M
A Y |
||||
| M
A Y |
2
0 0 2 |
|||
|
|
||||
|
|
||
|
| Microsoft to Change Practice for Selling Software and Subsequent Upgrades |
| Microsoft,
which has previously offered a number of licensing options -- often including
inexpensive upgrades -- is changing the way it licenses software to volume
users, such as the Lab. As a result, Lab buyers of Microsoft Office, Project,
Windows, Visio and other software will need to decide whether to pay an
additional support fee to cover upgrades. Users who do not pay this additional
fee will not be able to purchase upgrades as they have in the past. Their
only options will be to continue using the original version, or pay full
price for the new version. Most Lab staff will not need to purchase the
additional support provided by "Software Assurance". This support
will be needed only by those few people who will need to upgrade to new
software in order to perform their job. Additionally, currently licensed
users of Microsoft software have until June 30 (Visio, MS Project, MS Advanced
Server users) or July 31 (Windows or Office users) to pay the additional
license fee for future upgrades of software packages now in use.
According to Microsoft, the cost of this additional "Software Assurance" will be 29 percent of the original software price. As a result, the Lab's Computing Infrastructure Support (CIS) Department is recommending that employees who keep their computers for three to four years and whose jobs do not require them to consistently have the latest version of Microsoft products not buy the additional Software Assurance. The reasoning is that after about three-and-a-half years, the Software Assurance cost would be about the same as buying the original package. Microsoft has posted extensive information on its licensing Web page about this new way of selling software. Especially helpful are the Overview of Software Assurance and Licensing 101 sections. All licensees who wish to participate in Microsoft's Upgrade Advantage (UA) or Software Assurance (SA) programs must place their orders by the dates given for the specific applications above. A new Lab Web page has been
created to help employees who need to purchase this package. The page
also provides details about the costs and benefits. |
|
Top | Return to Computing News |