I've had a chat Lisa Michigan from our licensing team, and I asked her what the top five licensing questions were asked to the Ask Partner hotline last month. Here are the questions with the answers! How useful...

  1. What downgrade rights does Windows Vista Business have? We have received this question countless times. We are able to answer this question quickly and accurately based on the OEM Vista Business Microsoft Software Licence Terms which state OEM Vista Business can be downgraded to Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Professional 64-Bit Edition and Windows XP Tablet-PC Edition.
  2. What media and key can I use when downgrading? Many partners and customers are aware that their MSLT/EULA/PUR permits them to downgrade, however we receive many questions about how customers can take advantage of these downgrade rights. We advise the customer that if their MSLT/EULA/PUR permits downgrade rights then they need to source the media and key themselves. They can use any legitimate Microsoft media that they own including FPP, OEM or Volume Licensing media and will need to use the appropriate key for the appropriate media.
  3. How are disaster recovery sites licensed? We receive many calls from partners and customers asking whether they need to acquire additional licences to create a disaster recovery site. We advise customers that all Microsoft software being used at a disaster recovery site needs to be licensed appropriately. The only exception to this rule is through the “Cold Back-Up Server for Disaster Recovery” Software Assurance benefit.
  4. How is the Multilingual User Interface (MUI) obtained for Windows Vista and Windows XP Professional? We receive a large number of calls from partners and customers asking how they can obtain an MUI pack for Windows Vista and Windows XP Professional. We advise that the MUI for Vista is not available as a separate product and that this functionality is included in the Windows Vista Ultimate and Enterprise Editions. We also advise that the MUI for Windows XP Professional is not available as a separate product and that to obtain a licence to run the MUI version of Windows XP Professional, customers will need to either acquire Windows Vista Business with Software Assurance, or as an alternative to acquire Windows Vista Ultimate through the OEM channel. These two options both allow downgrade rights to the MUI version of Windows XP Professional.
  5. Does Exchange Server 2007 come with the right to use Outlook? Many partners and customers contact us to find out whether Exchange 2007 comes with the right to use Outlook 2007. We advise that Exchange Server 2007 does not come with the right to use Outlook 2007. The only customers who are granted this right are customers who had Software Assurance coverage on their Exchange Server 2003 and Exchange Server 2003 CALs. Customers who have an existing Exchange Server 2003 and who are looking to acquire additional Exchange 2003 CALs can acquire Exchange Server 2007 CALs, downgrade them to 2003 CALs and still receive the right to run Outlook 2003, as the right to the Outlook 2003 client is stated in the Exchange Server 2003 EULA itself.

Some extra useful resources are the Sales Toolkit (new edition now available online), the Licensing Reseller handbook (available to download online) and the Ask Partner hotline (tel 0870 60 70 700).

Posted by Emma