Updated Reimaging Rights Volume Licensing Brief

The Reimaging Rights Volume Licensing Brief is updated for February 2015. The changes are mainly around Windows SA per User and there’s confirmation added that Windows 8.1 Enterprise Volume Licensing media may be used to reimage an OEM PC licensed for Windows 8.1 Pro if the primary user of the PC is licensed for Windows SA per User (page 4).

There’s also a new question added on page 5 which confirms that if a PC is reimaged under Windows SA per User rights, it must be reverted to its original licensed operating system if the subscription expires, and it must be licensed with Windows SA per device if non-licensed users use the device.

Get the document here: http://bit.ly/1a8GtyG.

FAQ: Activation and Product Keys

This is a useful site if you want to learn more about product activation: http://bit.ly/1CoqHlm.

It includes good information on all the basics as well as answering less well-known questions such as: which activation method should be used for virtual computers, what key to use on PCs preinstalled with Windows when you want to downgrade to an earlier version, and why the amount of MAK activations doesn’t match the number of purchased licences.

Overview of the Changes to the February 2015 Volume Licensing Product List

It’s a relatively quiet month as far as updates to the February 2015 Product List are concerned, with the changes split into two main areas – some amendments to use rights, and some new products and offerings.

Amendments to use rights:

  • It’s confirmed that customers with SQL Enterprise Core licences with active SA on 1 February 2014 can choose to deploy SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse in place of SQL Server Enterprise – see page 26
  • The use rights for the EMS and Office 365 Add-ons are extended; previously, the Office 365 Add-ons granted access rights equivalent to a Windows Server 2012 CAL, now both types of Add-ons grant access rights to ALL of the components in the qualifying licences from any device. This is obviously only for the user licensed with the Add-on USL and it does include downgrade rights for the server components, but not for Office Professional Plus. See pages 46 and 59

New products and offerings:

  • The Lync Voice Add-on for the Enterprise Cloud Suite makes its (belated) appearance in the Enterprise Cloud Suite section and is confirmed as an Additional Product, rather than an Enterprise Online Service as the EMS and Office 365 Add-ons are. See page 47
  • There’s a new services offering detailed on page 84 – the Sales Productivity Accelerator. This is a service provided by Microsoft Services over the course of a four week term to deliver a fixed-scope implementation of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online
  • CRM Online makes its debut in both the Open programs with its commercial offerings and also as a set of new education offerings through all of the Academic programs. See page 49 for what’s available through what program
  • Customers receive Planning Services days based on the number of qualifying licences that they have, and the Dynamics AX products are added to the list of these qualifying licences on page 68
  • Azure RemoteApp is added on page 47 with the “(Plan)” label indicating that it’s licensed with a USL and does not decrement any Azure Monetary Commitment a customer may have

74-678 – Discounted Exam Vouchers & Free Re-takes

Discounted MCP exam vouchers and free re-takes are available and include the 74-678 exam (http://bit.ly/1CoqiQ0). Team these with our self-study guide to give yourself the best chance of passing: (http://bit.ly/74-678-US-Kindle).

Changes to Visual Studio Online Licensing

There are further changes to Visual Studio Online licensing with additional rights being moved from the Visual Studio Online Advanced licence to the Basic one. These include user acceptance testing, all project management features, and the Team Rooms feature.

Read the full announcement here: http://bit.ly/1yZQYAE.

CRM Online now available through Open programs

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online is available to purchase through Open and Open Value programs beginning 2 February 2015. Read the full announcement here: http://bit.ly/1KFcz8q.

Partner Quotes in GLR

Get Licensing Ready Update: the Partner Quotes module is moved from the MLSS LORG level to a specialist track on its own. Check your licensing knowledge is up to date at https://getlicensingready.com.

December 2015 Updates to Licensing Windows/Office on a Mac VL Brief

The “Licensing Windows and Office for Use on a Mac” Volume Licensing Brief is updated for December 2015 to include Windows SA per User and VDA per User licensing.

There’s a new question added which sums up the changes: “Can a user licensed with Windows Software Assurance per User or Windows VDA per User access Windows Enterprise on or from a Mac?”

The answer – yes, through a VDI environment, or installed locally if the Mac is licensed with Windows 7/8/8.1 Pro. Get the document here: http://bit.ly/Hkv3BM.

Exams 70-671 and 70-672 are no longer available

RIP 70-671 and 70-672. It’s official – these Volume Licensing exams are no longer available as of 31 January 2015. The replacement is the 74-678 exam – “Designing and Providing Microsoft Volume Licensing Solutions to Large Organizations”.

If you want to find out more about this new exam or access some resources to help you to prepare to pass it, then everything you need is right here: http://bit.ly/74-678.

Power BI Licensing

It’s all change for Power BI and its licensing. Changes are announced for a new Power BI which has a new user experience and new features. It’s currently in preview with no confirmation of General Availability yet, and you can read all about what’s new here: http://bit.ly/168mYfa.

Licensing wise, today there’s a Power BI Add-on for E3/E4 and a standalone Power BI licence, and a new Power BI Pro licence will replace both of these options. Pricing will be $9.99 per user/month and there will be a free version too (Power BI) which will, of course, have a lighter set of features. This link has a table of the features: http://bit.ly/1tPRiGA.

In the interim, pricing is reduced for the two existing plans from 9th February 2015 with the Add-on down from $20 to $9.99 and the standalone plan down from $40 to $17.99, all detailed on this page: http://bit.ly/1yZGotv.

And what about existing customers? From a features perspective, all customers will transition to the new user experience as soon as it’s available. In terms of the licensing, customers who licensed Power BI through MOSP will apparently receive a message through their admin console explaining how their account will be impacted with the lower price. For EA customers, they will transition to the new SKU and new price at anniversary. These details are all at this page: http://bit.ly/16fXTQh.