Attention Microsoft Partners, it’s the first day of the New Year and it’s time for the first breaking news announcement of 2008… We are thrilled to announce that on March 3^rd, 2008, Microsoft will be launching the Microsoft Open Value Subscription Program in both the U.S. and Canada.  This is an exciting new offering for SMB Partners and customers in these countries!  Based on feedback and input we have received from customers and Partners alike, this new offering is one that will offer a solution sought after by many in the SMB segment.  In our ongoing efforts to bring solutions and offerings to the market to help our Partners and clients get the most from their investment in Microsoft technologies, as well as providing additional ways to acquire this technology affordably through benefits like spread payments in Open Value or budget assistance through Microsoft Financing, the Microsoft Open Value Subscription Program is another step down this path.

The Microsoft Open Value Subscription Program provides a way for SMB customers to “subscribe” to the Microsoft software they want to utilize in their businesses in a “lease-like” fashion. This option provides the up-front cost-saving benefits of a lease-type model (no, it’s not an actual lease) where they can pay to use the software for a set period of time with the flexibility to increase or decrease in size as their business size does year over year. At the end of the initial term, clients have the options to continue the subscription, buy out the subscription to own the licenses, or to end the subscription. In addition, your clients may be eligible to receive significant savings and price benefits at the time they enter into a Microsoft Open Value Subscription Agreement if they own current versions or one version prior to current versions of Microsoft software already!

To make things even better, because the Open Value Subscription program is part of the Open Value structure, every reseller out there will be able to offer Open Value Subscription to their clients through the same Volume Licensing Distributors you use currently, just like with the current Open Value Program offerings available today! So there will be no additional hurdles to navigate or hoops to jump through to offer this to your clients upon its release. You will just need to ensure you understand how it works and how to use these Agreements for your clients so you can help them decide if Open Value Subscription is the right option for them to use.

In order to help you, our Microsoft Partners, understand and prepare for what the Open Value Subscription Program is, how it works, how you and your clients can use this program and more, I will be conducting several “Partner Introduction to the NEW Microsoft Open Value Subscription Program” Microsoft Live Meeting sessions for you to attend in preparation for March 3^rd. You can view details of these and register to attend at the link below:

• Partner Introduction to the NEW Microsoft Open Value Subscription Program

I intentionally scheduled these on varying days and at different times (except the first two) to accommodate more of your schedules to allow you to attend these sessions.  Each of these sessions will also be recorded for viewing afterwards; however, the live Q&A sessions will only take place during the live presentations of these sessions.  I look forward to speaking with you at these sessions and building a great 2008 together!

NOTE: Some related posts added after initial post:

·         Open Value Subscription – How is it purchased?

·         Is Microsoft moving to direct billing for Open Value Subscription?

Thank you and have a wonderful New Year's Day,

Eric Ligman
Microsoft US Senior Manager
Small Business Community Engagement
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights