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Final version of Windows Web Services API for Windows XP, Vista, Server 2003 and Server 2008 is now available!

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The final version of the Windows Web Services API for Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008 is now available. This version corresponds to the final version of the WWSAPI released as part of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. To develop for this version of the runtime, you need to install Microsoft Windows SDK for Windows 7 and .NET Framework 3.5 SP1. Please make sure to regenerate all code using the new version of wsutil.exe tool. You will also need to rebuild all source code that used any of the pre-released versions of this API.

This release is available in 25 languages: Arabic, Chinese - Hongkong, Chinese - Simplified, Chinese - Traditional, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian , Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish. The table below summarizes CPU architectures and the minimal level of Service Packs supported by this release. Make sure to deploy the latest service pack and all critical updates for the version of Windows to computers on which you plan to install this release. To find recent security updates, visit Windows Update.

 Windows Version

Service Pack

x86

x64

ia64

Windows XP

SP3

Yes

Yes

No

Windows Server 2003

SP2, R2 SP2

Yes

Yes

Yes

Windows Vista

SP1

Yes

Yes

No

Windows Server 2008

SP1

Yes

Yes

Yes

In contrast to the past pre-released version of this API, this final version release can be used in production code and redistributed with the final versions of the product. Because of this, the final version is only available to companies who agree to terms of Windows Master Redistribution License Agreement (MRLA). To acquire the redistributable installers for this release and a copy of the Windows MRLA for review, please email a formal request to wwsredst@microsoft.com. In your email, please include a brief description of your plans for using this release and the business contact information for your company using which you can be reached at later on. If you have questions about this release, please email them to wwsredst@microsoft.com.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    October 27, 2009
    I can't see this on Windows Update for either Vista or XP (32-bit or 64-bit). Why is this not available publicly like the pre-release?

  • Anonymous
    October 28, 2009
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    October 31, 2009
    Having decided to use WWSAPI for the next release of our product, it's hugely disappointing that we now can't because of the MRLA.  (I haven't seen it but the lawyers say it contains terms that we couldn't possibly agree to, allowing MS to withdraw redistribution rights at very short notice.) Assuming that other companies feel the same way about the licensing, and that very few products will be shipping in the near future with support limited to Windows 7 and Windows 2008 R2, it seems that WWSAPI is still born.   Which is a huge shame because it's great technology - we're really struggling to fill the gap left by our inability to use it. Is there any chance this decision will be revisited?

  • Anonymous
    December 05, 2009
    I need to configure the usb driver for internet connection

  • Anonymous
    December 08, 2009
    How long does it take to get a redistribution license?

  • Anonymous
    December 09, 2009
    After e-mailing wwsredst@microsoft.com twice without a response,

  • Anonymous
    December 20, 2009
    Before you start this lengthy process, here is something that isn't mentioned: After we signed an NDA which was required as prerequisite before receiving the MRLA, we were told that also a "Microsoft Services Partner Advantage agreement" is required before the MRLA can be signed. As far as i know this is quite expensive. This is where we stopped considerations to use WWSAPI.

  • Anonymous
    December 31, 2009
    Very disappointed. Kenny Kerr also expresses his dissatisfaction here:http://weblogs.asp.net/kennykerr/archive/2009/12/24/windows-web-services-fail.aspx. But MS can still change this.

  • Anonymous
    January 05, 2010
    We had plans to use this technology until we discovered the license problems and the the lack of basic GZIP support in the API. Those issues basically make usage a total non-starter. I agree with the comment above: Why put so many obstacles in the way of adoption ?

  • Anonymous
    January 12, 2010
    Its appears that the only way to get the WWSAPI, webservices.dll, redistributable from Microsoft for non-Windows 7 operating systems is to pay $37,000 to join the Microsoft MSPA program.  I would have thought that being an ISV Certified Partner would have been enough.  It's just too bad because I really wanted this to work.

  • Anonymous
    February 10, 2010
    The comment has been removed