Microsoft has released the Microsoft Product Licensing
Advisor to help users get the best deals through its volume license
programmes.
Microsoft Product Licensing Advisor is the latest effort by the
company to deal with frustration felt by its volume users.
The tool helps customers under the Open License Business, Open
License Volume, Select License, Enterprise Agreement, and Open
Value volume licensing agreements.
The product calculates estimated pricing and provides a report
that includes the exact configuration of the product chosen. The
tool is not available for academic or government volume licensing
programmes.
The introduction of Product Licensing Advisor follows the recent
introduction of software home use rights, free training vouchers,
product consolidation and a simplification of the Open Value
program, which are all designed to get license holders on-side.
Product Licensing Advisor is being gradually rolled out in
phases. The basic version was unveiled this week, and the full
version in 20 languages covering quotes for entire business
solutions and live chat with Microsoft representatives will be
available in spring 2006.