Microsoft to shut down TechNet subscription service

z3r010 · 01 Jul 2013

Yeah I've just got 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.

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

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Brink · 01 Jul 2013

At least we still have MSDN for now. R.I.P. TechNet subscriptions.

z3r010 · 01 Jul 2013

MSDN is far too expensive.

jimbo45 · 01 Jul 2013

Hi there

Just had the email myself too.

MSDN for most people is as Z3r010 FAR TOO expensive -- however you've still got ONE YEAR left and a lot can happen in one year.

Current subscribers -- I suggest you grab what you want before Aug 2014 -- especially older OS'es (XP for example) , Office products and servers.

Cheers
jimbo

Layback Bear · 01 Jul 2013

I have no subscriptions to TechNet or MSDN but I'm sure those who abused it are the cause that all will loose it.
Software pirates can cause MSDN to go the same way TechNet has gone.

essenbe · 01 Jul 2013

I just got the email too. I'm not sure of all the implications of the software already downloaded. Guess I'll find out soon enough. I was ready to renew, but for me, I see very little reason to do so.

bobafetthotmail · 02 Jul 2013

Layback Bear said:

I have no subscriptions to TechNet or MSDN but I'm sure those who abused it are the cause that all will loose it.
Software pirates can cause MSDN to go the same way TechNet has gone.

Why blaming piracy?
It's not like people cannot buy a disk, rip it, crack its stuff and then upload it via torrent. And even assuming that it's the case, this is closing the doors after the horses ran away, pointless.

Besides, even the evaluation versions from Technet evaluation center can be cracked.

A more believable thing is that they are shutting down stuff they believe people are using to get legal copies of Windows 7 and XP to try to convince people to get to 8.

Ex_Brit · 02 Jul 2013

MSDN is too expensive for me I'm afraid. Will licenses continue beyond your subscription expiry date or will everything die? I'm good until 4/12/2014 according to their website.

Layback Bear · 02 Jul 2013

Why blaming piracy?

Because piracy is stealing. The more people steal the more things get shut down for honest people.
Companies will continue to try and stop stealing of their products. Some method work and some don't. Some are to late to help. Companies will just keep trying to stop billions of dollars of products from being stole. Whether one kicks in the door or uses a torrent or some good looking web site it's still stealing.