Microsoft ESP News Update
David Boker
Senior Director, Business Development Group, Microsoft ACES Studio
Microsoft Corp.
On January 22, 2009 Microsoft closed Aces Studio, the publishers of Microsoft® ESP™. This was done in response to the challenging economic climate and a sharpening of the company’s strategic focus.
Microsoft has ceased further development of Microsoft® ESP™, but ESP remains available to customers and partners. Microsoft is currently exploring 3rd party licensing options for the future of ESP and will announce details at the appropriate time.
- VOLUME LICENSING: Microsoft ESP Client and SDK SKUs will remain on Microsoft’s Select and Open Volume Licensing price lists through at least December 31, 2009. ESP is no longer available as an Enterprise Agreement (EA) license offering. ESP Software Assurance has been discontinued.
- SINGLE-LICENSE Full Packaged Product (FPP) SKUs (US and Canada only): The ESP Client and ESP SDK packaged product SKUs, targeted at customers seeking less than five licenses, will remain available through at least February 28, 2010 - available in the US and Canada only. They can be purchased directly from Microsoft through the online store located through the ESP Purchase web page at http://www.microsoft.com/esp/purchase_esp/overview.htm. Select either Canada or US, then below the listed reseller icons find and click the link in the text - To purchase quantities of less than five (5) licenses, please click here.
- SUPPORT: ESP support will be available through December, 2012 in accordance with Microsoft’s five-year product support policy. Visit the Microsoft Support website for more details.
- MSDN.COM/ESP: The ESP MSDN site will remain active for an indefinite period.
- MICROSOFT.COM/ESP WEBSITE: This site will remain active as long as ESP is available on Microsoft’s Volume Licensing price lists (currently through at least December 31, 2009).
We appreciate your interest and support for Microsoft ESP. Please contact me if you have any additional questions.