Windows Embedded SA now includes VDA Rights

There have been recent changes in the licensing of the Windows Embedded products which bring them much closer to the licensing of “regular” Windows. One of the changes is the increase in SA benefits and if you have SA on a device running Windows 8.1 Industry Enterprise then you now get VDA rights, which means that you no longer need to purchase VDA licences for those devices to access a VDI desktop. There’s an interesting Microsoft article if you want to read more: http://bit.ly/1jgqWkW.

MDOP 2014 is available in VLSC

MDOP 2014 is available for download from VLSC. The main enhancements are to MBAM and App-V. See the Microsoft announcement for a summary: http://bit.ly/Sz0spM.

Overview of the Changes to the May 2014 Volume Licensing Product List

SQL Server 2014

  • It’s confirmed on page 27 that the CAL waiver for Batch jobs that was introduced with the SQL 2014 Business Intelligence edition also applies to the 2012 version
  • Customers with SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse Core licences with SA can now step up to SQL Enterprise Core licences – see page 75

AX 2012 R3

  • AX 2012 R3 replaces the R2 version for May 2014
  • There are changes to the wording in the rights allowed with the different levels of CALs, as well as clarification of terms such as “Point of Sale Device” and “Warehouse Device”. Full details are on pages 17/18
  • There’s confirmation added that CALs are not required for external users, but a cautionary note is included stating that external user licences must not be used for business process outsourcing purposes
  • Fail-over server licensing becomes an SA benefit. Although it’s not mentioned in the Product List I thought I’d include the change here – see page 67 of the April Product Use Rights for details

Windows Enterprise Sideloading

  • There are a number of changes to the licensing of Windows Enterprise Sideloading. Read on for the summary, or peruse page 33
  • Enterprise Sideloading is now feature-enabled in both the Pro and Enterprise editions running on domain-joined PCs through any Volume Licensing program
  • Customers with EA, Select Plus, School or EES agreements receive Enterprise Sideloading Rights to enable non domain-joined or RT devices
  • Other customers can acquire Enterprise Sideloading Rights as a single SKU to cover all devices for $100 through Open

Other Additions

  • Project Lite arrives – this is a cloud offering designed for project team members to do things such as updating tasks and entering timesheet information as an alternative to the full-blown (and more expensive) Project Online
  • The CRM Online Enterprise USLs are added although there is a note stating that availability will be later in May/June. These USLs add Dynamics Marketing (formerly MarketingPilot) and Unified Service Desk (an application for call centres) to the functionality accessed through the CRM Online Professional USLs
  • Standalone Dynamics Marketing USLs are also added with the same note regarding availability

Changes to Windows Sideloading Licensing

Enterprise Sideloading is the process of installing Windows Apps directly to a device without going through the Windows Store. You can imagine that this is ideal for organisations that want to build their own custom line of business apps and then distribute them directly to their devices since it would make no sense to make those apps publicly available through the Windows Store.

Devices must be enabled for Enterprise Sideloading, and this functionality has historically been enabled as a feature for domain-joined PCs running Windows Enterprise edition. Other devices, either running different editions of Windows or not joined to the domain, could be enabled for Sideloading via a product key. These product keys were available in packs of 10 or 100 keys, or were an SA benefit for certain customers.

However, there are some changes which are effective from 1 May 2014 – here’s the summary:

  • Domain joined devices running Windows 8.1 Pro or Enterprise edition (including Industry edition), in any Volume Licensing program, are feature-enabled for Windows Enterprise Sideloading
  • Windows RT 8.1 or Pro/Enterprise devices that are not domain joined still require product keys which are obtained by acquiring Enterprise Sideloading Rights
  • Enterprise Sideloading Rights are granted to all customers who have an Enterprise Agreement or Select Plus agreement, or for academic institutions, an EES or a School agreement
  • For customers without the above agreements, Enterprise Sideloading Rights can be purchased for $100 through the Open program to cover an unlimited number of devices

There’s a presentation from Microsoft you may find useful to peruse (http://bit.ly/1omercG) or refer to the May 2014 Product List on page 33.

Microsoft Volume Licensing Newsletter

There’s a Microsoft Volume Licensing Newsletter that you can sign up to. It’s released every one or two months and the April edition summarises the changes in SQL 2014 licensing. Previous editions have covered Dynamics CRM and the Server and Cloud Enrolment.

