Technet retiring

TechNet Subscriptions retirement

Just had the email inforiming me that as for 31 August 2013 Technet is going to stop new sales.

The Main information from the email

As IT trends and business dynamics have evolved, so has Microsoft’s set of offerings for IT professionals who are looking to learn, evaluate and deploy Microsoft technologies and services. In recent years, we have seen a usage shift from paid to free evaluation experiences and resources. As a result, Microsoft has decided to retire the TechNet Subscriptions service and will discontinue sales on August 31, 2013.

Subscribers with active accounts may continue to access program benefits until their current subscription period concludes.

We are committed to helping customers through this transition phase and will remain focused on providing IT professionals with free access to a broad set of TechNet assets that support the needs of IT professionals around the world.

Improved Free Offerings for IT Professionals Include:
• TechNet Evaluation Center: Free evaluation software with no feature limits, available for 30-180 days. Includes rich evaluation resources and TechNet Virtual Labs, which enable you to evaluate software without the need to install bits locally.
• Microsoft Virtual Academy: Free online learning site, with over 200 expert-led technical training courses across more than 15 Microsoft technologies with more added weekly.
• TechNet Forums: Free online forums where IT professionals can ask technical questions and receive rapid responses from members of the community.
Please note, MSDN Subscriptions provide a paid set of offerings that are also available for those who require access to evaluation software beyond what the above free offerings provide.
 
Quote:

"Is the TechNet Subscriptions retirement related to piracy concerns?
As IT trends and business dynamics have evolved, so has Microsoft’s set of offerings for IT professionals who are looking to learn, evaluate and deploy Microsoft technologies and services. In recent years, we have seen a usage shift from paid to free evaluation experiences and resources. Although the TechNet Subscriptions service has experienced piracy and license misuse in the past, there was no single factor in the decision to retire the TechNet Subscriptions service."

:rolleyes:

So what if the free evaluation periods aren't long enough for proper evaluation? :)
 
This is more about forcing users to upgrade then anything else. One of the reasons for having a technet subscription was so I could download Server 2003 and SQL 2005, or whatever outdated software, so that I could solve a problem for a client. Free evaluation versions are only the latest software packages. Not the older items we need to support.

Does MSDN have this software? I really don't know anything about it.
 
Please picture me making the most disgusted face I can manage.

Why? Why would they do this?

I recommend all current subscribers get on the phone with TechNet Support and register their complaints. It likely won't do much good, but if there is enough backlash, Microsoft might reverse the decision.
 
There no real indication that there is any kind of kill switch in the Technet versions of the software. I've known people that let there sub. expire and the software didn't self destruct. It is NOT legal to use it that way and Microsoft can come after you but there doesn't seem to be any code in the keys that lets the Activation Center know you are legal or not. Piracy has always been an issue with Technet but there never been enough for them to really invest in draconian methods to eliminate theft.

If at least offered a discount for MSDN for current Technet subscribers I wouldn't be as ****** right now. There is a lot of duplication in Technet and MSDN so it is understandable that they want to eliminate it.

Wonder how long the Action Pack is going to survive. THAT would be a major expensive for my business if I couldn't get NFR software for my systems.
 
This was my source for ISO's mostly. Not very pleased. From what I remember the software selection in the action pack is more limited than technet. Maybe I'll buy a new subscription before the deadline and give myself a year to figure out what to do.
 
I can see why people are upset but reading those posts on the technet forums it sounds like a lot of those people are actually using the technet software on their production machines and for day to day use.
This is not what technet is for, did they not read the t&c's?
Technet software is for testing only.
So I don't see a problem with MS suggesting that people use the trial versions for this, especially if they can be used for 180 days.

I just let my technet sub end last month so probably won't renew.

If you want software to use on live systems then you need the Action Pack.
 
Ha!
...... And there was me asking whether it was worthwhile signing up with technet or not.

Looks like the decision has been made for me.
 
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