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images/news/microsoft.jpgLess than a week ago, Microsoft blogger Paul Thurrott mention a supposed TechNet bug, via which subscribers to Microsoft’s TechNet service were missing some of their product-license keys.
It turns out this wasn’t a bug; it’s a “feature,” according to Microsoft.
Thurrott updated his September 19 blog post, noting the change in terms of service were intentional, not an accident. The Register followed up yesterday, noting the quiet change, and claiming the move was done without notice.
I asked Microsoft why it had reduced the number of product-license keys available to TechNet subscribers and told it was primarily a piracy-prevention issue.
If you sign up for a TechNet Professional subscription you now get five product keys. If you sign up for TechNet Standard, you get two. TechNet subscribers previously got 10 product keys as part of their subscription price.
A TechNet Standard subscription costs $199 ($149 for an upgrade). A Professional subscription costs $349 ($249 for a renewal). For customer who want media included, the price of a TechNet subscription is $599 ($499 for a renewal). TechNet subscribers get access to Windows, Office, SharePoint, CRM, ERP and a wide range of other Microsoft software as part of the licensing fee.
Read on at Mary Jo Foley's Blog
It turns out this wasn’t a bug; it’s a “feature,” according to Microsoft.
Thurrott updated his September 19 blog post, noting the change in terms of service were intentional, not an accident. The Register followed up yesterday, noting the quiet change, and claiming the move was done without notice.
I asked Microsoft why it had reduced the number of product-license keys available to TechNet subscribers and told it was primarily a piracy-prevention issue.
If you sign up for a TechNet Professional subscription you now get five product keys. If you sign up for TechNet Standard, you get two. TechNet subscribers previously got 10 product keys as part of their subscription price.
A TechNet Standard subscription costs $199 ($149 for an upgrade). A Professional subscription costs $349 ($249 for a renewal). For customer who want media included, the price of a TechNet subscription is $599 ($499 for a renewal). TechNet subscribers get access to Windows, Office, SharePoint, CRM, ERP and a wide range of other Microsoft software as part of the licensing fee.
Read on at Mary Jo Foley's Blog
