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

3.10

WINDOWS


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The information in this article applies to:

 - Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Development Platform CD
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Developer Network Membership Expanded to Include Toolkits and Operating
Systems
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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
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"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," 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
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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.
