[plug] Microsoft

[James Elliott]

Time to be offering open software ........ From PC Magazine

Microsoft's Licensing Deadline Looms

Corporate technology managers are facing warnings that 
they could pay significantly more for their future Microsoft
 software upgrades if they don't sign up for controversial 
licensing incentives before July 31, 2002. To be specific: 
After July 31, the new Microsoft Volume Licensing program 
will be completely in place, and incentives currently 
made available to licensees who negotiate new terms will 
disappear. Microsoft had set two previous deadlines for 
corporate customers to choose new licensing programs, but 
there was enough of an outcry from businesses and industry 
organizations that those deadlines were extended. 
      Microsoft has put together an extensive set of 
explanations covering how the changes in licensing policies 
will affect customers, available at
www.microsoft.com/licensing/programs/sa/saprepare.asp. 
The Software Assurance program includes stipulations 
requiring that customers agree to buy software before they 
actually need it, which has met with many objections from 
technology managers. Microsoft's Upgrade Advantage program 
is available to customers now, but it will be replaced by 
the Software Assurance program as of July 31.

More details can be found here:
http://eletters1.ziffdavis.com/cgi-bin10/flo?y=eQaz0EFcPh0Evb0nco0AY

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James Elliott