Essential Business Server release candidate bits available for download, pricing details now public

Lots of news on Essential Business Server today!

After months of development, the release candidate (a very near feature complete version of the EBS software) is now available for download for anyone who would like to try it out (we call this a Public Preview).  For those chomping at the bit, I'll put the link at the top of this post :-)  Get EBS

There is a whole site dedicated to the Essential Business Server Solutions public preview as well:  multiplyyourpower.com

Up until now, only a few thousand select people have been able to see Essential Business Server up close and personal running at their home or business test environment. If you are wondering if EBS could be right for you, or one of your clients (if you are a partner), give it a spin.  It's a very stable product with customers already testing it, and a set of TAP (Technology Adoption Program) customers running this build in production across the US and Europe.

Essential Business Server is also unveiling pricing.  It will be the best way to buy the software (Windows Server, Exchange, System Center Essentials, Forefront for Exchange, Threat Management Gateway (the new ISA))  you need for mid sized businesses.  Buying EBS is a notable discount over buying the products individually - and you get all the EBS software (single setup, unified administration console, remote access software, license management) included as well.

Here's some of the details from the press release:

Windows Essential Server Solutions pricing* is as follows:

· Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Standard Edition software, including five CALs, $5,472 (U.S.); additional CALs $81 each (U.S.)

· Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Premium Edition software, including five CALs, $7,163 (U.S.); additional CALs $195 each (U.S.)

If you want to read the full article, you can find it up on Microsoft presspass.

- Eric

Eric Watson, EBS Group Program Manager