.NET Framework Support Cut Short

The support life cycles of the .NET Framework versions 3.0 and 3.5 will end sooner than originally promised, and Microsoft has realigned support for the Framework with support for the Windows OS on which it runs. In particular, all support for the .NET Framework versions 3.0 and 3.5 (not including 3.5 SP1) will now end Apr. 2011, as much as six and a half years earlier than expected. The .NET Framework is a critical runtime component of all .NET applications, so organizations should ensure application compatibility with a later version of the .NET Framework to remain eligible for support from Microsoft.

Early Retirement for 3.0 and 3.5 Versions

The .NET Framework includes the Common Language Runtime (CLR), a software component for loading and running applications, and class libraries, hierarchically organized collections of code that developers can use in their applications to build interfaces, access databases and files, and communicate over the Web.

The new support policy treats the .NET Framework as a component of the Windows OS, so it will no longer have a separate support life cycle. For example, customers running the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 on Windows 7 are eligible for support for that version of the Framework on the same schedule as the support life cycle of Windows 7. Furthermore, if the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 is supported on a future version of Windows, customers running 3.5 SP1 on that OS will receive support for 3.5 SP1 throughout the support life cycle of that OS.