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Licensing Options

For Large Organizations

Group of business people

The Enterprise Agreement and Enterprise Subscription Agreement can help you minimize the complexity and cost of meeting your software needs. Both options include Microsoft Software Assurance benefits, which provide additional support, services, and IT tools.

Additionally, organizations can standardize on the latest Microsoft technology at a substantial savings with the Professional Desktop Platform and Enterprise Desktop Platform. Starting July 1, 2009, both Platforms include the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) as an available option.

Manageability and Value

With the Enterprise Agreement or Enterprise Subscription Agreement, your IT infrastructure can adapt and grow with your organization's evolving needs.

  • Enterprise Agreement: Offers cost savings beyond standard license pricing, helps your business standardize IT across the enterprise, simplifies license management, and provides comprehensive Software Assurance benefits to help your organization be more productive.

  • Enterprise Subscription Agreement: Get the benefits of an Enterprise Agreement with lower up-front costs and the ability to increase or decrease license count on an annual basis to accommodate changes in desktop PC count. This program provides access to Microsoft software licenses for the term of the agreement through subscription-based licensing.

Extended Payment Terms is an option available for Enterprise Agreements. Extended Payment Terms helps align costs to cash flow and budgetary needs, and offers the option to spread subsequent acquisitions over the remaining enrollment period. These options are available through Extended Payment Terms to credit-qualified, direct, commercial Enterprise Agreement customers in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Eligibility

If your organization has a minimum of 250 desktop PCs and you want to license all of your qualified desktops for a three-year period, you can initiate an Enterprise Agreement or Enterprise Subscription Agreement.

In addition to commercial business, Microsoft offers these programs for government organizations.

Learn more about Volume Licensing programs for industries.

Review the following feature comparison to help you determine which Microsoft Volume Licensing program is right for your organization.

  • Green Dot = Benefits Available! Rollover for more detail.

    Grey Dot = Benefits Available! No additional detail.

Benefits

Enterprise Agreement

Enterprise Subscription Agreement

Minimum Number of Desktop PCs

any

 

 

5+

 

 

250+

 

 

Licensing Offerings Available

License & Software Assurance

 

License and Software Assurance and Software Assurance renewals.

 

License and Software Assurance and Software Assurance renewals.

Software Assurance

 

License and Software Assurance and Software Assurance renewals.

 

License and Software Assurance and Software Assurance renewals.

OEM

 

 

FPP

 

 

Pricing

Based on Product Pools

 

 

Based on Employees

 

 

Based on Desktop PCs

 

Price levels based on the number of qualified desktop PCs in the enterprise. Level A: 250-2,399 desktop PCsLevel B: 2,400-5,999 desktop PCSLevel C: 6,000-14,999 desktop PCsLevel D: 15,000 plus desktop PCs*

 

Price levels based on the number of qualified desktop PCs in the enterprise. Level A: 250-2,399 desktop PCsLevel B: 2,400-5,999 desktop PCSLevel C: 6,000-14,999 desktop PCsLevel D: 15,000 plus desktop PCs*

Based on License & Software Assurance

 

 

Agreement Term

No Expiration

 

 

1 Year

 

 

2 Years

 

 

3 Years

 

Three years, renewable.

 

Three years, renewable.

Payment Options

Extended Payment Terms Option (Monthly, Quarterly, Semi-Annually, Skipped or Ramped)

 

 

Up-front

 

 

Annual payments for License and Software Assurance only.

Monthly

 

 

Annually

 

Annual payments for License and Software Assurance only.

 

How to Buy

Direct

 

Direct relationship with Microsoft, supported by Authorized Enterprise Software Advisors.

 

Direct relationship with Microsoft, supported by Authorized Enterprise Software Advisors.

Indirect

 

Supported by Authorized Enterprise Software Advisors and Large Account Resellers.

 

Supported by Authorized Enterprise Software Advisors and Large Account Resellers.

Product Fulfillment

Acquired Separately

 

 

Provided

 

Each enrollment receives one introductory Product Fulfillment Kit that contains an initial set of media for the product pools and language groups in your agreement. Updates are provided throughout the agreement term.

 

Each enrollment receives one introductory Product Fulfillment Kit that contains an initial set of media for the product pools and language groups in your agreement. Updates are provided throughout the agreement term.

Software Assurance

Option to Add

 

 

Included

 

Software Assurance is included at the time of acquiring the software license and can be used immediately throughout the term of the license agreement.

 

Software Assurance is included at the time of acquiring the software license and can be used immediately throughout the term of the license agreement.

Online Services

Offered

 

Online Services** offered.

 

Online Services** offered.

* Level D pricing is available to entities that meet the threshold for the discount.

** Online Services refer to applications hosted at Microsoft Data Centers whose client bits may or may not be installed locally. They are priced monthly and billed annually for the term of the agreement. For example, Office Live Meeting or Exchange Hosted Services. See the Microsoft Online Services page for details.

To buy or renew, contact your Microsoft Authorized Enterprise Software Advisor (ESA) or Microsoft Authorized Large Account Reseller (LAR). Three flexible payment options are available and include the following:

  • Pay the full amount at the time of order.

  • Spread payments across agreement anniversaries (pay one-third at the time of order and one-third on each of the next two agreement anniversaries) for license and Software Assurance packs or Software Assurance only.

  • Take advantage of monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or customized payment options that are available through Extended Payment Terms to credit-qualified, direct, commercial Enterprise Agreement customers.

Make sure to review program agreement terms and conditions, pricing, and payment terms during the ordering process.

United States and Canada

For more information about Microsoft Volume Licensing, or to order or renew software licenses, contact your preferred Microsoft Reseller.

  • In the United States, call (800) 426-9400, or find an authorized reseller.

  • In Canada, call the Microsoft Resource Centre at (877) 568-2495.

Worldwide

For information about Volume Licensing offerings available in your area, find the Microsoft Volume Licensing Web site for your country/region.

Find resources to help you deploy and manage the assets associated with your Microsoft Volume Licensing agreement.

Volume Licensing Service Center

You can use the Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) to download licensed products, access product keys, and manage your Volume Licensing agreements and license acquisition activity—all in one online location.

Software Assurance Benefits

Activating your organization's Software Assurance benefits is easy. Most benefits can be activated and accessed through the VLSC. The Software Assurance Web site provides everything you need to know.

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Success Story

  • "In this competitive environment, our Microsoft licensing agreement helps us proactively build a well-managed IT infrastructure that becomes a strategic asset we can use to deliver results."

  • David Shardelow

    Director of Information Services

    and Technology

    Meridian Bioscience

  • Full story | More stories

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