Visual Studio and All Microsoft Software Free!

Hello All,

Wasn't sure if this had been posted or not, but Microsoft's Biz Spark program provides MSDN Universal subscriptions to developers in startup companies/businesses. There are some rules like the company must be less than 3 years old and making less than $1,000,000 a year.

But for those who fall into that category, you get access to all of Microsoft's software for a 3 year period in order to help in the development, testing and demonstration of your apps. After the three years you can continue using the software you got, you just won't get all the newest products that release after that period. You can get more info at the site, I just wanted to point this out as between this and the Adobe Creative cloud ($50 a month for ALL of adobe's products) it feels like Christmas as a developer who is starting a game development business.

Microsoft Biz Spark Program

Hope this helps some of you especially with your windows 8 and windows phone development. I am loving it.

Thanks,

James Waymire

I wonder if it allows commercial use after the 3 year period... and I just purchased VS 2010 pro last year darn <img src="smileys/smiley17.gif" border="0" align="middle" /> but this is still great news! Thanks for sharing <img src="smileys/smiley4.gif" border="0" align="middle" />

You still get perpetual use on the software after the three years. It's listed in the rules and policies of the agreement. You just won't get any newly released software added after the end of the 3 years. So if your 3 years ends in January and the new Shiny comes out in February it won't get added to your library

We use Biz Spark and it's incredibly useful. Free Windows 8 and 7 keys have saved us a couple of times.

I guess you need to be a registered business to qualify?

Yes, you must be a legitimately registered business as they will do a check. This keeps people from just exploiting it and getting free software for the hell of it. It is intended to help start up companies get the resources they need to be successful.

I'm also using BizSpark program and would say it is very useful. All the development tools related to W8 and whatnot are totally free, from W8 OS, VS 2012, Office and even Azure. Coming from a third world country, this is ultimately awesome!