The April edition is here with a link to subscribe: http://bit.ly/Sgn923.

Office 365 Personal and Home Editions

Office 365 Personal has arrived. The key facts:

  • One PC or Mac and one tablet may be connected to the service;
  • It includes 60 minutes of Skype calling per month as well as 20 GB of OneDrive storage;
  • Estimated Retail Price is $69.99/year or $6.99/month.

Office 365 Home Premium is still available but is renamed to Office 365 Home and offers installation on up to 5 PCs or Macs and 5 tablets as well as 20 GB of OneDrive storage for each of up to 5 users, with a price tag of $99.99/year or $9.99/month.

Here’s the Office Blog post: http://bit.ly/QVUxKm.

Conquering the Challenges of Licence Compliance Event

Another fab free licensing event for you to attend! We’re pleased to be involved in a “Conquering the Challenges of Licence Compliance” event with Incit Technology and Matrix 42 in Birmingham on Thursday 15th May. Find more details and a link to register here: http://bit.ly/1nx8sUC.

IDC Whitepaper: Key Software Licensing Considerations for Next-generation Enterprise Environments

This is an interesting new whitepaper from IDC which discusses the shift towards what they are calling “the 3rd Platform”. In their words: “The 3rd Platform is the next-generation compute model characterized by a proliferation of always- connected smart mobile devices, coupled with the widespread usage of social networking, and layered over a cloud-based server infrastructure that supports important new workloads such as big data analytics.”

Here’s the summary of their main thoughts:

  • Businesses will transition to the 3rd Platform incrementally, and in that time there will be a complex hybrid mix of on-premises/cloud, perpetual/subscription, and PC/mobile software to manage
  • In the next 3-5 years, software licence spending will shift from capital budgets to operating budgets with an average increase in spend on subscription licences of 35%
  • 62% of organisations plan to use Licence Mobility in order to move applications to cloud infrastructure platforms
  • Software licence complexity will indirectly cost organisations an average of 25% of their software licence budgets by 2015
  • Historically, volume licensing programs were focused mainly on the discounts available; today, customers should look for agreements that allow them to migrate to the 3rd Platform at their own pace without being restricted by inflexible licensing terms or the need to sign multiple agreements

This, of course, all supports Microsoft’s “Cloud First Mobile First” strategy with licensing flexibility being key in offering new solutions to support workloads deployed partially or completely to the cloud, and enabling workers to access their corporate desktops in a variety of different scenarios.

Microsoft give their comments on the report on their Volume Licensing blog (http://bit.ly/1h8SYPw) and also make the (valid) point that the new Server and Cloud Enrolment is an ideal vehicle for licensing a traditional on-premises server farm today and then allowing a seamless transition of required workloads to the cloud tomorrow.

The report, written in a question and answer style, is worth a read in its entirety if you’re new to the 3rd Platform and want some more details: http://bit.ly/1fLH9OW.

Microsoft Dynamics Licensing Resources

If you’re interested in Dynamics licensing then this is a good site for resources. Filter by the product of your choice and then a topic of “Licensing” to get Licensing Guides and Software Licensing Terms: http://bit.ly/1h2Zp6M.

Volume Licensing Briefs Updated for April 2014

Licensing Windows Embedded 8

  • Updated to reflect licensing changes to the Windows Embedded licensing options that came into operation on 1 April 2014
  • Previous brief: October 2013
  • http://bit.ly/17dGRlh

What are “Qualified Devices”?

  • A clarifying question regarding Industry Devices has been added to the Frequently Asked Questions section
  • Previous brief: November 2013
  • http://bit.ly/1dA2bmC

Introduction to Per Core Licensing and Basic Definitions

Microsoft Software License Dependency Reference Guide

Reimaging Rights

  • Updated to reflect Windows 8.1 Enterprise licensing changes, and clarifications added regarding reimaging the Windows Desktop OS with OEM media
  • Previous brief: November 2013
  • http://bit.ly/1a8GtyG

Multiplexing – Client Access Licenses (CAL) Requirements

  • Minor product version updates, but no inclusion yet of the new batch processing CAL waiver for SQL 2014 BI edition
  • Previous brief: December 2012
  • http://bit.ly/1ndOcHB

Licensing Microsoft Server Products for Use in Virtual Environments