Microsoft extends product lifecycle

 

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By Alun Williams

Posted on 17 Oct 2002 at 16:25

Microsoft moves to provide 'predictable and consistent' guidelines on product support.

Microsoft has unveiled a Support Lifecycle Policy. This contains official guidelines for product support availability at the time of product release.

Taking effect from 15 October 2002, it applies to most of the Microsoft range currently available through retail purchase or volume licensing and to most future releases.

The points Microsoft are highlighting are that 'Business and Development' software will be supported for a minimum of five years, from the date of a product's general availability. After that, 'extended support' will be available at an extra cost.

For consumer, hardware and multimedia products, Microsoft will again offer a minimum of five years of mainstream support from the date of a product's general availability. However, for products with a new version released annually (e.g. Money Encarta, etc.) there will be a minimum of three years support from their date of availability.

Generally speaking 'Extended Support' is closed two years after the mainstream support is 'retired'. For example, randomly selecting Visual C# .Net - this was released 15 April 2002, mainstream support ends 30 June 2007 and any extended support runs out by 30 June 2009.

Why is Microsoft defining a Support Lifecycle Policy? The reason given is that the software giant is responding to feedback to 'be consistent and to demonstrate predictability' in the area of support. The idea is to 'establish a clear and predictable policy for product support timelines, and to assist customers and partners with managing their support needs.' The quotes are taken from a FAQ on the support policy that you can find on the Microsoft Web site.

You will have to visit the 'Locate Your Product' page to find the individual support timelines of particular products.

Note that online 'self-help support' will be available for at least eight years, for most products.