Microsoft BizSpark seems to good to be true

w00519772

I am a software developer who works full time for a company.

I also develop occasionally part time. I recently subscribed to BizSpark here: http://www.microsoft.com/bizspark as I meet the criteria and I was accepted.

I was surprised as I thought it may only be open to full time private developers, rather than part time private developers. The programme almost seems to good to be true i.e. you have access to almost all Microsofts tools free of charge.

Is there a solicitor who I can pay and who can advise me what restrictions there are on this program? There don't seem to be any BizSpark forums i.e. you have to write an email and wait for about one week to get a response.

InsideInsurance

You can pay a solicitor if you want, seems excessive to me.

The give you software for three years in the hope that you set up a small business that is tied into the Microsoft environment and so continues to buy software of subscriptions afterwards.

Microsoft are losing market share left right and centre so not surprising they need to try an lure people into developing new applications for them. Many other platforms give their tools for free as standard plus even with MS you have the Express versions of most of their apps that are featured enough for most users

w00519772

InsideInsurance wrote: »

You can pay a solicitor if you want, seems excessive to me.

The give you software for three years in the hope that you set up a small business that is tied into the Microsoft environment and so continues to buy software of subscriptions afterwards.

Microsoft are losing market share left right and centre so not surprising they need to try an lure people into developing new applications for them. Many other platforms give their tools for free as standard plus even with MS you have the Express versions of most of their apps that are featured enough for most users

Thanks. What are the restrictions for using the software i.e. can you use all software e.g. windows 8 as if it was Open Source? I would like to setup a Windows 8 Virtual machine on my Windows 7 PC for testing.

Do you have a BizSpark account?

AndyHams_New

w00519772 wrote: »

Thanks. What are the restrictions for using the software i.e. can you use all software e.g. windows 8 as if it was Open Source? I would like to setup a Windows 8 Virtual machine on my Windows 7 PC for testing.

Do you have a BizSpark account?

i have one but its not free for me anymore as it was registered when at University in terms of studying programmings like VB.Net Ect

Last time i used it mind Windows 8 was just on the horizon I guess you could try but knowing MS licencing it will let you run it as a duel Boot program But not a network ect in terms of win 8 over 7 via VMwere ect

w00519772

AndyHams_New wrote: »

i have one but its not free for me anymore as it was registered when at University in terms of studying programmings like VB.Net Ect

Last time i used it mind Windows 8 was just on the horizon I guess you could try but knowing MS licencing it will let you run it as a duel Boot program But not a network ect in terms of win 8 over 7 via VMwere ect

Thanks. Were you a part time private developer or full time private developer when you last used it. I didn't think it was permitted to use it for learning purposes?

AndyHams_New

w00519772 wrote: »

Thanks. Were you a part time private developer or full time private developer when you last used it. I didn't think it was permitted to use it for learning purposes?

It was Dream spark back then Microsoft changed it to Biz spark and it was for Academics also who were learning in Further Education at schools and degree programming level ect,

Same rules apply either way all software has to be registered like Biz spark ect.

InsideInsurance

w00519772 wrote: »

Thanks. What are the restrictions for using the software i.e. can you use all software e.g. windows 8 as if it was Open Source? I would like to setup a Windows 8 Virtual machine on my Windows 7 PC for testing.

Do you have a BizSpark account?

No, I am at most a hobbiest coder and havent even done much of that in recent years.

You need to read the actual terms properly, the headlines they say it isnt like opensource as you cannot redistribute it (or edit the source code) but within your organisation you will be able to reuse it on VMs etc for the purposes of creating your applications.

The main constraint is that this can only be used by a business that is intending to make/ sell a piece of software. It shouldnt just be used for fun nor for a basic web designer. What governance they have in place to ensure that you are doing what you state you intend to is another matter.

w00519772

AndyHams_New wrote: »

It was Dream spark back then Microsoft changed it to Biz spark and it was for Academics also who were learning in Further Education at schools and degree programming level ect,

Same rules apply either way all software has to be registered like Biz spark ect.

Thanks. I did not renew my subscription after year one (October 2014). I want to renew it now. If I login to Bizspark then I have the option to renew it.

Will the clock start ticking for year two after I click renew ow will it start ticking from October 2014? On the original application form I stated the business start date as October 2010 as this is when I received my first invoice (for £5!). Therefore will my entitlement to use the scheme end in October 2015 (five years from October 2010) or April 2016 (one year from my next renewal)?

I read this webpage here: http://giderosmobile.com/forum/discussion/3061/wp8-bizspark-giving-away-a-free-year/p1 and SinisterSoft says:

"they have a habit of extending these things, I've had BizSpark since it started - they just keep extending it by another 3 years when it run out."