In a web development world that is largely dominated by LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP/Python/Perl), Microsoft has always been an infant player. True, it has dominated personal computing and even enterprise computing up to an extent. But the web development ecospace has been an uphill ride for the computing giant, thanks to open source.

However, with the launch of its new WebsiteSpark service, it hopes to make inroads into this sphere of business.

WebsiteSpark is as close to open source as it can get. An extremely small price tag, superior services & free software license. What more can one ask for?

Website Spark allows small to medium sized businesses and start ups to leverage top notch technology & support at no upfront cost whatsoever.

So, what’s the catch?

Well, there might be none actually.

Let’s take a close look.

Inside WebsiteSpark

WhiteSpark has been modelled on the DreamSpark & BizSpark programs that have gained immense popularity in the past few years.

The program is an ideal platform for companies with fewer than 10 employees to get access to some free marketing and high end software.

Yes, WebsiteSpark offers free licenses for technologies like Visual Studio 2008, Expression Studio and Expression Web, and user and processor licenses for Windows Server and SQL Server along with free support from Microsoft & a marketplace to meet potential customers.

A small $100 fee is all that applies at the end of the three year term. Following this, a company may continue to use the products at highly discounted rates or choose to discontinue.

Nearly, all the developers who have used the service claim that it is one of the easiest ones to set up and with the support and tools on offer, it seems like a winner.

Why SMBs might benefit

If you are a small design or development firm, then the three year term may open up a whole new world of opportunities for you. You can benefit from the rapidly expanding windows hosting market and reduce a lot of costs which can otherwise eat away your resources during the first few years of operation.

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