Windows Phone Thoughts: Microsoft Releases Visual Studio 2005 Pricing Structure

"Microsoft Corp. has showed detailed pricing and licensing terms for Visual Studio 2005, its application development tool set, as well as simplification of its Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) subscriptions. The company says MSDN is the primary vehicle through which most developers obtain Visual Studio.
Microsoft will reduce the estimated retail price in US dollars of Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition while offering special pricing to existing MSDN subscribers for Visual Studio 2005 Team System, the expansion of the Visual Studio product line to include integrated software life-cycle tools."

One of the main changes for Pocket PC developers will be the introduction of device development tools in the Standard Editions which will retail at $299 (or $199 for a version upgrade). This comes in much lower than the $799 required for the Professional Edition. While there will be a range of even cheaper tools ($49) - the Express Editions which are targetted at the beginner or hobbyist developer, these will not support device development. The Visual Studio 2005 range is due for release in the second half of this year. For a list of prices for the whole range and the equivalent MSDN subscriptions follow the article link.