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SMBs To Get 'Lease-Like' Option on Microsoft Software

Microsoft told channel partners this week that it will launch a software subscription program for small and medium businesses in the United States and Canada on March 3.

Eric Ligman, Microsoft U.S. senior manager, small business community engagement, unveiled the Microsoft Open Value Subscription Program on Tuesday in an entry on the partner-focused Microsoft Small Business Community Blog.

"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," Ligman wrote.

While Ligman took care to note that the program is not an actual lease, he added, "[Customers] 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."

Ligman did not describe pricing. He will conduct Live Meetings to give partners additional details about the program on Jan. 10, 17, 23 and 29.

The new program is part of the Open Value volume licensing structure for organizations with between five and 250 seats. Resellers will be able to offer Open Value Subscriptions through their current Volume License Distributors, such as Ingram Micro, Tech Data, SYNNEX Information Technologies and D&H Distribution.

The Open Value Subscription Program was previously available only outside the United States and Canada.

About the Author

Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.

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