Update on the Visual Studio Team System Product Line.

Now that we have shipped Visual Studio Beta 2, I wanted to take some time to update you on the licensing of Visual Studio 2005.

We've been listening to the feedback we've received since the Visual Studio Team System product line was announced in March.

We are now taking action to respond to your suggestions.

1.       We will place a limited version of Team Foundation Server in each edition of the Visual Studio Team System family (Architects, Developers and Testers). 

a.       This version will be limited to up to 5 users.

b.       Teams with >5 users will find the full version of Team Foundation Server to be significantly more cost effective than current source code control solutions and offers tremendous value through its role as the core of integration across all of the Team System.

2.       Going forward, current MSDN Universal customers will have three choices for upgrading to the full Visual Studio product line.

a.       Universal subscribers that want all of the client functionality of Team System will be able to upgrade to Team Suite by paying just the incremental software assurance or renewal price for the duration of their agreement. In most cases this will represent a > 75% discount on the full price of Team Suite. Volume customers will, of course, pay less.

b.       Universal subscribers who want Team Edition for Software Architects, Team Edition for Software Developers, or Team Edition for Software Testers will be able to upgrade at no additional cost. Each of these “role Editions” includes the MSDN Premium Subscription.

c.       Universal subscribers who want the 2005 equivalent of MSDN Universal can simply choose Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition with MSDN Premium Subscription and get the functional equivalent of MSDN Universal for about 15% less than what they paid today.

A summary of these upgrade options can be found here.

N.b. If you would like the free upgrade to Team Edition for Software Developers and not Team Suite or Team Edition for Software Architects or Team Edition for Software Testers you can now do this from your MSDN Enterprise Subscription!

If you would like to take advantage of these cost efficient upgrade options still the best way is to get on MSDN now .

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.