Welcome to 2012, everyone! I certainly hope you all had a fantastic holiday season and New Year’s Day. To kick off the 2012 year, I thought it might be fun to look back at 2011 quickly to see which of the posts here on the blog you all came to and visited the most. With that, below is a list of the top...

As I have mentioned in several of my recent posts, such as Simplifying your Microsoft Partner Network Portal Experience , we are constantly working to enhance the experience of our customers and partners to make it easier to do business with Microsoft and to simplify your access to resources and benefits...

For the partners in the U.S. and Canada, you may recall when we first launched the Big Easy Offer: The Big Easy Offer is now live on Microsoft Incentives and since that day, the Big Easy Offer has continued to be a favorite among customers and partners.  The Big Easy provides a way for customers...

In my earlier, “ Microsoft Open License Basics – You only need 2 computers to qualify for Volume Licensing ” post as part of this series, I showed you how you could qualify for Microsoft’s Open License programs with just two computers (not the 5 that some people think you need).  In this post, I...

Single licenses of collective products, often referred to as “Suites” of products, offer considerable savings and easier license management and these savings can be so good, that they truly earn the name of “Sweet",” I mean “Suite.” Sometimes though, there are some common misconceptions and misunderstandings...

As a follow-up to my earlier, “ Microsoft Open License Basics – You only need 2 computers to qualify for Volume Licensing ” post where I showed you that you only need five (5) licenses, not five (5) computers, to qualify for Microsoft’s Open License and Open Value Volume Licensing programs, in this post...

Here is a misunderstanding I come across from time to time. I will be talking with a Partner or see a conversation between a couple of Partners and someone will say something like, “My client does not qualify for Volume Licensing because they don’t have 5 computers,” or “My client is not big enough for...

What are the different Open License Programs, what are the differences, and who are they for? This is a relatively common set of questions I have seen over the years, and one that you have probably seen addressed in some fashion on the blog over the years in various different posts. Let me provide a...

Over the past several weeks, I have been speaking with many Partners and customers through the Blog, on the phone, through email, on Twitter, on Facebook, face to face, and more about various items relating to the Open Licensing Programs that Microsoft offers. Several of the conversations have begun...

As stated in my, “ Answers from Windows 7 Upgrade Install Hack post coming on Monday ,” post, here is a collection of many questions I have posted answers to from my, “ Regardless of what any hack says, a Windows 7 Upgrade is an Upgrade. What you need to know ,” post.  Please note, this list will...

Shortly after I published my Regardless of what any hack says, a Windows 7 Upgrade is an Upgrade. What you need to know blog post, there was one particular statement that several people seemed to focus on. The statement in that blog post I am referring to is, “Over the past several days there have been...

Earlier today I put up the , “ Regardless of what any hack says, a Windows 7 Upgrade is an Upgrade. What you need to know ,” post here on my Blog and shortly afterwards I received the following question offline: “If I have an old PC with an OEM Windows license on it, can I just take that Windows license...

UPDATE: "Hack" identity and more answers from Windows 7 Upgrade Install posted HERE First, the feedback, excitement, etc. we’ve been seeing since the launch of Windows 7 last week has been phenomenal! Thank you to all of you for providing your feedback to us to let us know how your Windows...

One of the topics I get asked about quite a bit or see being asked about is around the topic of Software Assurance (SA). I have several posts on the Blog about this topic; however, I thought it might be very helpful to package up some of the top questions, resources, answers, and posts into one to make...

This morning there was a question posed by a Partner about whether or not it matters if they purchase the SBS Server for their client through OEM, Retail, or Open License. The answer is, “Yes,” it does make a difference when you are purchasing any Microsoft software for your clients whether you purchase...

So, anyone here ever had a question about licensing? I’m guessing probably not. So, how many of you have had A LOT of questions about licensing (not just A question)? Now we’re probably a little closer, right? Well, here’s your chance to get answers to many of those questions in a live session next week...

In addition to the, “ If software assurance expires on SBS 2003, will the client lose the right to Cold Backup for Disaster Recovery? ” question that was posed by a Partner yesterday, another one that was asked was, “If Software Assurance expires on SBS 2003, will the client lose the right to install...

What an interesting week it has been. Since my original An upgrade is an upgrade. Apparently some people are easily confused post, I have received many comments, pieces of feedback, and quite a unique perspective on many things. I wanted to wait a week and consolidate much of the feedback into one post...

Below is the first post. You can find the follow-up here: An upgrade is an upgrade. Apparently some people are easily confused – Part 2 . It seems that there are some people out there who don’t quite get the concept of an upgrade. These people are even writing articles fully articulating how little...

Did you ever think you would see me say that? Well, that’s what I am saying to you today, with just one slight clarification. That slight clarification being the end of the statement above that was not included. What the full statement is, “Why you should stop selling or buying Software Assurance through...

With the announcement of the upcoming launch of Open Value Subscription, there is now a non-perpetual way to acquire Microsoft technology through our Open License programs. So how do the various Open License programs compare to each other and which one is the new Open Value Subscription most closely...

Recently, I was asked by a Partner what the difference between perpetual and non-perpetual licensing is. They had heard both referenced when reading about the Open Value Subscription launch in March. To help answer this question for the broader Microsoft Partner Community, I put together these short...

In some of my earlier post, such as: OEM Microsoft Server software. New short video answers top questions about adding Software Assurance. Adding Software Assurance to your OEM Office licenses. What you need to know… Part numbers to add Software Assurance to your OEM SBS licenses If I...

A Client Access License (CAL) is a license granting access to certain Microsoft server software. CALs are used in conjunction with Microsoft Server software licenses to allow Users and Devices to access and utilize the services of that server software. For instance, a company looking to utilize Microsoft...

Transfer Rights grant the right to uninstall software from one device and then re-install that software on a different device. For instance, the ability to uninstall a license of Microsoft Office from one PC and then reinstall that license of Microsoft Office on a replacement PC. These rights, if granted...