New Microsoft Office University product comes with tougher verification rules
Summary: Microsoft is replacing its Office Academic SKU with a new Office University one that it hopes will help curtail fraudulent use.
Whenever folks complain about how expensive Microsoft's Office suite is, someone inevitably points out that the academic version is only about under $100 (usually around $80). And if you're not a student... no worries. You can use someone else's ID to buy it.
Microsoft officials know this, too. To help thwart non-students from getting an undeserved deal on the Academic SKU -- which includes Word 2010, Excel 2010, PowerPoint 2010, OneNote 2010, Outlook 2010, Publisher 2010, Access 2010, and Office Web Apps (the free, consumer-focused version of Microsoft’s Webified version of four of its Office apps) -- Microsoft is tightening the verification requirements.
On February 1, Microsoft quietly replaced the Office Professional Academic 2010 SKU with a new one called "Microsoft Office University 2010." The new SKU is for "higher-education" students and faculty only. "Microsoft Office Home and Student 2010 is the recommended product for parents and families with K-12 students," according to a Microsoft frequently asked questions (FAQ) document. (There's a new comparable Office for Mac 2011 University SKU, too.)
C-FAX 1070 radio “Tech Talk” host Alan Perry is the one who alerted me to the new SKU, which Microsoft confirmed.
Office University 2010 includes the same point products as the former Academic Professional SKU. It costs $99 and can be installed on two PCs. But it has a new verification process, which works as follows, according to the FAQ:
Office University 2010 does not come with a product key. Your eligibility will be verified online before completing purchase. This product will not work without successful verification as you will not have a product key.
You will be required to verify your eligibility online to use this software. 1.Go to www.office.com/verify. 2.Sign in with your Windows Live ID or create one using any email address. 3.Provide your school email address, sign-in ID, or international student identity card (ISIC).
Once you pass verification, the online site displays the product key.
"The big change is the validation process, as you’ll see on the big warning stickers on the packaging," said Perry. "Up to now, if you could persuade someone to sell you a copy, (even if you weren’t a student or faculty) it was yours to use. The change appears to be an effort to curtail the large number of ineligible people buying the Academic versions."
Microsoft plans to offer a similar Office University SKU as part of its next versions of Office for Windows and Mac, Perry said the Softies told him.
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Talkback
RE: New Microsoft Office University product comes with tougher verification rules
How about just charging a reasonable price for Office?
"charging a reasonable price for Office?"
I have experienced the same you say... but in my field 3d design/animation. Im a 3d designer, i use Autodesk products sometimes, do you think they are cheap? no, they are more than $3000 each license.
some people complain about it, and question why autodesk has this monopoly and has expensive software individuals cant buy.
note, I'm not trying to argue with you, but sometimes I feel people wants "the best" for free or so much cheaper than it was valued, (i can see that since you clearly want the professional version of office since it has access and outlook. so you want an expensive version)
so when i hear people like you i only think, why complain, why do you want this expensive software? or need so bad this software? why does people think only because they cant have it, it should be cheaper? why don't you look for an alternative?
like I said, I'm not trying to argue, Im expressing what i think, that sometimes we have only 2 choices. 1. buy the software and if we cant 2. search for an alternative. and you should think and see whats the best for you, if you cant with 1, well you should go with 2.
RE: New Microsoft Office University product comes with tougher verification rules
Break up the M$ Monopoly! M$ is abusing the customers! Switch to MacOS, Linux and Office-Alternatives!
RE: New Microsoft Office University product comes with tougher verification rules
Amen. I like MS products but I don't like the lock they have on the apps market.
I had previously hoped that this Wintel monopoly would be a thing of the past by now as the upcoming generation, those graduating from Highschool now, would be very computer literate unlike my generation where only a few geeks knew about computers. Sadly it seems that the schools teach just Microsoft or just Apple (depending on the school and its hardware) and not simply computer software and hardware principals that would empower the individual to build their own and be free of any companies software lockdown.
RE: New Microsoft Office University product comes with tougher verification rules
Is it just me or does anyone else laugh when they see posters refer to Microsoft as "M$" and then go on to recommend Apple?
RE: New Microsoft Office University product comes with tougher verification rules
So what's changed
Seriously, what's different about this?
Just making the students life tougher (not really)
RE: New Microsoft Office University product comes with tougher verification rules
RE: New Microsoft Office University product comes with tougher verification
Oracle's Negative Influence On Open Source Software
Licensekeyshop.com
RE: New Microsoft Office University product comes with tougher verification rules
You do realize that those are illegal keys, right?
Only MS can legally sell MS keys online without COA's.
RE: New Microsoft Office University product comes with tougher verification rules
They can claim anything they want; it does not make it legal...
Stupid move
Wilson
False Description of Verification Process
Wrong. It should read:
3.Provide your school email address (if your school appears in a drop-down list; otherwise give up and break the install disc since you can't return it after opening), sign-in ID, or international student identity card (ISIC).