Microsoft TechNet

Microsoft TechNet was a Microsoft web portal and web service for IT professionals. It included a library containing documentation and technical resources for Microsoft products, a learning center providing online training, discussion forums, an evaluation center for downloading trialware, blogs for Microsoft employees and a wiki. TechNet originally provided a software subscription service similar to Office 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud that allowed subscribers to download Microsoft software under a software as service license for private use. On July 1, 2013, it was announced that Microsoft would be discontinuing the TechNet subscription service, with the purchase and renewal of subscriptions to be closed by August 31, 2013. TechNet also included a web-based TechNet Magazine which has been discontinued since October 2013. Past issues are still available for reading. As of January 2020, TechNet redirects to Microsoft Docs.

Microsoft TechNet was a Microsoft web portal and web service for IT professionals. It included a library containing documentation and technical resources for Microsoft products, a learning center providing online training, discussion forums, an evaluation center for downloading trialware, blogs for Microsoft employees and a wiki. TechNet originally provided a software subscription service similar to Office 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud that allowed subscribers to download Microsoft software under a software as service license for private use. On July 1, 2013, it was announced that Microsoft would be discontinuing the TechNet subscription service, with the purchase and renewal of subscriptions to be closed by August 31, 2013. TechNet also included a web-based TechNet Magazine which has been discontinued since October 2013. Past issues are still available for reading. As of January 2020, TechNet redirects to Microsoft Docs. ===Subscriptions and downloads=== TechNet also provided access to Microsoft software for evaluation purposes through the "TechNet subscription". The annual subscription provided trial-use-only software that was unlocked only so long as a subscription was maintained. The Standard subscription provided access to most of their software except specific enterprise-oriented software and included one collection of Microsoft E-learning. The Professional subscription was more expensive and provided access to all their software and included two free professional support calls and two collections of Microsoft E-learning. On July 1, 2013, Microsoft announced the retirement of the TechNet Subscriptions service to focus on growing its free offerings, including evaluation resources through the TechNet Evaluation Center, expert-led learning through the Microsoft Virtual Academy, and community-moderated technical support through the TechNet Forums to better meet the needs of the growing IT professional community. The last day to purchase a TechNet Subscription was August 31, 2013. Subscribers could activate purchased subscriptions through September 30, 2013. Microsoft announced an extended 90-days plan to help existing subscribers get used to the new situation.

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