Microsoft KB Archive/110990

INF: MSDN Level II Distribution and Support Information PSS ID Number: Q110990 Article last modified on 05-10-1994

3.10

WINDOWS

Developer Network Membership Expanded to Include Toolkits and Operating Systems ———————————————————————–

Microsoft announced in November a new level of membership in the Microsoft Developer Network that makes it easy and cost effective for developers of Windows-based applications to receive all essential development kits as they are released.

New to the Developer Network is the Development Platform-a quarterly update to all Microsoft software development kits (SDKs), device driver kits (DDKs), and operating systems, including select international versions, on CD-ROM. The Development Platform is offered in addition to current Developer Network membership benefits, which include the Development Library (formerly called the Microsoft Developer Network CD) and the Developer Network News.

“With the inauguration of the Development Platform, Microsoft will publish all its toolkits and systems on CD,” said Franz Rau, group manager for developer programs. “This will give us a single distribution mechanism for our toolkits, will make sure that developers have all the most up-to-date tools and information, and will enable us to pass the substantial cost savings of publishing on CD along to our customers.”

Members of the Microsoft Developer Network who subscribe to the Development Platform will get their current membership benefits plus the latest released tools and operating systems on CD at least once every three months. The CDs will include current U.S. and select international versions of MS-DOS, Windows, Windows for Workgroups, and Windows NT (retail and debug); all the Microsoft SDKs and DDKs needed to develop Windows-based applications; and each new quarterly release of the Development Library.

It will still be possible to join the Developer Network at the basic level of membership-which includes the Development Library, the Microsoft Developer Network News, and additional discounts and privileges.

Development Platform to be Single Source for Microsoft SDKs, DDKs, and Systems ———————————————————————-

“By the end of 1993, the Microsoft Developer Network with the Development Platform will be the exclusive source of development kits from Microsoft,” said Rau. “This new option will make it unnecessary for developers to scramble around acquiring SDKs and DDKs from different places inside Microsoft. Therefore, we can discontinue further distribution of standalone toolkits.”

“We intend to ensure that all developers have equal access to the full range of new technology information and system software,” said Pat Bellamah, group manager for the Developer Network. “In the past, each Microsoft product group handled sales of its own SDKs, DDKs, development tools, and operating systems.”There was no central source, so it was hard for developers to find what they needed, and they could never be sure they had the latest tools and information. Also, since they had to buy everything individually, it could cost a lot of money to get into the Windows-based programming business, and a lot more to stay current,&quot; said Rau.

All of the documentation for development kits is delivered online as part of the Development Library. Printed copies of the documentation can be ordered from Microsoft Press at additional cost. End-user documentation for the operating systems is not provided as part of the Development Library.

New Support Policy
To accompany the new way of delivering development tools, Microsoft has defined new support guidelines. A membership in the Developer Network with the Development Platform includes a support policy that covers all the development kits and operating systems in the package.


 * The support telephone number is toll-free.
 * Support is provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
 * The first 10 phone-support incidents in the membership year are free of charge. (One incident is a single or related problem, not necessarily one phone call.)
 * Microsoft facilitates a variety of CompuServe forums for developers, which offer direct communication with developers worldwide. (There s no support charge. CompuServe connect charges apply, however.)

Price and Availability
The cost of Developer Network membership (including the Development Platform) is US$495. If you are already a Developer Network member, you can upgrade for US$395. When you upgrade your membership to include the Development Platform, all current Developer Network benefits, including the Development Library, are extended, and your entire membership will run for one year.

To encourage Developer Network members to sign up now for the Development Platform, Microsoft is offering an “early adopter” deal: upgrade before December 31, 1993, and you will get the November release right away, but your subscription won’t start until January 1994. You’ll get your first release free, and you’ll still get all the releases scheduled in 1994.

If you are not completely satisfied with your Developer Network membership including the Development Platform, you can return all discs within 90 days after receiving the first release and receive a full refund. All products supplied as part of the Development Platform are licensed for use by a single user for the sole purposes of developing and testing software products.

Additional reference words: 3.10 msdn level 2 KBCategory: Tls KBSubcategory: TlsMisc

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Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1994.