Microsoft has lowered the pricing of its forthcoming
Visual Studio Team System Suite.
Due out on 7 November, Visual Studio Team System is the high-end
version of Microsoft's development suite, which provides a set of
tools for managing software projects.
The suite's three main components are: Team Edition for Software
Testers, Team Edition for Software Developers and Team Edition for
Software Architects. They can be licensed separately for $5,469
(£3,172) each, or bought as a bundle in Team Suite for $10,939
(£6,345).
Microsoft is also selling a product called Team System
Foundation for managing a team's development work.
But in order to use the team development functions in Team
System Foundation, Microsoft previously stated that users needed to
buy a separate $499 (£289) client access licence (CAL) for each
developer, tester, architect and project manager.
However, John Montgomery, director of product management in
Microsoft's development division, said users who buy Team Edition
for Software Testers, Team Edition for Software Developers or Team
Edition for Software Architects will now get a five-seat client
access licence for Team System Foundation if they also take out a
subscription to Microsoft's developer support programme, MSDN
Premium. This represents a saving of almost $2,500 (£1,450).
Also, if users buy or upgrade to the highest level of MSDN
subscription, MSDN Universal, they can buy Visual Studio 2005 Team
System Suite for a promotional price of $2,299 (£1,333).
The price changes come as Microsoft attempts to introduce a new
type of licensing based on job role.
Ovum analyst Bola Rotibi said, "Microsoft has listened to
concerns over licensing [Visual Studio Team System Suite], and
there is still a big concern over role-based licensing. Microsoft
has addressed issues where users have more than one role."
Visual Studio 2005 Team System
This includes design, software development, testing and project
management tools along with version control software.
The tools are licensed based on three job roles: project
manager, software architect and tester. To make the most of the
team development support, users will need Team System Foundation, a
product that provides source code control and asset management plus
integrated work item tracking and reporting.
Pricing
- Each of the three main components in Visual Studio Team 2005
System - Team Edition for Software Architects, Software Developers,
Software Testers - costs $5,469 (£3,172) per licence. This price
includes an MSDN Premium subscription.
- Team Foundation Server: $2,799 (£1,595)
- Team Foundation Server Client Access Licence (CAL): $499
(£289)