Visual studio 2005 free of cost by microsoft

Microsoft launched a free tool for India's growing student and
technology enthusiast community - the Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions.

Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions are light-weight, easy-to-use/learn offerings that enable both professionals and novices to quickly develop dynamic Web applications and Windows applications.

Through this, Microsoft is encouraging the large community of software
enthusiasts and students, including beginner Windows developers,
hobbyists, Web developers, amateur game developers, and even hardware
developers, to experiment with software development.

Microsoft's Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions consist of Visual Web
Developer Express, Visual Basic Express, Visual C# Express, Visual C++
Express, and Visual J# Express.

Sheila Gulati, director - developer and platform evangelism, Microsoft
India, said, "We believe that it is important to put the power of software into the hands of young and upcoming developers, and that is the reason for making the Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions available free-of-charge. Software has the capability to change lives. The free availability of the Visual Studio Express Editions will provide the fast growing student, hobbyist, professional developer, and novice developer communities the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the rich functionality of a development suite used the world over. This will also give them the chance to
experiment with cutting-edge technologies and learn new skills at an early age."

With this announcement, the Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions are set to join the SQL Server 2005 Express Edition as a no-cost offering within the Microsoft application platform.

According to sources, to address bandwidth issues in the country,
Microsoft is giving out CDs of Visual Studio Express Editions. The CD is available to the first 20,000 developers that register on the site
www.vsexpress.in http://www.vsexpress.in/, and will be shipped to them
free-of-cost.