Microsoft Open Value Overview

Subscription Option now available in North America. The Open Value Subscription program, which gives small and midsize organizations the rights to run licensed products during the term of their agreement with Microsoft, is now available in the United States and Canada.

Special government pricing. Government organizations in more geographies can benefit from special government pricing through the Open Value for Government program. This program offers the same benefits that the commercial Open Value program offers, combined with government-appropriate pricing requirements.

Agreement updates. The Open Value agreements have been updated to improve readability and navigation, and to provide consistency across all Volume Licensing agreements. These changes are based on customer and partner research that evaluated the simplicity of Volume Licensing programs.

New eAgreements tool. With the eAgreements tool for Open Value 6.6 and Open Value Subscription 6.6, you can sign your agreement electronically. This saves processing time so that you can install your licensed products sooner.

Fewer price points and SKUs. To help you find pricing information more easily, the Open Value Volume Licensing program now has fewer price points and SKUs. Individual-language SKUs with the same price have been combined into one SKU, called Single Language.

The ability to run any software version. Tracking and managing licenses can be challenging, especially if your employees are running different versions of software. With Microsoft Open Value, you can control the upgrade cycle by running the latest software releases, and you can run any version of the licensed product, which can help you easily manage your licenses.

Flexibility for business growth. As your organization grows and you need to purchase new desktop PCs, you can easily integrate the licenses from the new desktop PCs into your existing Open Value agreement through Software Assurance. However, you must purchase Software Assurance within 90 days of the date you purchased the desktop PCs.

The ability to deploy the software you need now. With Open Value, you can run any version of the licensed product so that you can stay current and upgrade when you want. The New Version Rights and flexible version management help you focus on implementing critical IT projects instead of on building a business case for the next upgrade.

Predictable planning and budgeting. If your organization needs longer-term visibility into IT budget planning, Open Value offers predictable annual payments to help you make better decisions about which IT projects to implement each year.

Spread payments. Open Value helps organizations that have a limited budget. You can amortize your license costs over three years. This is similar to financing—without the interest rates and associated fees. With reduced up-front costs and payments spread out over time, you can afford to get the software you need now.

Better manageability. If you manage multiple agreements, you can use company-wide purchasing to consolidate multiple Microsoft contracts into a single agreement, track licenses online, and standardize all of your desktop PCs on the latest software version. It gives you the confidence that you have your licenses under control.

Easier license management. Managing software assets is a critical issue for many businesses. With Open Value, you can legitimately install new software as you need it and pay for it all at the end of the year.

Minimize risk and remain compliant. You are responsible for managing new software installations by your IT team and end users. Having upgrade rights means your organization can install the latest version of software without worrying about accidentally becoming noncompliant. This makes it easier for you to reduce the business risk of noncompliance.

More value for software. Open Value includes discounts on frequent upgrades and company-wide purchasing, so you get the best deal on your licensed product purchases. It also provides an agreement that helps you better predict your costs during the three years.

Return on investment. Making a strategic choice to standardize on multiple Microsoft software solutions helps you receive additional cost savings. Open Value Company-wide provides discounts and upgrade rights when your organization licenses either the professional desktop platform or small business desktop platform products together on each desktop PC.

Flexibility for changing business needs. You can reduce your total licensing costs in years when your desktop PC count declines and the needs of your organization change.

Predictable cost structure. You pay a single price for each desktop PC to deploy Microsoft technology across your organization.

Simplified licensing. When you acquire new desktop PCs during the year, you can add the company-wide licensed products that you have selected at no additional cost that year.

Return on investment. By standardizing on multiple Microsoft software solutions, you can receive additional cost savings when your organization licenses either the professional desktop platform or small business desktop platform products together for each desktop PC.