Analysts Explain Changes to the Microsoft EA

KIRKLAND, Wash., Dec. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Corporations typically spend significant sums on Microsoft software licenses, so even a small change to the Microsoft Enterprise Agreement (EA) can have a major impact on an organization's software budget. Directions on Microsoft licensing analyst John Cullen will dissect the latest version of the Microsoft EA and identify the most important changes during an hour-long conference call followed by a Q&A period on December 15th, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. PST.

According to Cullen, Microsoft modifies its EA contracts annually, usually each October. This year, however, the changes were rolled out in July to coincide with the launch of Office 365.

Cullen says the latest version of the EA modifies what devices count for licensing purposes, how price discounts are set, when annual true-ups are required, and how agreements will be renewed. The revised EA also introduces a new concept called "discount re-leveling" whereby a customer's discount level may be changed during the course of the EA, but the base price to which the discount is applied remains fixed.

Cullen thinks the new rules for true-ups - an annual process where the customer determines the number of Microsoft licenses it needs to stay in compliance - will have the biggest impact on corporate IT departments. "Microsoft has shortened its true-up deadlines," says Cullen. "For some organizations, the new true-up schedule will require major changes to their asset management processes."

Those interested in participating in the Understanding the 2011 Microsoft Enterprise Agreement webinar can click here to register or go to http://www.directionsonmicrosoft.com/component/content/article/3282.html  

About Directions on Microsoft

Directions on Microsoft is an independent IT analyst firm focused exclusively on Microsoft technologies since 1992. Directions is best known for its Microsoft Enterprise Software Roadmaps and Microsoft Licensing Guides. Their two-day Microsoft Licensing Boot Camp provides graduate-level training on how to effectively license Microsoft products such as Windows Server, Exchange, SharePoint, SQL Server and Office.

Contact: Elle Thompson
Phone: 425-739-4669
Email: [email protected]

This press release was issued through eReleases(R).  For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE Directions on Microsoft

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