Will SharePoint 2010 Be Sold Separately?

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With all the coverage of last week's Windows 7 launch, it was easy to overlook news of the forthcoming release of SharePoint Server 2010, the next edition of Redmond's collaboration platform. A public beta is expected next month, which according a speech given by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer last week will demonstrate significant new functionality. What Ballmer didn't directly confirm in his speech was recent speculation that that by June of 2010, the platform will no longer ride along with Windows Server products, but instead be offered stand-alone.

Helping to fuel the speculation about platform status of SharePoint 2010 was talk of a set of new cloud-based APIs; support for business connectivity services, permitting developers to connect application or Web-service data with SharePoint or Office client apps; REST, LINQ and ATOM support; an improved SharePoint designer; social tagging and "backstage" life-cycle management links with Office; and integration with Visual Studio 2010. Also new will be hosted and on-premise versions.

Speaking at Microsoft's SharePoint conference in Las Vegas on Oct. 19, Ballmer himself referred to the tool as a platform, implying that it had evolved hast its previous status as merely a server application. "SharePoint 2010 will transform efficiency by connecting workers across a single collaboration platform for business.” The update is scheduled for general availability "in the first half of 2010," which typically means June.

The new tools also reportedly will simplify Website creation with native support for video, audio and Silverlight, as well as content management and adherence to WCAG 2.0. SharePoint Online also will support Excel and InfoPath Forms Services, "which make it simple to use, share, secure and manage interactive forms across an organization," the company said.

Last but not least, SharePoint 2010 adds everyone's favorite UI land-grab: the ribbon.

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Short answer: yes — SharePoint 2010 was released as a stand‑alone server product rather than being bundled as a Windows Server component. Microsoft released a free core edition called SharePoint Foundation 2010 and a separately licensed product, SharePoint Server 2010, that sits on top of Foundation. (learn.microsoft.com)

Key licensing points to keep in mind: SharePoint Server 2010 used the Server + Client Access License (CAL) model for intranet deployments (Standard and Enterprise CALs, with Enterprise being additive). For public/extranet web sites Microsoft offered “for Internet Sites” server SKUs that are licensed in a server‑only model (no CALs required for anonymous/external visitors). These distinctions affect both price and which SKU you must buy. (microsoft.com)

Practical notes for buyers (clarifies the earlier speculation from ): Foundation itself was available as the free runtime, but it still required properly licensed Windows Server and SQL Server infrastructure when deployed in production. The full SharePoint Server (and its Internet Sites variants) were sold separately and were the way to get the enterprise features (Excel/InfoPath/PerformancePoint/etc.). The SharePoint wave shipped in the first half of 2010 after betas in late 2009. For authoritative, up‑to‑date purchasing or pricing guidance, consult Microsoft’s licensing pages or an authorized reseller before committing — licensing terms and SKUs change over time. (news.microsoft.com)

Useful next step: if the goal is a quick comparison for procurement, list your requirements (intranet vs public site, expected users, BI/InfoPath needs) and map them to: (a) SharePoint Foundation 2010 + Windows/SQL licenses, or (b) SharePoint Server 2010 server license + appropriate CALs, or (c) a server‑only Internet Sites SKU. The Microsoft licensing guidance pages linked above explain the rules and exceptions in detail. (microsoft.com)

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