Visual Studio 2010 addition to Microsoft Partner benefits and MSDN – What it means for you and when

Today, the Microsoft Developer Division announced the immediate availability of Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Beta 2 and Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Beta 2 to MSDN subscribers, with general availability following on Oct. 21. This is an exciting new offering to developers and Partners around the world. With this new and more simplified suite of subscriptions that will be available to Visual Studio and MSDN subscribers upon final launch, this in turn will provide a modified suite of benefits that will be made available to Partners thru the Microsoft Partner Network. So what are these new benefits that will be offered and what do they mean for you? Let’s take a look:

First, it is important to note that although the Visual Studio 2010 with MSDN announcement is being made today, the new benefits will not go live until March 22nd 2010 at the earliest. So you have plenty of time before these updates go into effect.

Second, it is important to note that all partners will receive equal or greater benefits for developers (across Visual Studio, MSDN, and TechNet subscriptions) with the move from Visual Studio 2008 to Visual Studio 2010.

Now let’s break down the enhancements to the benefits by Partner level:

For the Microsoft Partners at the Certified Partner Level:

Current Benefit

Benefit when Visual Studio 2010 launches (March 22, 2010)

Net change

Qty. 5 Visual Studio 2008 Professional with MSDN Premium subscriptions

Qty. 5 Visual Studio 2010 Professional with MSDN Premium* subscriptions

Additions:

•Visual Studio 2010 Professional (new version with new features)

•Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2010 (first time the full version has been made available to MSDN subscribers)

•As an MSDN subscriber, three technical contacts in your organization will get access to Microsoft E-Learning course collections to stay up-to-date on Microsoft technologies, and can also reduce the strain on your training budget.

Removals:

•None

* This subscription benefit level will be maintained for MPN, though it will no longer be available for sale in the Visual Studio 2010 product offering.

For the Microsoft Partners at the Certified Partner Level with ISV and/or CDS Competency:

Current Benefit

Benefit when Visual Studio 2010 launches (March 22, 2010)

Net change

Qty. 10 Visual Studio Team System 2008 Development Edition with MSDN Premium subscriptions

Qty. 1 Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Foundation Server

Qty. 10 Visual Studio 2010 Premium with MSDN subscriptions

Additions:

•Visual Studio 2010 Premium (new version with new features, replacing VSTS Development Edition)

•Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2010 (first time the full version has been made available to MSDN subscribers)

Removals:

•Team Foundation Server 2008 (now included in MSDN subscriptions instead of being a separate benefit)

For the Microsoft Partners at the Gold Certified Partner Level:

Current Benefit

Benefit when Visual Studio 2010 launches (March 22, 2010)

Net change

Qty. 10 Visual Studio Team System 2008 Development Edition with MSDN Premium subscriptions

Qty. 10 Visual Studio 2010 Premium with MSDN subscriptions

Additions:

•Visual Studio 2010 Premium (new version with new features, replacing VSTS Development Edition)

•Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2010 (first time the full version has been made available to MSDN subscribers)

•As an MSDN subscriber, three technical contacts in your organization will get access to Microsoft E-Learning course collections to stay up-to-date on Microsoft technologies, and can also reduce the strain on your training budget.

Removals:

•None

For the Microsoft Partners at the Gold Certified Partner Level with ISV and/or CDS Competency:

Current Benefit

Benefit when Visual Studio 2010 launches (March 22, 2010)

Net change

Qty. 35 Visual Studio Team System 2008 Development Edition with MSDN Premium subscriptions

Qty. 1 Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Foundation Server

Qty. 35 Visual Studio 2010 Premium with MSDN subscriptions

Additions:

•Visual Studio 2010 Premium (new version with new features, replacing VSTS Development Edition)

•Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2010 (first time the full version has been made available to MSDN subscribers)

Removals:

•Team Foundation Server 2008 (now included in MSDN subscriptions instead of being a separate benefit)

For the Microsoft Partners with Empower for ISVs subscriptions:

Current Benefit

Benefit when Visual Studio 2010 launches (March 22, 2010)

Net change

Qty. 1 Visual Studio 2008 Professional with MSDN Premium subscription

Qty. 5 Visual Studio 2008 Professional

Qty. 1 Visual Studio 2010 Professional with MSDN Premium* subscription

Qty. 5 Visual Studio 2010 Professional

Additions:

•Visual Studio 2010 Professional (new version with new features)

•Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2010 (first time the full version has been made available to MSDN subscribers)

•As an MSDN subscriber, one technical contact in your organization will get access to Microsoft E-Learning course collections to stay up-to-date on Microsoft technologies, and can also reduce the strain on your training budget.

Removals:

•None

* This subscription benefit level will be maintained for MPN, though it will no longer be available for sale in the Visual Studio 2010 product offering.

These are some very changes coming to the varying Partner level benefits based on the announcement of Visual Studio 2010 and MSDN. For more information on the MSDN benefit included as part of the Microsoft Partner Network, you can view the MSDN Subscription benefit page on the Microsoft Partner Portal HERE.

You can read more about the announcement of Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Beta 2 and Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Beta 2 in the Microsoft PressPass announcement.

Be sure to also check out my, “Answers to many common Microsoft Partner membership and level questions,” post to learn more about the Microsoft Partner Network, the levels, how to become a Certified or Gold Certified level Partner, other benefits included for members of the Microsoft Partner Network at the various levels, and much, much more.

Thank you and have a wonderful day,

Eric LigmanFollow me on TWITTER clip_image001and RSS clip_image002
Global Partner Experience Lead
Microsoft Worldwide Partner Group
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights

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