Microsoft has announced that the next versions of Exchange Server, SharePoint Server, Skype for Business Server and Project Server will be available in the second half of 2021.
There is one major licensing change – these releases will only be available with the purchase of a subscription license. There is no mention of how customers who have existing Software Assurance on their perpetual license might fairly transition to the subscription model. More information on this and if there will be a ‘from SA’ SKU may become available nearer the release date.
For those customers that are planning to keep Exchange on-premise Microsoft is recommending that customers first upgrade to Exchange Server 2019. Once the subsequent version of Exchange is released then an in-place upgrade can be performed which would mean that upgrading to 2019 would be the last major upgrade ever to be required.
A subscription licence entitles organisations to support, product updates and security patches.
The announcement also mentioned a new perpetual release of Office for Windows and Mac in the same timeframe.
The full announcement which includes further information on Exchange can be found here.
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