Prices and Discounts in This Report

Microsoft does not set the final prices of products sold through volume channels, but gives resellers the right to set prices based on their own competitive requirements. Discount percentages cited in this report have not been provided by Microsoft, but are Directions on Microsoft estimates based on our review of estimated retail prices, volume prices published by Microsoft resellers, customer reports, and other sources.

Furthermore, product groups play a significant role in setting prices and volume discounts, and their assessments of appropriate prices and discounts vary widely. The initial volume discount available for one product might be less than 5%, while for another product it can approach 50%. In general, popular products that face competition in the marketplace are more steeply discounted than specialized products, such as some server applications, that face little competition at their price point.

As a guide, customers can begin by looking at Microsoft’s Web site-start at the product catalog, www.microsoft.com/catalog/-which lists both estimated retail prices (ERP) and volume prices for most products. (Click on the “Volume Pricing” link at the left after selecting a product from the catalog.) However, Microsoft does not always publish retail or volume prices for all stock-keeping units (SKUs) in the product catalog, and volume prices frequently refer to volume licensing plans that Microsoft no longer offers.