The Microsoft Product Licensing Advisor (MPLA), launched in fall 2005, has gained additional capabilities, notably pricing for more countries and more types of volume licensing customers, as well as links to the product use rights for each license.

When it first launched, the site provided volume license prices only for U.S. corporate customers. The site now includes pricing data for 12 other countries—Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom—although the site's only language remains English. The MPLA now includes pricing information for educational institutions, governments, and charities, as well as corporate customers.

After products are selected, the site shows a summary of additional benefits available for customers who purchase licenses with Software Assurance, which provides upgrade rights, technical support, and other benefits.

The site also provides a link, in the description of each license, to additional product information, such as the product use rights for the products selected.

The MPLA Web site is www.microsoft.com/licensing/mplahome.mspx. The MPLA and future plans for the product were described in detail in "Licensing Advisor Provides Volume Pricing" on page 34 of the Jan. 2006 Update.