A software license is the legal right to install, use, access, display, run, or otherwise interact with a software program. The license can be Perpetual and Non-Perpetual. Microsoft licenses software in three primary ways: 

• Full Packaged Product (retail). The shrink-wrapped box of licensed software sold through the distribution channel to resellers, FPP generally contains one licence per box, along with media and documentation and is designed to meet low-volume needs.
• Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). Often the easiest and most economical way for customers to receive their Windows PC and server operating systems or software, OEM Licensing is for those selling hardware with preinstalled software.
• Volume Licensing. Serving the needs of organisations that acquire multiple licences, but don’t need multiple copies of media and documentation, Volume Licensing offers easy deployment, varied payment options and other benefits. Full Packaged Product (FPP) OEM Licensing Microsoft Volume.

Volume Licensing for Business

Open License

Microsoft Volume Licensing’s Open agreements—Open Value and Open License—offer a convenient and simple way to acquire the latest Microsoft technology and cloud services. Choose from Open Value, including the Open Value Subscription option, or Open License to help track your licenses, reduce compliance risk, and have more time to focus on your organization. 

Take advantage of the benefits Open agreements have to offer: 

• Licensing simplicity. You can place an order and start using licensed products and online services immediately. The flexible pay-as-you-go model helps eliminate the need for forecasting. After you place your order through Open License, you receive an authorization identification number that you can reuse and share with qualified affiliates. Good for the entire two-year agreement, this identification number helps reduce procurement costs and simplifies the purchasing process. 
• Licensing flexibility. Open Value gives you a single platform option that allows you to choose components from the Windows client, Microsoft Office, and Client Access Licenses (CALs) under a single platform, rather than being required to choose between the Small Business or Desktop Professional platforms. If your organization requires Microsoft’s Enterprise Solutions, Microsoft Office Pro Plus, Enterprise CAL, and Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) are now available for Open Value and Open Value Subscription. 
• Licensing manageability. Online tracking tools make managing licenses easy and convenient. With the Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC), you can electronically manage your license orders, review purchase history, find the appropriate product keys for software product installation, track compliance, and receive order confirmations

Open License is a good choice for organizations that want a minimum initial purchase of five software licenses. This program is a two-year term commitment and is ideal if you prefer to pay as you go, an important feature for a growing organization’s changing business needs.

• Microsoft Software Assurance. Software Assurance benefits help you take full advantage of your investments in IT. A comprehensive program that includes a unique set of technologies, services, and rights to help deploy, manage, and use Microsoft products efficiently, Software Assurance helps keep your business up to date and ready to respond quickly to change and opportunity.

Save time and money with the right tools, training, and support to help empower your people, optimize your technology, and unlock the full potential of your investments in Microsoft technologies. Software Software Assurance spans a broad range of Microsoft software and services products, including the Windows operating system, Microsoft Office, Exchange, System Center, SQL Server, Microsoft Azure, and many others.Software Assurance benefits include new product version rights, deployment planning, technical and end-user training, support, and a unique set of technologies and services.

Open Value

• Open Value is the recommended program if you have a small to midsize organization with five or more desktop PCs and want to simplify license management, manage software costs, and get better control over your investment. It also includes Software Assurance, providing access to valuable benefits such as training, deployment planning, software upgrades, and product support help you boost the productivity of your entire organization.
• Open Value Subscription provides the lowest up-front costs of the Open program options with the flexibility to reduce the total licensing costs in years when the desktop PC count declines. This option gives your organization the rights to run the software throughout your organization only during the term of the agreement with Microsoft. You also have the ability to add the single platform option to an Open Value Subscription agreement.

Enterprise Agreement

The Microsoft Enterprise Agreement offers the best value to organizations with 500* or more users or devices that want a manageable volume licensing program that gives them the flexibility to buy cloud services and software licenses under one agreement.

The Enterprise Agreement is designed for organizations that want to license software and cloud services for a minimum three-year period.

The Enterprise Agreement offers built-in savings ranging from 15 percent to 45 percent. You also have the option to spread your payments by making three annual payments instead of one up-front payment. This helps reduce initial costs and helps you forecast annual software budget requirements up to three years in advance.

The Enterprise Agreement includes a subscription option that lowers initial licensing costs because you subscribe to the rights to use Microsoft products and services instead of owning them. The subscription option also enables you to increase or decrease subscription counts on an annual basis.

*500 minimum user/device requirement is for commercial customers effective July 1, 2016. Does not apply to Server and Cloud Enrollment (SCE). The minimum requirement for public sector customers is 250 users/devices. For more information, please see the Enterprise Agreement program guide.

Enterprise Agreement Enrollments

Get additional savings and benefits when you buy the following Enrollments:

• Get the best pricing; per user, per device, or hybrid licensing options; and simplified license management for end-user technologies from Microsoft.
• Get the best pricing, cloud-optimized licensing options, and simplified license management when you buy one or more server and cloud technologies from Microsoft.

The enrollment agreement structure allows you to easily add new products and services when you need them.

During the term of your Enterprise Agreement,, devices, products, and services at any time without having to place individual purchase orders and account for changes through the annualprocess.

