When is Software Assurance a Good Idea?

How can Software Assurance save you money? It is all about timing! Software Assurance (SA) is an ‘add-on’ for Microsoft licenses that gives you 2 years of upgrades to new releases (3 years with Open Value) as well as support, training, and other benefits. Here are some products that Wasatch Software suggests you purchase Software Assurance on, and some others that you may want to pass on SA with:

Buy Software Assurance!

*** Windows Server: A new release is expected within the next year. Upgrades for Windows Server do not exist, so SA is a must for technically progressive organizations.
*** Windows Vista: Though a new release may be several years out, SA on top of your Windows Vista licenses gives you the rights to use Vista Enterprise or Ultimate. Vista Enterprise is only available to Software Assurance customers.
*** Terminal Services CALs: When a Windows Server is upgraded, the CALs have to upgraded as well.

Pass on Software Assurance!

*** SQL Server: It took Microsoft around 5 years to release a replacement for SQL 2000, and SQL 2005 has only been out about a year. You do the math!
*** MS Office: New versions were just released, making it unlikely that anything new will come out anytime soon. Please note this only applies to Office for Windows. Office Mac customers will likely benefit from an SA purchase.
*** Exchange Server: Like Office, we’ve just seen a new version.

This list is in no way a rule for all organizations, but just a general guide. Many organizations may benefit greatly by purchasing Software Assurance on all of their Microsoft licenses. Cutting edge customers can certainly appreciate the support and training options that full SA coverage can provide. Other organizations, however, do not require the latest technology or may not have systems that can even run the newest versions. If this describes you, we suggest avoiding the cost of SA all together. If you are wondering if a new release is on the horizon for a product not listed, or if still aren’t sure if Software Assurance is right for you, contact us today for a free software license consultation.

P.S.- A reseller suggesting you don't buy an add-on? Did you ever think you'd see the day???

Wasatch Software Announces Free Software License Research

Wasatch Software has announced that it will offer free software license research for volume license customers. This free software license research service offers your organization many benefits:

• Ability to locate previous purchases that you may be unaware of
• Helps eliminate duplicate purchases
• Assists you in avoiding legal liability associated with the use of unlicensed software
• Available for volume license purchases from Microsoft and other software vendors

This unique service utilizes partnerships that Wasatch Software maintains with several major software vendors. Please visit our software license research site today for more information.

Use Vista for Four Months, Free

You can install an evaluation copy of any Windows Vista edition and use it for a minimum of 30 days without having to activate it. But this post contains a secret technique that no one has yet published: how to automatically "rearm" the trial period at the end of each 30 day period.

Read More

Microsoft Adjusts to Add Support for Thin-client Computing

Microsoft Corp. was once an avowed opponent of network computing, thin clients or anything else that threatened to harm Windows’ hegemony by putting the PC on a crash diet. Recently, Microsoft has been quietly making an about-face due to its increasingly popular Terminal Services software...


Read More

WasatchSoftware.com #3 in Traffic for Microsoft Licensing Sites

I was very pleased to see that WasatchSoftware.com now ranks #3 in traffic among Microsoft Software Licensing websites. This data is provided by Alexa, which is often regarded as the top provider of web traffic information. Alexa collects data from web crawlers, as well as toolbars installed on millions of computers worldwide.

The #3 ranking for WasatchSoftware.com is for all sites classified in Alexa's 'Computers >> Software >> Licensing >> Microsoft' category. Both sites with higher traffic than WasatchSoftware.com are owned by Microsoft itself, and the site directly below WasatchSoftware.com (www.MicrosoftSale.com) is also owned and operated by Wasatch Software, Inc. Other notable sites that fall below Wasatch Software's traffic level are License Online and Tech Soup.

Wasatch Software's experts are dedicated to not only providing an easy way to purchase computer hardware and software online, but also to providing high quality information on software licensing and related topics to assist IT professionals and other end users. Should you have a suggestion for our site, please post a comment or contact us today!

