Letter From the Editor Lorrie Scardino 8 April 2002 Enterprises only have until 31 July 2002 to commit their current licenses to Microsoft's annuity-based, Software Assurance pricing model, which was announced in May 2001 and introduced in October 2001. Enterprises that have been waiting and hoping for Microsoft to reverse this direction have been waiting in vain. Regardless of all of the noise made by discontented enterprises since the announcement, Microsoft's annuity-based licensing is here to stay. Although many enterprises view 31 July 2002 as “decision day,” the real decision day is today — right here, right now. Enterprises that wait until the July deadline to decide how to restructure their Microsoft licensing program risk falling into the "quick decisions make bad decisions" trap. Enterprises that wait until 31 July 2002 will likely pay more for their Microsoft licenses than they would have if they had developed plans that best suited their requirements, used the leverage afforded by pre-31 July 2002 options and negotiated with Microsoft for the most cost-effective solutions.    Read more

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	Microsoft Licensing Programs: Take Action Now! 8 April 2002 Alvin Park   Jonathan Mein Gartner estimates that 65 percent of Microsoft customers have yet to take action as a result of the changes Microsoft has made to its licensing programs, which could prove to be a costly mistake.

Choosing Between Microsoft Select and Enterprise 8 April 2002 Alvin Park   Jonathan Mein For enterprises deciding between a Select license or an Enterprise Agreement to manage their core desktop software, the answers to 13 questions will help determine which one best fits their software usage profile.		Microsoft UA and Select v.5: Won't Be Available for Long 8 April 2002 Alvin Park After 31 July 2002, Microsoft's Upgrade Advantage and its Select version 5 agreements will not be available. By taking advantage of these offerings, enterprises upgrading from noncurrent versions of Microsoft software can see savings.
Leverage Points for Negotiating EAs With Microsoft 28 March 2002 Alvin Park   Jonathan Mein Many enterprises think that it is impossible to negotiate with Microsoft. It is not easy, but it is possible. Knowing the key leverage points will help negotiate better Enterprise Agreements.		Gartner's Prediction for Microsoft's Product Road Map 8 April 2002 Jonathan Mein   Alvin Park A product road map is essential when developing a licensing model that best fits enterprises' needs, but Microsoft does not provide one. Gartner predicts a road map to guide enterprises' evaluations.
The Reseller's Changing Role in Microsoft Licensing Models 8 April 2002 Jonathan Mein Microsoft changed the reseller's role in its licensing models in October 2001. But the changes only affect Enterprise Agreement (EA) 6.0 and EA 6.0 Subscription, and are region-specific.

 
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