>>SQL Server Developer Edition becomes available for $49. USD.
>>
>>this is a free public service announcement
>
>A friend here at work "according to the MS site you have to have a MSDN Universal Subscription in order to purchase that for $49.00.
>
>He said he saw no place where you could buy that as a standalone for $49.00.
>
>Is this correct?

http://www.microsoft.com/sql/howtobuy/development.asp

Says you can. See footnote 2.
Cetin