Here are some topics that I will attempt to clarify in this blog entry

• Office 365 – what’s in a name and how has it changed?
• What is the difference between Office 365 and Office 2013?
• Licensing options available for Office 365
• Office editions available, including Office 2013 and Office 365

Office 365 has essentially been a brand name that encompassed the cloud-hosted business server products we associate with Office 365: Lync, SharePoint and Exchange.   NOW, however, Microsoft is using the brand name of Office 365 to include the subscription based product without these server products.  This is very important.  Naturally, you must be asking – so what is Office 365 without servers?  The answer is that it is the Office Suite you have known for years.  The licensing and delivery of the product is what has changed.  Office 365 without servers is simply Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc) licensed as a User Subscription License (USL).  This means the user can load Office on multiple devices (limited to 5 devices per user). Office 365 is a subscription paid annually or monthly depending on your preference and long as you are subscribed to the product you will get upgrades through the portal located at https://portal.microsoftonline.com.

So what’s the difference between Office 365 and Office 2013?  Office 365 is a subscription based product as aforementioned.  Office 2013, however, is purchased through Volume Licensing and/or FPP (Full Packaged Product – like you see at Best Buy or at our site).  The licensing for Office 2013 is essentially perpetual, which is to say once you buy it you own the rights to use it perpetually.  Office 365 is a subscription, so you can use it as long as you are properly subscribed.

There are key differences in what you get as well.  For example, with Office 365 you will get Skype Calling minutes every month and also SkyDrive cloud storage for your data (files, pics, docs, etc).  One of the other nice features you get with Office 365 is the Office “On Demand” feature.  While both methods of licensing (subscription & perpetual) allow you to download Office to your device and run it locally, it appears only Office 365 subscriptions will allow you to use the “On Demand” version, which is 100% browser based.  This allows you to use Office no matter where you are as long as you have a browser and internet connection.  Another key differentiation is that Office 365 allows for you to load the software on up to 5 devices.

There are several ways to buy and license Microsoft Office 365/2013.  Much of how you go about licensing depends on who you are are where you work.  For example, students have options that are unique.  Businesses have options that are unique.  The whole subscription piece of this puzzle further “clouds” the licensing, but does allow for options that fit most any scenario (notice use of double-entendre).  For example, some people would rather pay as they go rather than all up front for the software.  The Office 365 USL model provides this flexibility and also provides very quick access to the software.

Licensing options available for Office 2013:

• Volume Licensing – discounts available for 5+ licenses
• Retail or FPP (Full Packaged Product) – best for single license
• Direct Download from Microsoft – best for single license or very small #

Licensing options available for Office 365 with Servers:

• Volume Licensing
• Direct Subscription

Licensing options available for Office 365 without servers:

• Retail or FPP (Full Packaged Product)
• Direct Subscription

Now that you understand the purchasing/licensing options available under Office 365 we can arm you with the different editions that will be available under each licensing vehicle.

Here are the editions available for Office 2013:

• Office Home & Student 2013 (FPP/Retail)
• Office Home & Business 2013 (FPP/Retail)
• Office Standard 2013 (VL)
• Office Professional 2013 (VL)

And for Office 365 with Servers:

• K1, K2 (also known as Kiosk worker plans)
• P1 (Small Business Plan)
• E1, E2, E3,E4 (Enterprise Plans)
• Midsize Business (M SKU, coming soon)
• Individual server components, such as Lync Online, Exchange Online and SharePoint Online only available
• Government, non-profit and Educational pricing available – please inquire about qualifications.

Office 365 without servers:

• Office 365 Home Premium
• Office 365 University
• Office 365 Small Business Premium (coming soon)
• Office 365 Professional Plus (coming soon)
• Office 365 Enterprise (coming soon)
• Project & Visio Online are coming soon (we’ll discuss this later)

We are excited to offer you these licensing options and are happy to assist your organization in properly licensing Office 2013 and Office 365.  We realize that the blog entry may have created additional questions, so please reach out to us at SWI and we’ll be sure to clarify your questions.  Please call 1-800-774-9187 or email sales [at] software-intl [dot] com for clarification.

Here is a reinforcing presentation delivered by PowerPoint Web App via Office 365 & SkyDrive.

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Today Microsoft releases its newest operating system, Windows 8.  I’ve reviewed it and I think it’s going to be a winner (eventually).  Microsoft is describing Windows 8 as “Windows re imagined.”  I agree.  Here are some of the highlights to this new operating system:

• Windows 8 works on a variety of devices: desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and mobile phones.  No doubt we’ve become a device heavy society, and the idea with Windows 8 is that a user shares the same experience whether they are in the office using a desktop, at the airport on a laptop, or on a beach (where I want to be right now) using a tablet PC.
• In addition to the traditional mouse and keyboard Windows 8 now utilizes ”touch” technology.
• Windows 8 is built on top of Windows 7 technology.  This is hugely important for two reasons: 1) hardware designed to run Windows 7 will also run Windows 8 (although you mostly likely will not get the “touch” technology), and 2) any software designed to work with Windows 7 will also work with Windows 8.

