Microsoft Support Life-Cycle Policies provide consistent and predictable timetables for product support availability. By working the support timetable into business plans, users can budget upgrades to their servers running Exchange Server.
Products available through retail are eligible for two types of support:
| • | Mainstream support includes all the support options and programs that you receive today, such as no-charge incident support, paid incident support, support charged on an hourly basis, support for warranty claims, and hotfix support. |
| • | Extended support may include support charged on an hourly basis and hotfix support. In order to receive hotfix support, an extended hotfix support contract must be purchased within the first 90 days following the end of the mainstream support phase. We will not accept requests for warranty support, design changes, or new features during the extended phase. |
Support lifecycle details for Microsoft Exchange Server are available on the Microsoft Support Lifecycle Web site.
Exchange Server software will be available in all standard product distribution channels (such as hardware manufacturers, retail, and Volume Licensing programs) through licenses or downgrade rights for a minimum of five years from the date that the product becomes commercially available.
To learn more about product availability and support, see:
| • | Product Life Cycle page on the Help and Support site |
| • | Frequently Asked Questions About Exchange Server Life-Cycle Policies |
| • | Benefits of Upgrading to Exchange Server 2003 |
| • | Upgrade resources for Exchange Server 5.5 |