It’s been one year since Microsoft Corp. introduced its Software Assurance program. The program requires subscribers to purchase a maintenance plan in which they receive all upgrades automatically as opposed to choosing when to upgrade.
While Microsoft isn’t apologizing for changing its business model, it did, and continues to, apologize for the way it notified customers of changes involved in the infamous Software Assurance program, also known as Licensing 6.0.
"What we did incorrectly was the way communicated to our customers and the way we made the transition to this business model," explained Rebecca LaBrunerie, product manager of worldwide licensing and pricing at Microsoft in Redmond, Wash.
She said Microsoft failed to emphasize to customers the importance of doing a business cost analysis, and didn’t provide them enough time to decide if they wanted to buy into Software Assurance.
Last year the City of Nanaimo, B.C., decided not to go along with the new licensing program, fearing anticipated cost increases.
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