Microsoft Announces Availability and Pricing of SMB Server Bundles

Microsoft announced that pre-release versions of its upcoming Windows Essential Server Solutions for small to midsize companies are available immediately. The company also outlined its pricing strategy for the solutions.The bundles, due to be out in the second half of the year, are built on Windows Server 2008 and Exchange Server 2007 and can also include -- depending on the version -- security software, integration with the Office Live Small Business hosted service, or SQL Server 2008.

The prices have gone up since Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2003, however. The standard edition of SBS 2008, including five client access licenses, will cost $1,089. With the 20 percent smaller firms can get through Microsoft's Open License program, that works out to $871, compared to $521 for the standard version of SBS 2003.

A Microsoft spokesman said that changes to the licensing terms would enable most customers to save money. With SBS 2003, for example, customers had to buy five client licenses at a time, while with SBS 2008 they can be purchased individually.