Major Changes to Microsoft Support for Key Products!
On April 14, Microsoft Is Retiring Mainstream Support for Office 2003, Outlook 2003, Windows XP, and Exchange 2003.
Forget about preparing for tax day, make sure you’re ready for the day before. Microsoft is planning on ending mainstream support on April 14 for the following products:
- Office 2003
- Outlook 2003
- Windows XP
- Exchange 2003
What Does This Mean for You?
It means that Microsoft is no longer offering future hot fixes or service packs to these applications. Security updates will be created until 2014 if Microsoft deems a security issue requires a security patch. Microsoft will continue to offer support (which may include hot fixes for bugs) BUT ONLY to customers that purchase a Premier Support program AND an Extended Support agreement for each application.
So What Are Your Options?
- Purchase Premier AND Extended support programs for each application by July 6th. These programs must be purchased directly through Microsoft.
- Plan your strategy for migrating to Office 2007, Exchange 2007, and Vista.
- Delay certain product upgrades—including delaying Vista rollouts in anticipation of the upcoming Windows 7 product
Each organization needs to balance the cost, benefit, and risk of any upgrade (or decision not to upgrade). Exchange 2007 is one of the easy options to review and plan for. The system has proven itself as a stable platform that adds a whole host of new features, including better user options, unified messaging, and enterprise level performance and logging options.
Office 2007 is not as clear cut for some organizations. The new interface and integrated productivity tools are a definite plus for current users, but the system requirements and user re-orientation must be factored into any plan.
The decision on Vista migrations may be the most difficult choice for most. Many organizations have delayed large scale migrations, opting to stay with Windows XP. XP Service Pack 3 was released in November 2008 and the product has had multiple updates since then. The end to regular updates and patches will force organizations to review Vista migration or consider waiting until the final release of the newest desktop OS, Windows 7—slated for release in late 2009 or early 2010.
Are These Dates Set in Stone?
As of press time, Microsoft has confirmed that all dates are valid retirement dates. That said, in the past, Microsoft has moved support dates back, especially for operating systems.
Need Help?
GreenPages can help your organization review your options, figure out the correct licensing program, and implement a migration plan. Our goal is to keep you informed of the latest technology issues that affect your business so please call your GreenPages account manager if you have any questions about this Tech Alert or if you would like to explore your Microsoft product upgrade options.
For detailed information about Microsoft’s Support Lifecycle, visit http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle
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