Licensing Advice and Delivery
Since 1983 Grey Matter has provided independent and trusted software supply, management and know how for customers and partners UK-wide seeking solutions to their Microsoft business, technical and development licensing requirements. Grey Matter is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for Licensing and Software Asset Management.
All our licensing experts are either Microsoft Certified Professionals or have passed the Microsoft Licensing Sales Expert exams. Our most experienced Microsoft licensing specialist has been with us for over 21 years. Grey Matter can deliver independent Microsoft licensing advice:
- Direct to end customers
- To other resellers and solution providers who need the best Microsoft licensing advice and service for their customers
- Through ISVs to ensure their customers get the best licensing advice and service for Microsoft products needed to deploy their application
- To customers who have procured licensing from other resellers, but would benefit from an independent licensing review to ensure they are on the best scheme and have not over or under procured.
Contact us on 01364 654100 with all of your licensing queries.
Microsoft Licensing Options
Full-packaged product (FPP)
Full-packaged products are suitable for home users and organisations with less than five desktop PCs. The licence itself - called an End User Licence Agreement (EULA) - is a printed document that is found in the box with the software discs and manual.
OEM software
PC manufacturers and System Builders have the ability to provide a limited range of key software pre-installed on a new desktop PC. This software (such as Windows Desktop and Windows Server) is usually designated as OEM (Other Equipment Manufacturer) software. The OEM End User Licence Agreement (EULA) must be accepted when you first turn on the desktop PC. This type of licence is an agreement between the PC manufacturer/System Builder and the end user. Legal and genuine software that has been pre-installed will also have a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached to the chassis and will include the media (software discs) and manuals. Note that OEM software is 'tied' to the PC on which it was first installed, it is not transferrable.
Volume licensing programmes
Volume licensing programmes are suitable for organisations with 2 to over 500 PCs. There are various options available in perpetual or non-perpetual forms to cater for the different needs of organisations, academic institutions and charities. Volume licensing programmes are an easy way to buy multiple Microsoft software product licences - the more you buy the greater the volume discount. With volume-based licensing you no longer receive a paper copy of the End User Licence Agreement (EULA). Instead, all volume-based licences can be viewed online and detail how many users or desktop PCs are covered under the terms of the agreement.
Licensing programmes for academic institutions
We provide a range of flexible licensing programmes for customers from academic institutions. These programmes aim to meet the different requirements of staff and students in qualifying educational institutions: universities, colleges or schools.
Licensing for development teams
Reduce your development software management challenges by subscribing to the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) with Visual Studio. MSDN provides cost-effective software development and test licences for organisations developing for the Microsoft platform. MSDN, being a subscription service, is the Software Assurance for Microsoft developer tools.
- For more information about Visual Studio 2008, Visual Studio Team Editions and MSDN, visit our Visual Studio 2008 buyers guide.
We provide a range of flexible licensing programmes for customers from educational organisations. These programmes aim to meet the different requirements of staff and students in every qualifying organisation: universities, colleges or schools and assist with the complexities and costs of acquiring, upgrading and managing Microsoft software.
Office 2007 Standard for Students and Teachers Licence
A licensing programme designed for individual students, teachers and parents to use software at home.
School Agreement
For schools with 10 desktop PCs or more, Microsoft's School Agreement is a comprehensive, annually renewable licensing programme that meets the unique needs of primary and secondary schools.
Campus Agreement
Microsoft Campus Agreement is an annually renewable licensing programme created for further and higher education organisations.
Education Open Licence
Microsoft's Education Open licence is ideal for organisations with 2 to 500 desktop PCs. Education Open Licence makes it easier to take advantage of volume-based pricing when buying Microsoft software.
Education Select Licence
A volume licensing programme for eligible organisations with more than 250 desktop PCs.
Academic Full-Packaged Product
This is a full-boxed version of a Microsoft product for use in qualifying academic organisations. The contents of full-packaged products are the same as regular packages, i.e. they have the same media, manuals and Licence Agreement, except these are made available at a special price for qualifying customers from academic organisations.
Further information about Microsoft licensing for academic organisations
If you're unsure about which educational licensing agreement suits your needs, contact us on 01364 654100.
Open license
Number of Initial Licenses Purchased: 5 or more
Organisation Benefits: Open License has the minimum license requirements and offers customers volume pricing with the flexibility to pay as they go. It allows you to acquire additional software products as needed to grow with their changing business needs. Open Business offers volume pricing with minimum license requirements. Open Volume offers a greater discount for a larger upfront order.
Products Included: All commercially available Microsoft software products on the product list
Licensing Offerings: License, License and Software Assurance, and Software Assurance for renewals or eligible original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and full packaged product (FPP) purchases
Software Maintenance Option: Software Assurance is available at the time of license acquisition(License and Software Assurance). Software Assurance coverage is in effect until the end of the two-year term of Open License.
