November 5, 1999 Web posted at: 10:06 a.m. EST (1506 GMT) by Bob Trott

From...

(IDG) -- Microsoft has decided on basic pricing for its forthcoming Windows 2000 operating system, and although the price is in line with most of its current software offerings, the company's revamped licensing model could send Web-based enterprise costs higher anyway.

According to a letter Microsoft sent to some of its Windows NT customers, a client access license (CAL) will be required for every authenticated user who accesses a Windows 2000 server through the Internet or an intranet. The current Windows NT license requires a CAL for each user who use file and print services, but not for connecting users.

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That scheme could drive prices up for electronic-commerce sites that rely on Windows NT and want to upgrade to Windows 2000. Microsoft officials said they took that into account, and are offering a $2,000 Internet Connector package for unlimited access over the Internet.

Several years in the making, Windows 2000 will be released to manufacturing by the end of 1999, according to Microsoft officials, in time to meet a scheduled Feb. 17 launch date.

According to Microsoft officials, Windows 2000 Professional will carry a $319 price tag, with an upgrade from NT 4.0 costing $149; those are in line with current Windows NT prices.

A five-user version of Windows 2000 Server will cost $999, while upgrades from Windows NT Server and Novell NetWare will cost $499. A 10-user license will cost $1,199, and $599 for the upgrade, and 25-user licenses will go for $1,799 and $899, respectively.

Windows 2000 Advanced Server, the upgrade to Windows NT 4.0 Enterprise Edition, will be priced at $3,999 for a 25-user license, or $1,999 for an upgrade.

Microsoft officials were not available for comment Tuesday.