When it is time torenew your Enterprise Agreement, you will have the opportunity to make adjustments to ensure that your new agreement is aligned with your current and future needs.

Software Assurance

Software Assuranceis included in the Enterprise Agreement and provides a comprehensive range of benefits to help you plan, deploy, and use the latest Microsoft technologies and services. Benefits that help you extend the value of your Microsoft investments include:

• Rights to new software releases during the term of the agreement at no additional cost.
• Access to unique technologies.
• Planning Services to enable efficient deployments.
• In-person and online training for IT pros and end users.
• 24x7 problem resolution support.

Flexible payment options

More and more Enterprise Agreement customers are choosingMicrosoft Payment Solutionsto help them create a flexible payment structure for their complete range of technology needs, including software, services, partner products, and hardware. Flexible payment options include Deferred Payments, Ramped Payments, and Equal Monthly or Quarterly Payments.

Volume Licensing for Academic Organizations

• cademic. Acquire licenses and cloud services from your choice of authorized resellers through an easy, one-time transaction. Software Assurance is optional.
• Open Value Subscription for Education Solutions. Offers low up-front costs and provides access to Microsoft software licenses and cloud services for the term of the agreement through subscription-based licensing.
• Microsoft Cloud Agreement for Academic. Acquire cloud services with help from a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider through a pay-as-you-go model. A Cloud Solution Provider can help you determine the best cloud solution and will support you from purchasing to deployment and use.

For midsize to large academic organizations

• Enrollment for Education Solutions. Standardize technology across your organization with the latest Microsoft products and cloud services. Provides simplified license management with a single agreement, predictable software and services costs, and spread payments. Software Assurance is included.
• Select Plus for Academic. You can use Select Plus to acquire Microsoft software licenses at any affiliate or department level, while realizing advantages as one organization. Select Plus offers the flexibility to acquire licenses as needed, a single agreement with no specific end date, and a single Lead Affiliate customer ID to streamline account management. Software Assurance is optional.
• Microsoft Cloud Agreement for Academic. Acquire cloud services with help from a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider through a pay-as-you-go model. A Cloud Solution Provider can help you determine the best cloud solution and will support you from purchasing to deployment and use.

Software Assurance

Microsoft Software Assurance is a comprehensive maintenance offering that helps you get the most out of your software investment. It combines the latest software with phone support available 24 hours a day, partner services, training, and IT tools that help customers deploy, manage, and migrate software.

Eligibility

The following types of educational entities are typically eligible to purchase through Microsoft Academic Volume Licensing programs:

• Educational institutions
• Administrative offices and boards of education
• Public libraries and museums

Volume Licensing for Government Organizations 

Microsoft has government licensing offerings for eligible organizations that provide special pricing and terms that better align to the way government organizations acquire software licenses and cloud services.

For small to midsize government organizations

• Open License for Government. Acquire licenses from your choice of qualified resellers through an easy, one-time transaction. Software Assurance is optional.

• Open Value for Government. Offers simplified asset management, predictable software costs, and spread payments. Software Assurance is included.

• Open Value Subscription for Government. Get the same benefits as Open Value for Government with lower up-front costs. This program provides access to Microsoft software licenses and cloud services for the term of the agreement through subscription-based licensing. A one-year Open Value Subscription option is also available for eligible government customers.
• Microsoft Cloud Agreement for Government. Acquire cloud services with help from a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider through a pay-as-you-go model. A Cloud Solution Provider can help you determine the best cloud solution and will support you from purchasing to deployment and use. Find a Cloud Solution Provider.

For midsize to large government organizations

• Enterprise Agreement for Government. Standardize technology across your organization with the latest Microsoft products and cloud services. Provides simplified license management with a single agreement, predictable software and services costs, and spread payments. Software Assurance is included.
• Enterprise Subscription Agreement for Government. Get the same benefits as the Enterprise Agreement with lower up-front costs with the subscription option. Includes access to Microsoft software licenses and cloud services only for the term of the agreement through subscription-based licensing. Software Assurance is included.
• Select Plus for Government. If the MPSA isn’t an option for your organization, you can use Select Plus to acquire Microsoft software licenses at any affiliate or department level, while realizing advantages as one organization. Select Plus offers the flexibility to acquire licenses as needed, a single agreement with no specific end date, and a single Lead Affiliate customer ID to streamline account management. Software Assurance is optional.
• Microsoft Products and Services Agreement. The Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA) consolidates all your purchases into one simplified agreement with purchasing for Online Services and software. The Purchasing Account structure gives you flexible purchasing options and more control of how you purchase. Software Assurance is optional.
• Microsoft Cloud Agreement for Government. Acquire cloud services with help from a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider through a pay-as-you-go model. A Cloud Solution Provider can help you determine the best cloud solution and will support you from purchasing to deployment and use. Find a Cloud Solution Provider.

Software Assurance

Microsoft Software Assurance is a comprehensive maintenance offering that helps you get the most out of your software investment. It combines the latest software with phone support available 24 hours a day, partner services, training, and IT tools that help customers deploy, manage, and migrate software.