Pricing:
Open Business: Requires only five licenses to enter the program
Open Volume: Each product offering (License, Software Assurance, and License and Software Assurance) is assigned specific point values to determine price levels. Points are calculated based on three product pools, with a minimum entry acquisition level of 500 points; one in each chosen pool.
Agreement Term: Two years, not renewable
Payment Options: Upfront payment only
Product Fulfilment: Media must be acquired separately from Grey Matter.
Software Assurance: Option to add Software Assurance at the time of acquiring the license
Online Services: Not offered
Open value Non-Companywide
Number of Desktop PCs: 5 or more
Organisation Benefits: Open Value Non-Companywide offers simplified license management for more control over your IT investment and better management of software costs with the advantages of Software Assurance.
Products Included: All commercially available Microsoft software products on the product list.
Licensing Offerings: License and Software Assurance, and Software Assurance renewals
Software Maintenance Option: Each License and Software Assurance order counts as one order toward initial minimum of five License and Software Assurance orders. Subsequent orders can be as small as one License and Software Assurance order. Renewal of Software Assurance coverage acquired through any Microsoft Volume Licensing program also qualifies for participation in Open Value Non-Companywide and Open Value Companywide.
Pricing: Minimum of five License and Software Assurance or Software Assurance-only orders
Agreement Term: Three years, renewable
Payment Options: Annual payments or up front
Product fulfilment: One copy of media is shipped free upon the initial order of every product. Additional media must be obtained separately at an additional cost. Customers can also download software from Microsoft Volume Licensing Services .
Software Assurance: Software Assurance is included at the time of acquiring the software license and can be used immediately throughout the term of the licensing agreement.
Open Value Companywide
Number of Desktop PCs: 5 or more
Organisation Benefits: Open Value Companywide offers substantial cost savings over Open Value Non-Companywide pricing, as well as simplified license and budget tracking through standardisation on the latest Microsoft technology across the enterprise.
Products Included: Microsoft Professional Desktop Platform Products: 2007 Microsoft Office Professional Plus, Windows Vista Enterprise, Core CAL Suite or Small Business Desktop Platform Products: 2007 Microsoft Office Small Business, Windows Vista Enterprise, Small Business CAL Suite. Additional software products are available as needed.
Licensing Offerings: License and Software Assurance, and Software Assurance renewals
Software Maintenance Option: Each License and Software Assurance order counts as one order toward initial minimum of five License and Software Assurance orders. Subsequent orders can be as small as one License and Software Assurance order. Renewal of Software Assurance coverage acquired through any Microsoft Volume Licensing program also qualifies for participation in Open Value Non-Companywide and Open Value Companywide.
Pricing: Minimum of five License and Software Assurance, or Software Assurance only orders. In EMEA, a volume discount applies if you order licenses for at least 250 PCs through your initial order.
Agreement Term: Three years, renewable
Payment Options: Annual payments or up front
Product Fulfilment: One copy of media is shipped free upon the initial order of every product. Additional media must be obtained separately at an additional cost. Customers can also download software from Microsoft Volume Licensing Services.
Software Assurance: Software Assurance is included at the time of acquiring the software license and can be used immediately throughout the term of the licensing agreement.
Open Value Subscription
Number of Desktop PCs: 5 or more
Organisation Benefits: Open Value Subscription offers the lowest upfront costs of all Open programs with the flexibility to reduce the licensing costs in years when your PC count declines.
Products Included: Microsoft Professional Desktop Platform Products: 2007 Microsoft Office Professional Plus, Windows Vista Enterprise, Core CAL Suite or Small Business Desktop Platform Products: 2007 Microsoft Office Small Business, Windows Vista Enterprise, Small Business CAL Suite. Additional software products are available as needed.
Licensing Offerings: License and Software Assurance and Buy-out Option
Software Maintenance Option: Each License and Software Assurance order counts as one order toward initial minimum of five License and Software Assurance orders. Subsequent orders can be as small as one License and Software Assurance order.
Pricing: Minimum of five License and Software Assurance orders. In EMEA, a volume discount applies to customers who order licenses for at least 250 PCs through their initial order.
Agreement Term: Three years, renewable
Payment Options: Annual payments for License and Software Assurance (not for Buy-out)
Product Fulfilment: One copy of media is shipped free upon the initial order of every product. Additional media must be obtained separately at an additional cost. Customers can also download software from Microsoft Volume Licensing Services .
Software Assurance: Software Assurance is included at the time of acquiring the software license and can be used immediately throughout the term of the licensing agreement.
Further information about Microsoft Open Licensing
If you're unsure about which Open licensing agreement suits your needs, contact us on 01364 654100.
Select License
Number of Desktop PCs: Organisations with fewer than 250 PCs are unlikely to purchase enough software to meet minimum purchase requirements.
