Microsoft shutters TechNet subscriptions

Microsoft TechNet Subscription

Citing a change in the way IT professionals consume information, Microsoft has closed down its long-running TechNet subscription service.

"In recent years, we have seen a usage shift from paid to free evaluation experiences and resources," read the announcement explaining the discontinuation.

Potential users of the service will have until Aug. 31 to purchase a new one-year subscription and until Sept. 30 to activate it.

For over a decade, Microsoft has run the TechNet site and service to provide forums, tutorials, evaluation copies of software, news and other helpful aids for IT professionals who need to become more knowledgeable about Microsoft software. The subscription service component of TechNet allowed subscribers to install and run full-featured copies of Microsoft's latest software for limited periods of time and offered prioritized telephone support.

Microsoft will continue to run TechNet site itself, but offer evaluation copies of its new software at no cost through the TechNet Evaluation Center instead. Users have also been able to access evaluation copies of the latest software through the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) subscription service.

Although TechNet subscriptions provided an illicit though relatively easy source of software licensing keys for pirates, Microsoft downplayed that this issue led to the discontinuation, emphasizing instead how IT professionals prefer to no longer pay for downloads and helpful aids, and seek answers from the Web instead.

"Although the TechNet Subscriptions service has experienced piracy and license misuse in the past, there was no single factor in the decision to retire the TechNet Subscriptions service," the announcement read.

Microsoft offers the TechNet Standard edition for US$199, though retailers such as Office Depot and CDW usually further discount the package.

Joab Jackson covers enterprise software and general technology breaking news for The IDG News Service. Follow Joab on Twitter at @Joab_Jackson. Joab's e-mail address is Joab_Jackson@idg.com