Posted: January 19, 2004

Licensing Guidelines

View Section: OEM | FPP/Retail | Volume Programs

Microsoft Volume Licensing Programs

Open License

Best for customers needing as few as five licenses
There are two types of Open Licenses that you can offer your customer: Open License Business and Open License Value. Microsoft® Open License Value is a new software licensing purchase plan that gives your customers discounted pricing, better budget predictability, and a competitive edge. The program provides a number of business advantages to companies with as few as five PCs, including volume licensing savings and the ability to spread licensing payments over a three-year period. In addition, Open License Value includes Software Assurance, which allows your customers to keep current with the technology needed to stay ahead, gives your customers greater budgeting control, and provides access to enhanced software management tools.

Select License

Best for customers with 250 or more workstations
To get the most value from Select License, your customer should be able to forecast their software license needs over a three-year period. Although Select License is available only through Large Account Resellers, this licensing option represents a great business opportunity to you as a value-added Microsoft Reseller. A Select License creates a significant deployment and infrastructure need for your customer that you can solve.

Enterprise Agreement

Best for customers with 250 or more workstations
Enterprise Agreement is for customers who want to standardize on at least one Microsoft Platform Enterprise Product (including Office Professional, Windows Professional upgrade, and Core Client Access License). Like Select License, Enterprise Agreement provides the most value for customers who can forecast their software license needs over the next three years.

Enterprise Subscription

Best for customers with 250 or more workstations
Some customers may prefer to subscribe to Microsoft software products instead of acquiring the licenses outright. Enterprise Subscription Agreement allows your customer to standardize on one or more Microsoft Platform Enterprise Products at discounted prices based on a three-year agreement term. Enterprise Subscription can help your customer minimize cash flow with lower payments than a new Enterprise Agreement.

Academic Volume Licensing

Best for academic institutions
There are different licensing programs available for different education levels and scenarios. Visit the Academic Licensing section of the Microsoft for Partners site for more information.


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