Microsoft retires Technet

[Gatt]

Just had an email - typical just as I start to use it!

 

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.

 

Full FAQ Article: TechNet Subscriptions and Licensing

[plexer]

Ah yes got the email about half an hour ago.

 

Ben

[teejay]

That's a shame, not so bothered about the 'trial' software but will really miss the priority support through the forums, got some great support through that, much better than the telephone support.

[Arthur]

It was bound to happen, especially after they slashed the number of product keys you could get from 10 with a TechNet Professional subscription, to 5 and then to 3.

[Gatt]

I used it at home in a "test lab" environment for "testing" a few things...

Trying to work out the best alternative - VL for a very small SMB?

[nickbro]

This really sucks, MS are closing technet subscriptions next month.

 

Got this email tonight, I use technet to test new software long term, this sucks that it's being ended. I think I'll have to get an MSDN sub now, and Office 365 Premium.

 

 

Microsoft is retiring the TechNet Subscription service.

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. Additional Information:

 

 

More background on Microsoft’s decision to retire the TechNet Subscription service and the implications for current subscribers is available on the TechNet Subscriptions Retirement FAQ page.

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.

 

Thank you for your understanding as we increase focus on growing and investing in our free offerings to better meet the needs of the IT professional community.

- TechNet Subscription Team

 

 

Microsoft respects your privacy. Review our online Privacy Statement.

 

If you would prefer not to receive future promotional email messages from Microsoft Corporation, please click here to unsubscribe. These settings will not affect any newsletters you've requested or any mandatory service communications that are considered part of certain Microsoft services. To set your contact preferences for Microsoft newsletters, see the communications preferences section of the Microsoft Privacy Statement.

Microsoft Corporation

One Microsoft Way

Redmond, WA, USA 98052

 

TechNet Subscriptions and Licensing

[Gatt]

Already posted that here: http://www.edugeek.net/forums/news/117217-microsoft-retires-technet.html

[nickbro]

Ah, my bad, the search didn't work last night

[FN-GM]

Only just started using it!

 

I use TechNet that come with our volume licensing so i can use the support tickets. Do i still get this in some form?

[Gatt]

Not sure about the support tickets, but as I;m reading it once your sub ends - everything with it ends too - so if you need any software / keys - i'd start claiming and downloading them now!

[Gatt]

Someone at El Reg isnt happy either: Microsoft's murder most foul: TechNet is dead ? The Register

[rich_tech]

that's a shame, this was one of the more decent parts of the MS website and the support was generally always quite excellent there I felt, better than half the stuff that you get now on there.

[AngryTechnician]

So I assume we are going to see a corresponding reduction in our EES subs to compensate, hmm?

[tmcd35]

So I assume we are going to see a corresponding reduction in our EES subs to compensate, hmm?

 

Was Technet included in EES? I bought the two seperately, didn't release it would be a benefit...

[plexer]

Yes it is a benefit included in EES.

 

Ben

[mattx]

Is it me or are MS just hell bound of destroying themselves lately ?

First the shite that's Windows 8, then the DRM issue and more over the new Xbox, and now this.

It looks like I'll be downloading and installing illegal torrents then for my VMs and test setups because they are going to shut one of the best subscriber deals I've paid for. Bloody morons.

[Gatt]

Is it me or are MS just hell bound of destroying themselves lately ?

First the that's Windows 8, then the DRM issue and more over the new Xbox, and now this.

It looks like I'll be downloading and installing illegal torrents then for my VMs and test setups because they are going to shut one of the best subscriber deals I've paid for. Bloody morons.

 

Psst - you let a small expletive slip there mate - understandible though as I agree with you - they seem to be doing everything possible to lose their core source of income!

[tmcd35]

Is it me or are MS just hell bound of destroying themselves lately ?

 

I said exactly the same thing after the XBox announcement. You'd never have guessed by their output over the past year or so, their main source of income is flogging Office to businesses customers. Maybe someone needs to remind them of that!

 

First Windows 8, now this. What's next - no more desktop version of Office? Only available as Office 365 in the cloud?

 

Morons!

[Arthur]

A bit of good news...

 

On 1 July 2013, Microsoft announced the retirement of the TechNet Subscriptions program. Since then, we've been listening to your feedback on how we can better support the IT professional community through this transition.

 

Two of the most common pieces of feedback we heard are that you need more time to prepare for this change, and ongoing access to prior versions of Microsoft software. As a result, we're announcing the following updates:

 

• Eligible subscribers with active accounts as of 1 September 2013 will receive a free, one-time, 90 day subscription extension. You can continue to access your product downloads, use your professional support calls*, and get priority support in TechNet Forums through your updated expiration date, which you can find on the My Account page of the TechNet Subscriptions benefits portal.
  
• As TechNet Subscriptions customers begin to transition to the free evaluation resources Microsoft provides, we're improving the TechNet Evaluation Center by making prior versions of products available for trial. Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, and others are available now. We will add additional products over time.
  

We appreciate your feedback and will continue to invest in free evaluation, learning, and support resources to meet your business needs and career goals.

[FN-GM]

We get TechNet with our Licensing and use the 2 free support calls in that. Now TechNet has gone are the support calls also gone?

[Arthur]

Now TechNet has gone are the support calls also gone?

Yes, since they were part of the TechNet subscription.

 

You could always buy a MSDN subscription if you still want the support calls.

 

msdn.microsoft.com/en-gb/subscriptions/buy.aspx