In Microsoft Office 2010, Business Contact Manager is included only in the volume-license suite and as part of a TechNet or MSDN subscription. BCM 2010 is not included in any of the retail suites. However, any user who purchased a qualifying Microsoft Office 2007 product that includes BCM prior to September 30, 2010 can upgrade to BCM 2010 through the Technology Guarantee program.
Microsoft has this to say about possible BCM availability in the future:
The Office Team is aware of the issues you are experiencing because of the limited number of suites Business Contact Manager is available. We are currently investigating possible solutions.
BCM is no longer available from download from Microsoft. Users can download the full 64-bit BCM installation file from BCM for Outlook 2010 or Outlook 2013 (368 MB).
Users can download the full 32-bit BCM installation file from BCM for Outlook 2010 or Outlook 2013 (368 MB).
Ian says
It is my understanding that Microsoft released the Business Contact Manager as an optional download for users of Office 2010 Home and Business, Office 2010 Professional, or Outlook 2010, as long as they possessed a valid license for a previous version that included the Business Contact Manager. However, the article in which this information was announced (https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/bcm/2010/09/23/outlook-2010-with-business-contact-manager-you-spoke-we-listened/) did not specify a timeframe for when one is eligible.
What if one were to purchase a legitimate version of Office 2007 or Outlook 2007 from an online merchant today and then buy a legitimate version of Office 2010 or Outlook 2010? Would he or she be able to download the Business Contact Manager?
The article does not itself explicitly state that the purchase had to be made prior to the announcement, and there is no other information in other documentation (e.g., EULA) that would suggest this.
I am hoping to read from you as you are always very helpful.
Thank you for your time,
Ian
Diane Poremsky says
Technically that article is true, but they don't do any checking within the software - it's all on the honor system. so anyone can use it. Part of the reason was the initial release was an upgrade. They later released the full file, so it didn't matter.
Honestly, at this point in the product life, I wouldn't worry about it. If you can find a copy of legit 2010 (so it can activate) and want to use BCM, use it.
Karen Davis says
Please tell me how we are supposed to utilize the flag and category options with the 2013 version BCM using an Exchange email. The whole reason Office and BCM 2013 was downloaded was for these features and the reporting. My sales staff needs these items for daily use. Is there a patch or update to make these work? Why would Microsoft take away something that I have been using since 2007? These are key features of the BCM...Please advise as soon as you can. This is frustrating and I've spent a lot of money on updating my staff to Office 2013.
Diane Poremsky says
There is no patch. Sorry.
Playing2012 says
Do you guys check your links regularly to see if they are still active? The two links given above are dead already.
Diane Poremsky says
Links are checked weekly using an automated system but if the page redirects and doesn't give a proper 404, the link may be missed. I'll update it - it uses the same file Outlook 2013.
Mr Hans Ket says
After upgrading to Outlook 2010 I used the download file: X17-75057 to get the BCM for free as intended by Ms. Unfortunately nothing happened so I got the idea I might havedownloaded the wrong file. After downloading and running the X16-56885.EXE file BCM was there and seemed to work o.k. Unfortunately I randomly get the errormessage "UW LAATSTE ACTIE OF ACTIES KONDEN NIET WORDEN VOLTOOID DOOR BUSINESS CONTACT MANAGER. PROBEER HET OPNIEUW" when I try to switch databases.
Can you lease inform me what I have to do to fix this issue?