And you know what? The thing was just crazy complex, so this makes sense to me. From Microsoft:
Today Microsoft announced the decision to streamline their server product portfolio and discontinue future development of Windows Essential Business Server (EBS), effective June 30, 2010. This decision represents a natural market shift in midsize business preference toward creating their own IT solutions.
Microsoft remains fully committed to small and medium-sized businesses. EBS customers can look forward to continued support and options for continuing with EBS or transitioning to other technologies. This change does not impact any other Windows Server products and solutions, including the next version of Windows Small Business Server (SBS).
For more information, please visit the Windows Essential Business Server team blog. Here, we learn...
Several changes have occurred that drove our decision to streamline our server product portfolio. First, midsize businesses are rapidly turning to technologies such as management, virtualization and cloud computing as a means to cut costs, improve efficiency, and increase competitiveness. Those capabilities are already available through other offerings, including Windows Server 2008 R2, Microsoft System Center and the Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS).
Secondly, Microsoft remains fully committed to small and medium-sized businesses. We recognize that ending future editions of EBS could result in additional cost and complexity for our EBS customers. Therefore, we are going to provide a limited offer for all EBS 2008 customers. Beginning on June 30, 2010 through December 31, 2010, current EBS 2008 customers can get the individual component software from the EBS 2008 suite for free (local taxes, shipping and handling charges may apply). To learn more about this offer, EBS customers can visithttp://www.microsoft.com/ebs.