Opinion: Microsoft Software Assurance

Yes, Software Assurance is great! When kept current it provides a simple way for Microsoft volume license customers to make sure they always have the rights to the latest versions and new releases. Additionally, Microsoft has come a long way in offering additional benefits to Software Assurance customers, including eLearning, support, and even the rights to products they otherwise couldn't use (Windows Vista Enterprise). With this said, should Microsoft commit to a few things for its loyal SA customers?

• New versions in a timely manner: Customers are paying around 25% of the license cost per year for Software Assurance. If a new version would surely be released every 3 to 4 years the math would work out in the customer's favor. However, in the case of some recent products (like SQL Server and even Windows Pro) there were 4 or 5 years between new releases. This makes SA all about timing. Should an Open License or Select Agreement customer buy coverage just after a new version has been released? Probably not, unless you highly value the training and support benefits that become available to you.


• Additional benefits or lower cost: In actuality, most Software Assurance benefits will go unused by the customer. Perhaps Microsoft should consider lowering the cost of SA, or begin offering highly useful benefits like 100% free phone support without limitations. Currently, Open License customers must purchase $20K+ to earn a single phone support incident. If MS would consider lowering the cost, resellers like Wasatch Software would certainly sell more SA, and total sales for Microsoft would surely rise.

No matter how you look at it, Microsoft makes the mose user friendly and productive software. Hopefully their volume licensing programs continue to improve... in the customer's favor!

Microsoft Exchange Server 2007

Are you confused by Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 licensing and features? You are not alone! Here's a quick run down which covers many of the questions our customers have asked since the January 2007 release:

• Licensing Model: An Exchange Server license is required for each operating system environment running Exchange Server. A CAL is required for each user or device accessing Exchange Server.


• Exchange Server Licenses/Features: You can select between Exchange Standard or Exchange Enterprise. While both editions offer unlimited software storage (dependent on hardware) and local continuous replication, only Exchange Server 2007 Enterprise allows cluster continuous replication and single copy clusters. In addition, Exchange Standard supports only 5 storage groups and 5 databases, while the Enterprise Edition allows for 50 of each.


• Exchange CAL Basics: CALs can be purchased on a 'per user' or 'per device' basis. Please note the CALs are issued on a permanent basis, not concurrently. A CAL is required for each user or device that accesses the server. If you aren't sure which is more beneficial for you, compare your total number of users and devices and go with the lower number.


• Standard CAL vs. Enterprise CAL: An Exchange Standard CAL is the base CAL, which gives you rights to e-mail, shared calendaring, and Outlook Web Access (OWA). You can choose to add-on to each Standard CAL by purchasing the Enterprise CAL. The Enterprise CAL offers rights to unified messaging, list journaling, managed e-mail folders, Exchange hosted filtering, and Forefront Security for Exchange Server.


• Licensing Changes: Unlike prior versions, devices and users who have an Exchange CAL are not automatically granted rights to use MS Outlook. With Exchange 2007, only those who had active Software Assurance coverage as of November 30, 2006 have this right (thanks for the forewarning Microsoft). There are more details to this, but I won't bore you with them as most people do not have SA coverage on Exchange.

I hope this brief run down has been helpful. Naturally, there are numerous caveats that I haven't covered. Please feel free to contact our experts or post a response if you would like more information or clarification.

Microsoft Select Agreements

Microsoft Select Agreements are the best way for an organization with over 250 systems to obtain software licensing on a pay-as-you-go basis. Has your company outgrown licensing programs designed for companies with 5-249 systems (i.e. Open License, Open Volume, Open Value)? Contact us today for a free quote or license consultation on how a Select Agreement can save you money, while still allowing you to purchase only the licenses you need when you need them.

Another benefit of Select licensing is that Software Assurance is not required, and can be purchased only when it is beneficial to you. Our Microsoft licensing experts look forward to hearing from you!