Of course there are many other slick new features and improvements.  To learn more about Windows 8 click here.

So what’s Microsoft’s biggest challenge with Windows 8?   Honestly, I think its radical new look may throw people off a bit.  Grandma was just starting to get the hang of the traditional Windows system!  But I do think people and businesses will come around mainly because of its versatility, increased speed/efficiency, and intuitive nature.

Curious to know your thoughts though…  Windows 8: winner, loser, or somewhere in between?

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The Big Easy Offer is back and valid from October 1st through December 31st, 2012. During this time the Cloud Easy Offer will remain in market for qualifying Online Services subscription purchases!  Please call us at 1-800-774-9187 and we can help you calculate your purchase rebate.

About The Offers

The Big Easy Offer 9 allows US customers who make a qualifying license purchase to earn a partner subsidy. Similar to previous Big Easy Offers, you can benefit from subsequent purchases of Microsoft software licenses or associated services by customers cashing in their subsidy checks. Customers can also earn partner subsidy funds on Microsoft Online Services like Microsoft® Office 365, Microsoft® Windows Intune & Microsoft® Dynamics CRM Online with the Cloud Easy Offer!!!!

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IMPROVED  Free Adobe tools, such as the Customization Wizard and the Enterprise Toolkit for Acrobat, ease configuration and administration.

IMPROVED  Support for Microsoft® SCCM/SCUP and Apple® Remote Desktop helps streamline deployment and updates.

IMPROVED  Deliver Acrobat XI as a centrally managed, touch-friendly, virtual application via Citrix XenApp. Plus with the power of Acrobat XI, your users can work even smarter as they’ll be able to:

NEW  Convert PDF files to editable Microsoft PowerPoint files while retaining original formatting—just as you already can with Microsoft Word and Excel.

NEW  Easily update or reflow text and adjust images directly in PDF files using the new editing interface.

NEW  Create PDF files optimized for mobile devices.

*A formal release has not been set but I have been assured it will be sometime in October 2012.

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As a software licensing consultant I get asked a lot of questions about OEM software/licensing. The questions I get asked usually sound something like: what is OEM and how does it differ from other types of software licensing?  As an IT Manager/Systems Admin is it legal for me to buy OEM and install on our organization’s computers?  Is it safe to buy it online?  Answers to these questions will vary but here’s some information I hope demystifies OEM software/licensing a bit.

[A quick note....most OEM questions I get are related to Microsoft software so I'm going to approach this post from a Microsoft perspective]

• OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer.
• OEM software/licensing is meant for “system builders.”  Microsoft defines a “system builder” as “an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), assembler, refurbisher, or preinstaller of software on computer systems who sells the system to an end user or third party. For Office licensing, a System Builder only refers to an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or assembler.”
• OEM software/licensing is meant to be purchased along with new hardware and must be pre-installed on that machine.
• Installing OEM on older hardware (meaning hardware that didn’t come with the OEM initially on it) is considered a breach of the license agreement.
• OEM software/licensing does not offer transfer rights.  This means that when a machine running OEM gets retired, the corresponding OEM software/license gets retired along with it.  This is one of the major disadvantages to OEM software/licensing.
• Proof of OEM licensing is a COA (Certificate of Authenticity).  A COA is a sticker that must be attached to the corresponding machine.  If the COA is not properly attached to the machine the machine is not licensed.  Counting up your organizations COA’s is how you would know how many OEM licenses you have.
• An activation key code (aka serial number) is not a license.  OEM that comes with an activation key code but no COA is not licensed software.  There’s a lot of shady online vendors out there; don’t make the mistake of thinking a disk that comes with an activation key code is licensed software!
• OEM media may not be used for re-imaging (this is another downside to OEM).  Volume Licensing on the other hand does allow for end users re-image software.
• Microsoft gives you 90 days to apply “Software Assurance” (Microsoft’s maintenance plan) onto an OEM license.  When you do you this license is no longer considered OEM, instead is considered “Volume Licensing” (much more flexible type of licensing).
• OEM versions of Microsoft Office cannot be used in a “Terminal Server” environment.

Ultimately, it’s the responsibility of the end user to make sure they have properly licensed software running in their environment.  I hope the above information clarifies some things and helps you avoid some of the common mistakes made with OEM software/licensing.  A good licensing partner (SWI) is the key!! 

Facts in this article are from this Microsoft document.

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We’re seeing huge interest in the cloud among our clients. We work with mostly small and mid-market clients across the U.S., most of which have between 25 and 150 employees. To date, we’ve migrated more than 100 organizations to Office 365, and the interest keeps growing.

Most of the clients we’ve migrated have moved from an on-premises environment. A primary driver for moving to the cloud is aging hardware and software, and the ability to reduce costs.

