TechNet Benefits through Software Assurance provides IT professionals with two distinct TechNet Plus benefits: TechNet Software Assurance Subscription Services and TechNet Plus Direct.
TechNet Software Assurance Subscription Services includes two types of services to provide you the technical assistance you need, when you need it:
TechNet Online Concierge Chat provides a live virtual librarian to help find technical resources and get answers to non-technical questions. Use this benefit when you have questions about where to find downloads, patches, or knowledge base articles. This benefit is available to all of the IT professionals in your organization when you have Microsoft Software Assurance.
TechNet Managed Newsgroups
enable IT professionals to get answers to technical questions posted by industry colleagues. The number of IDs available is dependent on the type and level of agreement and product pools purchased.
In addition, Software Assurance customers receive a single subscription to TechNet Plus, offering technical resources and support:
Note: TechNet Plus Direct is licensed for one person only. Benefits cannot be shared. If more than one IT professional in your company would like access to the benefits, you can purchase additional TechNet Plus Direct subscriptions and TechNet Plus media subscriptions through Volume Licensing.
Eligibility varies by licensing program and the number of Software Assurance agreements you have for Microsoft server products. Through your volume license agreement, you can purchase additional TechNet Plus subscriptions for other IT professionals in your organization.
The following Volume Licensing programs are eligible for TechNet Benefits through Software Assurance:
Select License
Select Plus
Open Value
Open Value Company-Wide/Subscription
Select License with Software Assurance Membership
Select Plus with Software Assurance Membership
Enterprise Agreement/Subscription
Campus, School and Select Academic Agreement
Campus, School and Select Academic Agreement with Software Assurance Membership
Steps for the Notices Contact:
Sign the Microsoft Volume License Agreement.
Microsoft will send you a welcome e-mail message that introduces you to Microsoft Volume License Services (MVLS).
Go to the Microsoft Volume License Services Web site.
Click the Sign In button. On the next screen, enter your Windows Live ID credentials. If you do not have a Windows Live ID, click Sign Up Now and follow the instructions on your screen to obtain an ID.
Create an MVLS account.
Assign a Benefits Administrator(s) to manage Software Assurance benefits (see table above for suggestions as to who in your organization to designate). Microsoft will send a welcome e-mail message to the Benefits Administrator(s).
After the Benefits Administrator(s) registers on MVLS, assign permissions to manage specific Software Assurance benefits.
Steps for the Benefits Administrator:
Ensure that you have administrative rights to activate this benefit, or contact your Notices Contact.
Go to the Microsoft Volume License Services Web site.
Click the Sign In button. On the next screen, enter your Windows Live ID credentials. If you do not have a Windows Live ID, click Sign Up Now and follow the instructions on your screen to obtain an ID.
Click on the Software Assurance link. This will take you to the Software Assurance Benefits Summary page.
Select TechNet Benefits through Software Assurance.
Enter contact information and applicable domains within your organization.
Click to activate the benefit.
Promote this benefit to your IT staff and Help Desk. Refer to the Promote section for more information.
