Software Assurance and Non-Profits

This came in an email from Tech Soup today.
Sadly IBM has not put any Lotus Notes, Domino or even Symphony there.

See if you can spot the odd information and there are a few in this snippet from the email.
Plus there is a $25 or $27 handling charge for shipping it on top of this fee.
Presumably the prices below are per product ordered.
Microsoft milks money even from non-profits.

What Is Microsoft Software Assurance?

Software Assurance is a service offered by Microsoft that allows organizations – at no charge – to receive upgrades on most donated Microsoft software available through TechSoup for a period of two years. The only expense would be for shipment of discs if needed. In addition to the upgrade benefit, Software Assurance includes: access to software for home use; free, self-paced, interactive e-learning courses and trainings developed by Microsoft experts; backup software for disaster recovery; multilingual software packs, and more!
Request Software with Confidence

Now, there's no more waiting and wondering if a new version will come out and you'll have to shell out more dough to upgrade. Knowing that Software Assurance will cover Microsoft upgrades for the next two years, you can place your next request at TechSoup with confidence. For example, you'll receive Software Assurance benefits when you request donated Microsoft products such as:

* Windows XP Pro Upgrade ($8 admin fee)
* Vista Business Upgrade ($10 admin fee)
* Office Professional Plus 2007 ($20 admin fee)
* Office Professional 2003 ($20 admin fee)
* Office 2008 for Mac Standard ($16 admin fee)
* Project Professional 2007 ($40 admin fee)
* Small Business Server 2008 Premium ($62 admin fee)
* Windows Server 2008 Standard ($40 admin fee)
* Office Multi-Language Pack 2007 ($4 admin fee)
* Streets & Trips 2008 ($2 admin fee)
* ...and many more *

* Microsoft products donated through TechSoup have the phrase "Includes Software Assurance" on the specific product page for each item if it is an included benefit. Those that do not include that phrase, do not include the Software Assurance benefit.

Project Liberate is about Licensing NOT Pricing

Ed Brill did something I was surprised at, he posted a reference to what has been a quiet program in the background of IBM for a while now, which I saw in action last January at Lotusphere and heard about a month or 2 prior to that event.
The Project Liberate document Ed linked to and the related website are aimed at helping IBM customers, or anyone in need of it, better understand the Microsoft Enterprise Agreements(EA) and/or Software assurance(SA) value, optimization and reality behind the LICENSING.

It is purely aimed at shedding light on what is a heinous crime by Microsoft in targeting their customers and getting lock in, and in some cases 100% extra fees for Microsoft doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

Software Assurance is about getting the next version upgrade "cheaply" among other myths. How many companies do you think bought a 3 year SA or even a 4 year SA between 2000-2004? Did it get them anything? no. Want examples:

Office XP, 2003, 2007? Over 4 years? 100% Microsoft overpayment.
Windows 2000? XP? Vista? Over 4 years? 100% Microsoft overpayment.
Exchange Server 2003, 2007? 4 years? 100% