Microsoft has revamped its Software Assurance licensing programme in response to customer feedback that the scheme was too expensive, complex and restrictive.
On Thursday the software supplier unveiled eight changes to the programme which has come under fire for allegedly locking users into buying needless Windows upgrades.
The changes include a Desktop Deployment Planning voucher that customers with either Select or Enterprise licence agreements can redeem for an onsite consultation of up to ten days, based on the volume of Microsoft Office software that the firm licensed with Software Assurance.
The software supplier is also offering Information Work Solutions Services, including a one-day information work value discovery shop as well as a two-day Information Work Architecture Design Session to help IT specialists understand the architecture required to implement that software.
Under the new changes, users with Software Assurance on their client operating system will also have exclusive access to Windows Vista Enterprise, a top-end version of the next-generation Windows operating system scheduled for release in 2006, as well as Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs — a Windows-based operating systems application aimed at helping customers improve security and manageability of their legacy hardware.
Software Assurance customers will also have exclusive access to Virtual PC Express — a feature of Windows Vista Enterprise, which lets users run legacy applications on a legacy operating system in a single virtual machine.
Those with 30,000 or more information client licenses will receive additional vouchers that can be used for training from Microsoft Certified Partners for Learning Solutions .
Coverage for Microsoft products that have moved from the mainstream support period into the extended support period has been expanded. Since 1 July, 2005, the annual fees to obtain an Extended Hotfix Support Agreement have been included as part of the Software Assurance benefit. Extended Lifecycle Hotfix Support enables customers to receive code-fixes when needed, which Microsoft claims minimises migration risks and reduces support costs.
Under the revamped licensing scheme customers also are no longer required to track their Software Assurance coverage by licences in order to use phone support. Unlimited Web support is included for all Microsoft server products with Software Assurance coverage, and this support will be extended to include Open Value customers in addition to Enterprise and Select customers.
Andy Lees, corporate vice-president of server tools and marketing at Microsoft, claimed his firm had delivered the changes customers had asked for.
"This brings our customers three of the things they say they want most, 24×7 problem-resolution support for dealing with business-critical support needs, coverage of all the Microsoft software in their organizations, and seamless integration between Software Assurance and Premier Support problem-resolution incidents," said Lees in a statement.
Talkback
The main problem is still that Microsoft decides for you. It's still: our way or the high way. So much for customer awareness and satisfaction. And I think that this attitude, overall, speaks bundles about how sure Microsoft is about being able to compete with competitors on more equal grounds. Meaning things like quality, reliability, value for money, ability to switch and so on. Do keep in mind Microsoft's R&D budget compared to others.
To me this says more then enough and really all I need to know. Microsoft hasn't changed it's attitude, only the wrapping it presents its products in. Since I find attitude much more important then wrappings I won't be recommending this new Microsoft program to many of my customers. If you decide to recommend this new Microsoft program to your customers then excuse me for questioning your motives or capabilities. I think there are better options available. Not easy ones, but better ones. Yes, you do need to work to make an honest living.
Key to me is that the more easier it is to get rid of something but people won't, the more it says about how good it really is.
Fact is that it is hard to get rid of Microsoft. But people are trying (and doing) nevertheless. And it is easy to get rid of, say, Novell, but plenty of people won't. And not because they're zealots (as if everybody within a company chain of command would be a zealot).
Hence, Novell, Linux, Microsoft. NLM.