Microsoft Launched WebsiteSpark

Microsoft has recently launched WebsiteSpark. WebsiteSpark is a new programs designed to benefit professional web developers and designers around the world by providing them with free software, support and business resources from Microsoft for three years. Its main aim is to allow independent web developers to expand their business and build great web solutions and grow successful businesses on the Microsoft Web Platform by the usage of ASP.NET, Silverlight, SharePoint and PHP, and the open source applications built on top of them.

Microsoft is slowly and gradually increasing its Spark family of programmes. Earlier it had introduced BizSpark for startups and DreamSpark for students. Now WebsiteSpark joins the two programs together thus creating a Spark family. It provides software licenses that you can use for three years at no cost, once enrolled.

Scott Guthrie, a corporate vice president in the Microsoft Developer Division, says in his blog post, “WebsiteSpark is a three-year program. There is no obligation to continue to use any of the software after the three years are over, and there are no costs for the three years other than a $100 program fee at the end of the three years.

“At the end of the three years, websiteSpark participants can optionally choose to purchase all of the software in the websiteSpark program via a $999 a year package. This includes 3 copies of VS Professional, 1 copy of Expression Studio (including Blend and Sketchflow), 2 copies of Expression web, and 4 processor licences of Windows web Server 2008 and 4 processor licences of SQL Server Web Edition that can be used for production deployment.”

WebsiteSpark Program targets those companies which have ten or lesser employees, by providing them with Microsoft software and solutions, together with related tools, training and support, to help their businesses succeed. There is only a $100 programme fee, payable at exit, with no other costs or obligations. Once approved, these companies can have access to a series of offerings.

“These include Microsoft web design and development tools, including three licences of Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition, two licenses of Microsoft Expression web 3 and one license of Microsoft Expression Studio 3. And it offers four processor licences for production usage to Windows web Server 2008 or R2 (when available) and four processor licenses for production usage to Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Web Edition, as well as a third-party premium website control panel (DotNetPanel).”

“Developers are the lifeblood of our business, and we are wholly committed to ensuring their success,” said Bob Muglia, president of Microsoft’s Server and Tools Business division, in a statement. “WebsiteSpark makes Microsoft’s web development tools and support more accessible to developers and designers at small companies as they create inventive applications for the web. Our third Spark programme, WebsiteSpark furthers our commitment to ignite innovation among key communities and individuals.”

“We’ve extended our partner ecosystem,” said Lauren Cooney, group product manager for web platform and standards in Microsoft’s Developer Division. “We’re committed to our developer and designer partners. We’re creating and strengthening our ecosystem around the developer community, and we’re extending that reach from small companies to large enterprises.”

Microsoft’s WebsiteSpark Programme is now available worldwide. This program will turn out to be of great help for the small companies in Pakistan. Thus whosoever has planned out to start a software house can benefit from it directly at this very moment.

“Coming at a time when the current economic climate is still tough, WebsiteSpark will help support developers and companies by providing the business resources, training and software necessary for companies to get started and grow successful businesses on the Microsoft Web Platform,” Guthrie said.