At least 60 percent to 75 percent of our clients are moving to the cloud because they have hardware and software that need to be retired. With the down economy over the past few years, many small businesses have held off making new IT expenditures, and they’re essentially facing outdated, out-of-support hardware and software. Office 365 offers them a way to reduce operational costs and simplify IT by eliminating their bond to an on-premises hardware and software environment.

Most of the clients we’ve migrated have moved from an on-premises environment. A primary driver for moving to the cloud is aging hardware and software, and the ability to reduce costs. At least 60 percent to 75 percent of our clients are moving to the cloud because they have hardware and software that need to be retired. With the down economy over the past few years, many small businesses have held off making new IT expenditures, and they’re essentially facing outdated, out-of-support hardware and software. Office 365 offers them a way to reduce operational costs and simplify IT by eliminating their bond to an on-premises hardware and software environment.

Another driver is disaster recovery and avoidance. With the growing number of hurricanes and other natural disasters, organizations’ technical infrastructures are at risk, and they’re looking for ways to protect their businesses. For example, one client called us from New York worried about property damage, looting and losing their documents during Hurricane Irene last year. Manhattan was scheduled for an unprecedented evacuation, and they wanted to protect their systems against water damage and looting. After we talked, the company’s employees saved all of their documents to the cloud using SharePoint Online. We prepared for the disaster using Office 365.

The Office 365 Difference Most of our customers evaluate both Office 365 and Google Apps before making a decision. That’s why it’s so important to have a good partner involved to help clarify what’s at stake.

What differentiates Office 365 is that building productivity and communications software is Microsoft’s core competency and its core business. Google is an advertising and Internet search engine company, and not a software company. By contrast, Microsoft is a software company that has been building software for over 25 years.

About 15 percent of the clients we’ve migrated to Office 365 have switched from Google Apps. Most chose Google Apps initially without making a comparison, only to realize that it doesn’t meet their needs. We’ve heard clients complain that Google Apps is missing functionality, that it lacks an intuitive interface, that it requires too much training, that it’s difficult to share data, and that it’s unstable.  “It’s just not working for us,” is what a lot of people say.

Google Apps: Not a Viable Choice While Google Apps may work in certain closed scenarios, it’s really not a viable choice if you need to communicate—and every organization, even if it’s a single employee, needs to communicate with the larger world. For example, users sometimes lose formatting when printing documents or opening Office documents using Google Apps. In addition, calendar sharing always seems to come up with customers. Calendar sharing within Gmail is difficult to use, it doesn’t work well, and it requires plug-ins to work with Outlook.

In addition, Google Apps is really limited in terms of the functionality it offers. Programs like Microsoft Word and Excel have had features added and deleted and refined over the past 25 years. Once people start using Google Apps, they’re suddenly working from programs that haven’t been through that same rigorous process, and they become frustrated.

The difference really comes down to the power of Microsoft Office. The amount of mindshare that Microsoft has put into its productivity apps over the years is astounding. It’s what makes Office what it is today.

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*Microsoft Surface RT may differ from this picture and may not include optional keyboard

For a limited time purchase Windows Server DataCenter under the Open-Value program and we’ll give you a Microsoft Surface RT tablet free when they become available.
Terms and Conditions of the promotion:

• Purchase must occur between 9/12/13 and 9/28/12 (order must be in no later than noon on the 28th!).  No exceptions!
• 1 Surface RT tablet per customer.
• Please allow 4-6 weeks shipping time from the time the Surface RT becomes available.  Please contact your account manager for more details on when the Surface RT should be available.
• *Surface image for presentation purposes only.  Actual RT Surface tablet may differ from image shown above.  Color availability and device specs determined by SWI.

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• The only versions of Windows Server that      will be available are Windows Server Standard and Windows Server      Datacenter
• Both versions will be sold as a per      processor license as a 2 license bundle and will require CALS for each      user or device connecting to the server.
• Both versions will have the same      features except the Datacenter version will have unlimited virtualization      rights and the Standard version will have 2 virtual instances per license.
• Windows Server Standard 2012 will have a      price increase of approximately 22% compared to      Windows Server Standard 2008R2. This is due to extra features not included      in the 2008 version such as rights to an additional virtual server      installation for each license purchased.
• Users looking for Windows Server      Enterprise 2008R2 will now have to choose between the Standard version or      Datacenter version. Users that migrate to the standard version will see a price      decrease from the 2008R2 Enterprise version. Users that      migrate to the datacenter  version will see a price increase      from the 2008R2 Enterprise version.

For an order for the older version of Windows Server 2008R2 to be accepted, the order must be submitted to our desk no later than 5PM EST on Tuesday August 28^th.

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http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Windows/Microsofts-Windows-8-IE10-Windows-Server-2012-Release-to-Manufacturers-813742/

Microsoft says its entering into a “New Era.”  Thoughts about this?

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