Windows Vista Enterprise

Published: September 9, 2005 | Updated: May 14, 2008


Software Assurance Benefit, Windows Vista Enterprise

 

Windows Vista Enterprise is the premium edition of Windows Vista for businesses and is available exclusively to Microsoft Software Assurance customers. It helps global organizations and businesses that have complex IT infrastructures lower IT costs, reduce risk, and stay connected. Windows Vista Enterprise includes all the features in Windows Vista Business as well as extra capabilities designed to help reduce the cost and complexity of deploying and managing corporate computers. In addition, Windows Vista Enterprise provides easier application management, improved standardization for global operations, and higher levels of data protection for a growing, mobile workforce. With Windows Vista Enterprise, your employees can find information faster and use it better.

View a demo on Windows Vista Enterprise

On This Page

  Benefits

  Optional Subscription Licenses

  Solutions for Multimedia Scenarios in Enterprise Environments

  Eligibility

  Getting Started

  Learn More


Benefits

Streamline Effectiveness
Windows Vista Enterprise dramatically improves company-wide application compatibility; streamlines the creation, deployment, and management of multiple desktop configurations; and supports mobile workforces while protecting corporate data. Windows Vista Enterprise offers distinct business value in addition to the security and compliance, infrastructure optimization, productivity, and mobility features included in Windows Vista Business. It helps your business protect data with Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption, which is linked with Active Directory, to ensure easier recovery and a more transparent solution for the end user.

Migration and Integration
Taking advantage of the latest technology and improved security usually involves upgrading to the latest operating system. However, this can be a problem when your organization is using applications that are not compatible with the newest operating system version. Windows Vista Enterprise helps make migration seamless, enabling you to upgrade to the latest desktop platform while cost effectively continuing to use other applications. Windows Vista Enterprise also provides improved application compatibility with the rights to four Virtual Operating Systems and Subsystem for UNIX-Based Applications. These offerings ease integration between Windows and UNIX/Linux environments and help users leverage their UNIX skills and overcome the challenges of moving their workloads to the Windows platform.

Worldwide Deployment
Windows Vista Enterprise provides Multilingual User Interface language packs for worldwide deployment, enabling IT workers to configure a single worldwide image across 36 user interface languages. This helps reduce the cost and complexity of the IT infrastructure. With the language packs, users can switch between multiple languages on a single computer. In addition, Windows Vista Enterprise Centralized Desktop, a subscription that comes with Software Assurance, provides flexible licensing for virtualized desktop infrastructures or hosted desktop architectures.

 

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Optional Subscription Licenses

Two add-on licenses are available exclusively to Software Assurance customers to help extend the value of Windows Vista Enterprise.

Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance

The Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) for Software Assurance is a dynamic desktop solution designed to increase Windows desktop manageability and reduce system complexity. MDOP offers tools that can help reduce the total cost of ownership of your Windows desktop by accelerating operating system and application management and enhancing IT responsiveness and user uptime. When combined with Windows Vista Enterprise, the result is an optimized desktop—the most cost-effective, flexible way to manage Windows desktops.

Learn more about the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance

Windows Vista Enterprise Centralized Desktop

Microsoft provides several alternatives for deploying Windows. Windows Vista Enterprise Centralized Desktop (VECD) is a flexible, subscription-based option for enterprise customers and early adopters who want to deploy Windows Vista in virtual machines that are running on servers. Part of the Windows Vista Enterprise family, VECD enables you to centralize storage or execution of Windows.

Learn more about Windows Vista Enterprise Centralized Desktop

 

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Solutions for Multimedia Scenarios in Enterprise Environments

DVD Playback Pack for Windows Vista

As a Windows Vista Enterprise customer, you can acquire the DVD Playback Pack, which enables playback of DVD, MPEG-2, and 5.1-channel Dolby Digital files. Together, Windows Vista Enterprise and the DVD Playback Pack provide the most manageable version of Windows and the most suitable media experience for enterprise users.

Learn more about the DVD Playback Pack for Windows Vista

Windows Vista Ultimate

Although Windows Vista Ultimate is not designed for broad enterprise deployment, it may be useful in conference and training rooms. To support these scenarios, Windows Vista Enterprise customers can obtain a license for Windows Vista Ultimate. For every 100 Windows licenses covered by Software Assurance, you can obtain one Windows Vista Ultimate key. If your organization has 599 or fewer licenses, you can obtain five Windows Vista Ultimate keys.

Learn more about Windows Vista Ultimate

 

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Eligibility

For each Windows Client License covered under Software Assurance, you are entitled to one Windows Vista Enterprise upgrade license.

The following Volume Licensing programs are eligible for this benefit:

  • Open License

  • Open Value

  • Open Value Company-wide

  • Open Value Subscription

  • Select License

  • Select License Software Assurance Membership

  • Enterprise Agreement

  • Enterprise Subscription Agreement

 

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Getting Started

To obtain licensed copies of Windows Vista Enterprise, you must have Software Assurance. If you already have Software Assurance, contact a Volume Licensing specialist or your preferred Microsoft reseller to take advantage of this benefit.

Contact a Volume Licensing specialist

Find an authorized reseller online

 

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Learn More

Benefits Comparison Chart

View a table listing the Microsoft Volume Licensing programs eligible for this and other Software Assurance benefits.

Windows Vista Enterprise FAQ

Get answers to common questions about the Windows Vista Enterprise benefit for Software Assurance.

How to Activate Benefits

Learn how to activate Software Assurance benefits.

How to Get Software Assurance

Find out how to get Software Assurance.

Case Studies

Read real-life examples of how other businesses are deriving value from their Software Assurance benefits.

Windows Vista Service Pack 1

Get information about Windows Vista updates and find out about enhancements to improve your computer's performance.

 

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