Thought I would post this for some of the new Windows hosting startups. It sounds like a pretty good program.

WebsiteSpark Program (http://www.microsoft.com/web)

ref: http://www.microsoft.com/web/websitespark/ShowItem.aspx?LocalizedItemId=7177

Summary

Free use of the following software for three years:

For design, development, testing and demonstration of new websites – for a total of up to three users per Web design and development company:
• Visual Studio Professional
• Expression Studio 2 or 3 (1 user) and Expression Web 2 or 3 (up to 2 users)
• Windows Web Server 2008 or R2 (when available)
• SQL Server 2008 Web Edition
• For production use – that is, to deploy and host new websites developed using Program software – using a total of up to four processors per Web design and development company, of the following (physical or virtual) dedicated servers:
• Windows Web Server 2008 R2 (when available)
• SQL Server 2008 Web Edition
Deployments may be on 4 servers or VMs of 1processor each, on 2 servers or VMs of 2 processors each, or on 1 server or VM of 4-processors.

A USD $100 Program Offering Fee is due when the Web development and design company exits the Program. As part of Microsoft's commitment to small Web development and design service companies’ long term success, there are no upfront costs for companies to join WebsiteSpark.

Eligibility Requirements:
An eligible Web design and development company must have the following characteristics at the time of joining:
• A professional service firm whose primary business is providing Web development and design services for its clients, with
• no more than 10 members (including owners and employees).

Great program.

If a site can't cut it after three years ...

They've been doing this for a while. It's just to get people onto their software who would otherwise go elsewhere, or with open source.

They've been doing this for a while. It's just to get people onto their software who would otherwise go elsewhere, or with open source.

My understanding is they just started this program this year.

The program officially launched in September of 2009 (last month). It's certainly a neat program. Who doesn't like free software? Even temporarily.

Ah sorry, they're doing another program with a similar name for Students and Small Businesses.

It seems that this programs target audience is the exact current audience that wouldn't have the budget to do business with their products in the first place.

It might help getting someones foot in the door with their software but with todays economy companies have better things to do then pay licensing fees, it really hurts small business.