Microsoft plans to replace the old terminology for Windows 10 'Current Branch' and 'Current Branch for Business' with new terms like 'Semi-Annual Channel (Pilot)' and 'Semi-Annual Channel (Broad)'.
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Microsoft has announced, that the company will release two feature updates a year for Windows 10 and also for Office 365 Pro Plus (see Windows 10: Redstone 3 is coming September 2017). In an effort, to streamline the release terminology of Windows 10 and Office 365, plans to change some terms. This was revealed during Microsoft's last weeks AMA session. Michael Niehaus explained the planned change, after a user has asked:
- New Windows 10 releases are initially considered "Current Branch" releases, to be used for piloting. After a period of about four months, we'll declare the release as a "Current Branch for Business" release, ready for broad deployment.
- New Windows 10 releases in the Semi-Annual Channel are initially to be used for pilot deployments. After about four months, we'll declare that the release is ready for broad deployment.
Regardless of the terms, the 18 months is for the release, e.g. Windows 10 1703, and that 18 months starts from the date that it was released. Another user has detailed things:
- 1709 is released in September 2017. It's dubbed "Semi Annual (Pilot)", and the 18 month clock starts ticking immediately.
- A few months later (January 2018, if we're matching the Office Pro Plus timeline), 1709 is declared ready for Semi Annual (Broad). The 18 month clock is now at 15 months.
- 15 Months later (March 2019), 1709 is no longer supported. There is no 60-day "grace period", as that was removed with implementation of this new servicing schedule.
Martin Brinkmann from ghacks.net has further explanation within his article here.
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