The April 2014 Product List has been re-issued, so make sure you re-download it if you grabbed it during the first week of April. Two things are changed: the table of Qualifying Licences for the Windows Industry SKUs is corrected (page 38), and there is a caution added to check SA coverage to ensure SQL 2014 failover licensing rights (page 27).
Licensing School Licensing Summit
Registration for the UK Licensing School Licensing Summit is open! Come along on June 3rd to enjoy some face to face training on the latest in Microsoft “Mobile First, Cloud First” licensing.
If you’re anxious about Azure or baffled by Bring Your Own Device licensing, then this is a must-attend event for you. Full details – including the Early Bird discount – are here: http://bit.ly/1e77iMF.
SQL 2014 Licensing Datasheet
A SQL 2014 Licensing Datasheet is released from Microsoft which confirms that SQL 2014 licensing is broadly as that for SQL 2012 with two changes detailed.
Firstly, licensing of a passive server for fail-over support is now an SA benefit rather than a Licence right.
And secondly, BI edition now allows “batch processing” of data without requiring CALs for the data sources supplying the data. Download the datasheet here: http://bit.ly/PfQkk3.
Windows Embedded Licensing Update
Microsoft announce the alignment of Windows and Windows Industry (Embedded) licensing. Here’s what’s new – organisations licensed with Software Assurance on either flavour of Windows get a new benefit called Enhanced Edition Rights. This, actually quite well named benefit, provides rights to both editions of Windows for maximum deployment flexibility. In addition, Windows Industry customers get additional SA benefits which include VDA, Roaming Use Rights, and the rights to purchase the Companion Subscription Licence.
Read the full post here: http://bit.ly/1dMqM9c.
Microsoft Enterprise Mobility Suite
The Microsoft Enterprise Mobility Suite is announced. This includes Azure AD Premium (for hybrid identity management), Intune (for mobile device management) and Azure Rights Management (for information protection).
Key licensing facts:
- It is licensed Per User
- It will be available through Enterprise Volume Licensing programs from 1 May 2014
- Businesses can add EMS to active SA on the Core CAL or Enterprise CAL Suites or the Bridge CAL for Office 365
- Estimated retail price is $7.50 per month, and
- It will not be purchased through an Azure Monetary Commitment
These Microsoft sites are useful: http://bit.ly/PcfXBY for pricing and a datasheet, and http://bit.ly/1pwPRqn for a good overview and availability information.
Office for iPad Licensing
Office for iPad – the licensing facts:
- Free apps allow viewing and presenting of documents and an Office 365 subscription allows creation and editing;
- Office 365 subscriptions that include Office for iPad – Home, Small Business Premium, Midsize Business, E/G/A3, E/G/A4, Office 365 ProPlus, and Office 365 University;
- One subscription covers Office for iPad on up to 5 tablets and Office on up to 5 PCs or Macs;
- Office Mobile for iPhone and Android phones is now free as it is on Windows Phone.
Read the full Office Blog post here: http://bit.ly/1h23WFi.
OneDrive for Business Update
OneDrive for Business is one of those products still wriggling to feel comfortable in its own skin. Until recently known as SkyDrive Pro, it can trace its roots back through SharePoint Workspace and, of course, Groove. These days it’s part of every Office 365 Plan and is included with the SharePoint Online plans too. From 1 April 2014 it will also be available as a standalone service and will include access to Office Online and 25GB of storage. There will be some promotional pricing with discounts of up to 50% available until the end of September 2014. Get the full story on the OneDrive Blog: http://bit.ly/1doMJem
SQL Server 2014 GA announced for 1 April
Microsoft announce that SQL Server 2014 will be generally available on 1st April 2014.
The blog post’s main theme is the deployment flexibility that spans on-premises and cloud solutions, and as well as being available for download, SQL Server 2014 will also be available in a Windows Azure virtual machine image on 1st April.
The full post is here: http://bit.ly/1ehWLMn.
March 2014 Product List Re-issued
Note that the March 2014 Product List has been re-issued, so if you were super keen and downloaded it on March 1st, make sure you re-download it.
This new version corrects the end date that customers may purchase OEM/FPP Windows Pro licences and then add SA to them (within 90 days) to 1 July 2014.
Office 365 Personal Announced
Microsoft announce Office 365 Personal which is expected in the “Spring”. The key facts:
- One PC or Mac and one tablet may be connected to the service;
- It will include 60 minutes of Skype calling per month as well as 20 GB of OneDrive storage; and
- The ERP is expected to be $69.99/year or $6.99/month.
Office 365 Home Premium will continue to be available but will be renamed to Office 365 Home. Read the full announcement here: http://bit.ly/1d9wmwt.