Microsoft today released the US pricing for Small Business Server 2008 & Essential Business Server 2008. Full details on the press release here.

In summary, the pricing of the new products is as follows:

  • Windows Small Business Server 2008 Standard Edition software, full boxed product, including five CALs, US$1,089; additional CALs US$77 each
  • Windows Small Business Server 2008 Premium Edition software, full boxed product, including five CALs, US$1,899; additional CALs US$189 each
  • Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Standard Edition software, including five CALs, US$5,472; additional CALs US$81 each
  • Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Premium Edition software, including five CALs, US$7,163; additional CALs US$195 each

Pricing is yet to be determined for Australia as we will examine factors such as the exchange rate, market penetration, customer demand etc before announcing the local price. More on this to come. The above prices also do not represent OEM, which is typically how these products are sold.

There are quite a few licensing improvements over the current Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 product including:

  • Customers will be able to purchase single client access licenses (CALs), so they will pay only for the exact number of employees using the product.
  • Customers can cost-effectively purchase a mix of Standard or Premium CALs, as appropriate to the technologies that individual employees are using.
  • CALs now apply to other copies of Windows Server, SQL Server or Exchange Server on the network, eliminating the need to purchase additional CALs.

Lots of other announcements overnight - watch this space - however I'd be interested in your feedback on the pricing.

Robbie