Upcoming Windows, Office, and Exchange releases give companies a new reason to evaluate Microsoft Software Assurance (SA), a subscription-based software maintenance plan. Microsoft SA purchased with product licenses gives companies a discounted upgrade path to new versions, such as the upcoming Windows 7, Office 2010, Exchange 2010, and SharePoint Server 2010. SA also delivers technical support, training, and other benefits. However SA is not always the lowest-cost way to purchase upgrades, and companies have to carefully weigh the package of benefits it delivers against the cost of purchasing those same benefits a la carte.

This report is part of a larger series of Directions on Microsoft Licensing Outlines and should be used in connection with the Directions on Microsoft Enterprise Software Roadmap.

• Upgrades and Other Benefits
• New Version Rights
• Other Benefits of Software Assurance
• Windows Client OS Special Benefits
• Term, Pricing, and Payment Schedule
• Resources

Illustrations Included:

• Microsoft's Volume Licensing Programs
  
• How SA Handles Packaging and Licening Changes

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