Microsoft extends product support to 10 years

Dom · May 26, 2004, 07:49 PM

MAY 25, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - Microsoft Corp. next month will institute a new product life-cycle policy that extends support for Microsoft products to a minimum of 10 years from the current seven years. The updated policy also provides increased support for IT infrastructure security assistance, Microsoft said at its Tech Ed conference in San Diego.

The announcement, in a keynote presentation by Microsoft Corporate Vice President Andy Lees, was welcomed with applause by the audience.

Microsoft currently offers five years of mainstream support and two years of extended support. Under the new policy, which starts June 1, customers will still get at least five years of mainstream support after the date a product ships, but the support period now automatically extends for two years after the next version of the product ships. This could result in more than five years of mainstream support.

Under the new policy, after mainstream supports ends, Microsoft will provide extended support for five years or for two years after the second successor product ships, whichever results in the longest support period, the company said. By "second successor" Microsoft refers to the second major upgrade of the product.

"This is designed so that we never have less than two years for a customer to migrate to the next version," said Peter Houston, a senior director at Microsoft. "Customers can now predict in advance how long they are going to get support even if they don't know when the next product is coming out.

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Source: ComputerWorld

The_Neon_Cowboy · May 26, 2004, 07:57 PM

rofl they give like 90 days to a year then they wanna charge you like $35 per occurace for end users technical support btw

they must be talking about program updates when nessacary or something cause i know ther not talking about like phone/email support

May 26, 2004, 07:49 PM	#1
Dom DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 12,940 Rep Power: 0	Microsoft extends product support to 10 years MAY 25, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - Microsoft Corp. next month will institute a new product life-cycle policy that extends support for Microsoft products to a minimum of 10 years from the current seven years. The updated policy also provides increased support for IT infrastructure security assistance, Microsoft said at its Tech Ed conference in San Diego. The announcement, in a keynote presentation by Microsoft Corporate Vice President Andy Lees, was welcomed with applause by the audience. Microsoft currently offers five years of mainstream support and two years of extended support. Under the new policy, which starts June 1, customers will still get at least five years of mainstream support after the date a product ships, but the support period now automatically extends for two years after the next version of the product ships. This could result in more than five years of mainstream support. Under the new policy, after mainstream supports ends, Microsoft will provide extended support for five years or for two years after the second successor product ships, whichever results in the longest support period, the company said. By "second successor" Microsoft refers to the second major upgrade of the product. "This is designed so that we never have less than two years for a customer to migrate to the next version," said Peter Houston, a senior director at Microsoft. "Customers can now predict in advance how long they are going to get support even if they don't know when the next product is coming out. Read More... ___________________________ Source: ComputerWorld

May 26, 2004, 07:57 PM	#2
The_Neon_Cowboy HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 16,009 Rep Power: 92 System Specs	rofl they give like 90 days to a year then they wanna charge you like $35 per occurace for end users technical support btw they must be talking about program updates when nessacary or something cause i know ther not talking about like phone/email support __________________