Organisation Benefits: Select License recognises the customer upgrade cycle and allows for the potential of a greater point forecast. Volume price levels are established for each pool of products (applications, systems, or servers) based on a three-year software forecast that makes it easier to adapt your technology strategy and evolving business needs.
Products Included: All commercially available Microsoft License and Software Assurance software products on the product list.
Licensing Offerings: License, License and Software Assurance, and Software Assurance for renewals or eligible original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and full packaged product (FPP) purchases.
Software Maintenance Option: Ability to acquire Software Assurance throughout the three-year agreement term and renewals, but only at the time of license acquisition (License and Software Assurance) or renewal of Software Assurance. Coverage runs to the end of the agreement term.
Pricing: Each product offering (License, Software Assurance, and License and Software Assurance) is assigned specific point values to determine price levels. Points are calculated based on three product pools, with a minimum three-year forecast of points to be acquired for each price level:
- Level A: 1,500-11,999 points
- Level B: 12,000-29,999 points
- Level C: 30,000-74,999 points
- Level D: 75,000 plus points
Agreement Term: Three years, renewable
Payment Options: Annual payments for License and Software Assurance and Software Assurance only
Product Fulfilment: Each enrolment receives one introductory Product Fulfilment Kit that contains an initial set of media for the product pools and language groups selected. Updates are provided throughout the agreement term. Customers can also download software from Microsoft Volume Licensing Services.
Software Assurance: Option to add Software Assurance at the time of acquiring the license
Enterprise Agreement
Number of Desktop PCs: 250 or more
Organisation Benefits: The Enterprise Agreement offers substantial cost savings over standard license pricing, as well as simplified license and budget tracking through a single agreement. With the Enterprise Agreement, you can easily deploy the latest Microsoft technology across the enterprise to help enable IT standardisation.
Products Included: Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Platform Products: 2007 Microsoft Office Enterprise, Windows Vista Enterprise, and Microsoft Enterprise Client Access License Suite or Microsoft Professional Desktop Platform Products: 2007 Microsoft Professional Plus, Windows Vista Enterprise, and Microsoft Core Client Access License Suite. Additional software products are available as needed.
Licensing Offerings: License and Software Assurance, and Software Assurance renewals.
Software Maintenance Option: Software Assurance is included as part of the Enterprise License. Software Assurance coverage runs to the end of the agreement term.
Pricing: Price levels based on the number of qualified computers in the enterprise:
- Level A: 250-2,399 computers
- Level B: 2,400-5,999 computers
- Level C: 6,000-14,999 computers
- Level D: 15,000 plus computers
Agreement Term: Three years, renewable
Payment Options: Annual payments for all items (License and Software Assurance, Software Assurance only) ordered initially only. True-up payments for growth.
Product Fulfilment: Each enrolment receives one introductory Product Fulfilment Kit that contains an initial set of media for the product pools and language groups selected. Updates are provided throughout the agreement term. Customers can also download software from Microsoft Volume Licensing Services.
Software Assurance: Software Assurance is included at the time of acquiring the software license and can be used immediately throughout the term of the licensing agreement.
Enterprise Subscription Agreement
Number of Desktop PCs: 250 or more
Organisation Benefits: The Enterprise Subscription Agreement offers substantial cost savings over standard license pricing on a subscription basis, allowing customers to acquire only what they need when they need it, as well as simplified license and budget tracking through a single agreement. With the Enterprise Subscription Agreement, you can easily deploy the latest Microsoft technology across your enterprise to help enable IT standardisation.
Products Included: Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Platform Products: 2007 Microsoft Office Enterprise, Windows Vista Enterprise, and Microsoft Enterprise Client Access License Suite or Microsoft Professional Desktop Platform Products: 2007 Microsoft Professional Plus, Windows Vista Enterprise, and Microsoft Core Client Access License Suite. Additional software products are available as needed.
Licensing Offerings: License and Software Assurance and Buy-out Option
Software Maintenance Option: Software Assurance is included as part of the Enterprise License. Software Assurance coverage runs to the end of the agreement term.
Pricing: Price levels based on the number of qualified computers in the enterprise:
- Level A: 250-2,399 computers
- Level B: 2,400-5,999 computers
- Level C: 6,000-14,999 computers
- Level D: 15,000 plus computers1
Agreement Term: Three years, renewable.
Payment Options: Annual payments for License and Software Assurance (not for Buy-out).
Product Fulfilment: Each enrolment receives one introductory Product Fulfilment Kit that contains an initial set of media for the product pools and language groups selected. Updates are provided throughout the agreement term. Customers can also download software from Microsoft Volume Licensing Services
Software Assurance: Software Assurance is included at the time of acquiring the software license and can be used immediately throughout the term of the licensing agreement.
Further information about Select and Enterprise Licensing
If you're unsure about which licensing agreement suits your needs, contact us on 01364 654100.