Microsoft has tweaked its Software Assurance Membership program, promising new levels of support for enterprise customers and removing a requirement that companies enroll in Software Assurance in order to be part of its current high-end support program, Premier Support.

Software Assurance (SA), announced in May 2001, will replace all other Microsoft upgrade programs for volume licensing customers. (For details, see "Major Makeover for Volume Licensing" on page 22 of the June 2001 Update and "Customer Complaints Delay Licensing Changes" on page 16 of the Nov. 2001 Update.) To encourage customers to purchase SA, Microsoft announced the Software Assurance Membership program, which offered discounts on services and training, and access to source code for qualifying customers. Microsoft also announced that to get Premier Support after Sept. 2003, customers would need to be SA members and would have to migrate their entire installed base of server and desktop licenses to SA.

SA has been controversial, as many customers complained that it would substantially increase their licensing costs. Replacing a stick with a carrot, Microsoft now says customers will be able to get Premier Support in the future without SA, but a new, higher level of support, as yet unnamed, will only be available to customers who have made a complete commitment to SA.

Details of the new support program are vague: Microsoft says it will offer "enhanced resolution services, global support access, and fixed-rate consulting services." More details and prices are expected to be announced in summer 2002.

More information about SA, including Microsoft’s "future vision" for the SA Membership program, is available at www.microsoft.com/licensing/programs/sa/.

The new support program is outlined at www.microsoft.com/licensing/programs/sa/sasupport.asp.