Today, Microsoft the availability of the BizSpark programme for start-ups. This offering allows companies to use Microsoft’s server software free of charge which is good news for businesses who are short on cash. But it’s not quite so straightforward. In order to qualify private companies need to meet the following criteria:

• eligible companies will have been in business for less than three years
• revenue will be less than $1 million per year
• finally, companies will have to be recommended by one of Microsoft’s for-profit, nonprofit, government, or academic partners

Easy, eh?

This latest move from MS has been spearheaded by former Apple exec Dan’l Lewin who stated that the announcement was coming regardless of the current economic armageddon (I suppose the recent Microsoft profit warning had no influence on this decision either!).

An added bonus comes in the form of an online directory; participating companies will have the choice of being included an online directory of start-ups allowing them to network and reach potential customers, a kind of free version of the Business Network Institute.

Companies who gain access to the BizSpark programme will be allowed access to a range of products, including Visual Studio to Windows Server, SQL Server and SharePoint and more. A more interesting point to come out of this announcement is that Microsoft don’t appear to be slapping the handcuffs on participants, well, not yet. It would appear that companies will be able to use a range of products including open-source software.

“They don’t have to only build on our stuff,” Lewin said.

The service will be free of charge for three years, after that…it’s time to cough up for licensing.

Here’s another idea for startups: why not just use Open Source software for all your back office capabilities? That way you never have to pay for licensing.

What are your thoughts?

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