Microsoft adds extra licensing features
New features on its Software Assurance scheme
Microsoft shakes up Software Assurance
Microsoft today announced a range of additional features designed to improve the value for money of its Software Assurance (SA) licensing scheme.
The vendor is focusing on providing new or enhanced services such as implementation planning, technical support and training, rather than making major changes to the pricing of the subscription-style payment plan.
The new features follow feedback from customers and will be available from March next year.
SA offers new versions of Microsoft software at no additional charge. But some users say the three-year contract period does not reflect purchasing cycles which may only update PCs every five years.
Brent Callinicos, corporate vice president of Worldwide Licensing
and Pricing at Microsoft, says the new benefits are designed to help customers access support, services and technology from the vendor and its partners.
'Organizations and their IT professionals can choose to use the benefits when planning, deploying, managing or upgrading their software with greater confidence and peace of mind,' he said.