 | ISSUE DATE April 2012
To subscribe to this newsletter and receive it directly in your inbox, click here. If you have any questions about the information in this newsletter, please contact your Microsoft Sales Account Manager, Technical Account Manager, or Microsoft Partner. | | | NOTES FROM THE EDITOR | 
| |  Hello,
In our last newsletter, we focused on answering the top three questions that customers have about the end of support for Windows XP and Office 2003. In this edition, we'll focus on key considerations for our customers to prepare for this event.
April 8, 2012, marked the two-year countdown to the end of support for Windows XP and Office 2003, which means that in less than two years security updates and support will no longer be available. For those who have not yet migrated, you should start now because you will need the remaining time to plan and execute migrations, align internal budgets, and deliver company communications and training. Contact your Microsoft representative or Partner to begin your planning to ensure a smooth migration.
The countdown has begun, and to help keep this top of mind, you can install this handy Windows XP Countdown Gadget.
Please remember, you can sign up to receive localized editions of this Microsoft Lifecycle Policy quarterly newsletter in French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. Find more information on subscribing directly to these localized editions.
We appreciate your readership and support! Your thoughts and feedback are always welcome.
Thank you,
Kathy Fedor
Senior Director
Microsoft Support Lifecycle, Microsoft Services | | | SPOTLIGHT |
| | End of Support for Windows XP and Office 2003: Some Key Considerations
Mark your calendar for April 8, 2014. If you are a customer using Windows XP and Office 2003, there are less than 750 days left to migrate to Windows 7 and Office 2010. Start now to review your current operating system and applications as well as create your migration plan. Safety and security are a top concern in today's
fast-paced world, and being on unsupported software will make you vulnerable.
Why does it make sense to migrate to our newer, supported products, such as Windows 7?
Not only will migrating help protect your data and keep you secure, you will also find that Windows 7 is more reliable and manageable than any previous Microsoft operating system. Windows 7 simplifies everyday tasks and it supports the technologies that fit modern users' work style. Additionally, it offers you new capabilities for getting things done. Learn more about the benefits of migrating to Windows 7.
Not only is Windows 7 designed to meet the technology requirements of today's computing environment, but migrating now will help you gain substantial results today while laying the foundation for future versions of these products. Customers who migrate to Windows 7 are better prepared for the move to online services and Windows 8. If you are concerned about application compatibility, check out this Microsoft Application Compatibility toolkit to learn more about your current system's compatibility with Windows 7.
Resources to help plan your migration: | | | POLICY UPDATES |
| | Office 2007: Mainstream Support End Date
On occasion, the duration of Mainstream Support for a product may be affected by the release of its successor product. Office 2007, which released on January 27, 2007, is such a product. Its successor, Office 2010, released on July 15, 2010, and the lifecycle policy ensures that our Office 2007 customers will have at least two years of Mainstream Support available. For this reason, the end date for Office 2007 Mainstream Support is October 9, 2012, as shown in this diagram: 
For more information, see http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifePolicy or contact your Technical Account Manager. | | | Other Products Reaching End of Support |
| | Support Ended in Past 6 Months| Product | End Date |
|---|
| Exchange 2010 GA | 10/11/2011 | | SQL Server 2008 SP1 | 10/11/2011 | | Dynamics AX 3.0 SP6 | 1/10/2012 | | Dynamics GP 9 | 1/10/2012 | | Hosted Integration Server 2000 | 1/10/2012 | | SQL 2005 SP3 | 1/10/2012 |
Support to End in Next 6 Months| Product | End Date |
|---|
| BizTalk Server 2002 SP1 | 7/10/2012 | | SQL Server 2008 R2 | 7/10/2012 | | Dynamics GP 10 SP4 | 10/9/2012 | | Project 2002 Professional Edition | 10/9/2012 | | Project Server 2002 | 10/9/2012 | | SQL Server 2008 SP2 | 10/9/2012 |
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