Server for more efficient team collaboration.
“The trend to align IT and the line of business clearly mandates that the IT organization provide value throughout the entire application life cycle,” said Theresa Lanowitz, research director at Gartner Inc. “Requirements for products in this market and category have shifted away from individual point products and have instead begun to focus on strategic planning throughout the life cycle. Use of these more strategic products is expected to be one component of building an application quality ecosystem that also consists of people and process.”
Most Visual Studio users receive Visual Studio through an MSDN subscription, and MSDN provides Software Assurance for Visual Studio. Customers choose an MSDN subscription level and receive development and test licenses for Microsoft servers and applications along with an accompanying Visual Studio product. With Visual Studio Team System, customers will continue to receive these MSDN subscription benefits with the new line of subscriptions that complement the Visual Studio 2005 product line.
Subscription and renewal estimated retail pricing for Visual Studio 2005 Team System offers tremendous value relative to the traditionally costly life-cycle products in this segment; prices for volume licenses start at $3,191 including Software Assurance. More information about the estimated retail pricing for Visual Studio 2005 Team System can be found at http://www.msdn.microsoft.com.
In addition, Microsoft will offer an MSDN subscription with Visual Studio Professional Edition products to afford small businesses the same subscription benefits as large enterprises:
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Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition with MSDN Premium subscription: $2,499 (renewal: $1,999)
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Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition with MSDN Professional subscription: $1,199 (renewal: $799)
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MSDN Operating Systems subscription: $699 (renewal: $499)
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MSDN Library subscription: $199 (renewal: $99)
No-Cost Upgrades for Active MSDN Universal Subscribers
Existing MSDN Universal subscribers can enjoy a seamless transition to Visual Studio 2005 Team System and automatically receive a no-cost upgrade to one of the role-based subscription products for each active subscription license they own at the time of product availability. Special upgrade pricing to the Team Suite also will be available. Active subscribers may elect to renew their subscription and preserve their existing pricing for future renewals, if they choose; customers without subscriptions, or customers whose subscriptions have lapsed at the time of product availability, will not receive these special pricing offers.
Promotional Opportunity to Prepare for Visual Studio 2005
In preparation for Visual Studio 2005, Microsoft will also offer promotional pricing for customers who want to purchase or upgrade an MSDN subscription. Acquiring MSDN Universal today will enable customers to take advantage of the no-cost upgrade to Visual Studio 2005 Team System upon the product’s availability in the second half of 2005.
Visual Studio 2005 Transition Benefits Extend to Microsoft Partners
The Microsoft Partner Program provides software and developer license benefits via an MSDN subscription. Along with Visual Studio 2005 product availability, partners will enjoy upgrade and transition benefits. Details about Microsoft Partner Program changes will be available to all partners beginning today. Appropriate transition plans will support partners through this change in their benefits.
About Visual Studio
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Visual Studio 2005 Team System, productive, integrated and extensible software life-cycle tools that enable businesses to reduce the complexity of delivering service-oriented solutions
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Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition, the comprehensive development tool for professional developers working alone or in small teams
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Visual Studio 2005 Standard Edition, a flexible development tool for part-time or line-of-business application developers building Windows®-based, Web or mobile applications
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Visual Studio 2005 Tools for the Microsoft Office System, the comprehensive development tool for professional developers building Microsoft Office System solutions using Excel, Word and InfoPath®
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Visual Studio 2005 Express editions:
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Visual Web Developer (TM) 2005 Express Edition, a lightweight tool for building dynamic Web sites and Web services
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Visual Basic® 2005 Express Edition, Visual C#® 2005 Express Edition, Visual C++® 2005 Express Edition and Visual J#® 2005 Express Edition, streamlined programming tools that help beginning programmers learn how to build Windows-based applications
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About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
1 Pricing given is estimated retail pricing; reseller prices may vary. All prices given are in U.S. dollars.
Microsoft, Visual Studio, MSDN, Windows, InfoPath, Visual Web Developer, Visual Basic, Visual C#, Visual C++ and Visual J# are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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