Microsoft discontinues NT 4.0 volume licenses

Microsoft Tuesday said it is "ramping down" production of the 5-year-old Windows NT 4.0 operating system and will no longer sell volume licenses for the product.

The operating system will still be available through retail outlets and volume users will be covered by the Windows 2000 volume license, a Microsoft spokesman said.

Users with an installed base of NT 4.0 machines will be able to extend their licenses by buying the Windows 2000 volume license and "exercising downgrade rights" to keep using the older system, the spokesman said.

Microsoft's spokesman said he could not confirm whether this would be more expensive than current licenses or whether the license conditions would differ.

Support for the operating system will continue, he said, and regular lifecycle guidelines will be issued to keep users up to date with developments.

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.