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Microsoft to phase out Select licensing starting in July 2011

Microsoft is discontinuing its Select volume license offering starting on July 1, 2011. Microsoft said a couple of years ago that Select's days were numbered and that the Select program would be superseded by Select Plus, but didn't specify exactly when the phase-out would happen
Written by Mary Jo Foley, Senior Contributing Editor

Microsoft is discontinuing its Select volume license offering starting on July 1, 2011.

Microsoft said a couple of years ago that Select's days were numbered and that the Select program would be superseded by Select Plus, but didn't specify exactly when the phase-out would happen. Here's what a Microsoft spokesperson told me this week via e-mail:

"Beginning July 1, 2011 (the start of Microsoft's FY 2012), Microsoft will no longer sell new Select License agreements.  Customers can already choose Select Plus as an alternative to Select today. After July 1, 2011, customers will still be able to license software through Select Plus, which offers customers a streamlined and efficient software procurement and licensing management process."

Microsoft launched its Select Plus offering in October 2008. One of the biggest changes introduced with the new program is volume-licensing contracts under Select Plus are “evergreen,” with no expiration date. Select Plus also ends the current Microsoft policy of allowing customers to pro-rate Software Assurance (SA) contracts. Under Select Plus, SA annuity-licensing contracts will last for three full years for all products for which customers purchase them.

Microsoft is touting Select Plus as offering volume customers the following benefits:

  • Manage assets more easily with visibility across the entire organization and centralized reporting because all affiliate purchases are tied to their own unique customer IDs.
  • Get more value out of licensing with automatic price savings for purchases across the entire organization and the full value of Microsoft Software Assurance coverage, no matter when you purchase it.
  • Streamline the contract process with a single organization-wide agreement that never expires and that provides Software Assurance alignment and licensing consolidation.

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