Software support

IBM's enhanced Software Support Lifecycle Policy provides an enhanced, extended technical support lifecycle across more than 500 currently available key IPLA middleware products within the Information Management, IBM Lotus, IBM Rational, IBM Tivoli and WebSphere portfolios. IBM will continue to transition products to this enhanced support lifecycle policy as new versions and releases are announced. For details see the announcement letter USA Ann#: 208-035 effective February 19, 2008.

These enhancements let you realize the full value of your IBM middleware software products, maximizing your software support investment and controlling your upgrade strategy. The new enhanced Software Support Lifecycle Policy is flexible, predictable and simple, which helps you sustain your ongoing success.

At our regular Software Subscription and Support (previously known as Software Maintenance) charge for the product, IBM will deliver standard product technical support for at least five years with an optional fee-based support extension for up to three additional years. By maintaining a current Software Maintenance (SWM), Subscription and Support (S&S), or SupportLine agreements, you receive the maximum value of your software products and can take full advantage of technology enhancements on your business schedule and requirements.

The elements of the enhanced Software Support Lifecycle Policy for selected Information Management, IBM Lotus, IBM Rational, IBM Tivoli and WebSphere products are:

• Provide a minimum of 5 years of product technical support beginning at the planned availability date of the version/release of the product.
• Ensure support is available for all IBM components of a product or until the product or bundle is withdrawn from support. In addition, all components of a bundle have a common End of Service date.
• Publish a notice of support discontinuance ("End of Service") for a product at least 12 months prior to the effective date.
• Align the effective date of support discontinuance ("End of Service") to occur on common dates either in the months of April or September.
• Make support extensions available, for an additional fee, for a minimum period of three (3) years following the product's effective support discontinuance date. Support extensions are designed to allow migration to the current release to be successfully completed.
• Applies to selected IPLA licensed software. A list of the products within the Information Management, IBM Lotus, IBM Rational, IBM Tivoli and WebSphere portfolios that have the enhanced Support Lifecycle is located here.

Products that are not currently covered by the enhanced IBM Software Support Lifecycle policy continue to have the existing software support lifecycle policy, which includes:

• Provide a minimum of 3 years of product technical support beginning at the planned availability date of the version/release of the product.
• Ensure support is available for all IBM components of a product or until the product or bundle is withdrawn from support. In addition, all components of a bundle have a common End of Service date.
• Publish a notice of support discontinuance ("End of Service") for a product at least 12 months prior to the effective date.
• Align the effective date of support discontinuance ("End of Service") to occur on common dates either in the months of April or September.
• Make product support extensions available, where possible, that are designed to allow migration to the current release to be completed. For additional information on product technical support extensions beyond the three-year minimum period, contact your IBM representative. For details see the announcement letter USA Ann# 203-204 effective August 8, 2003.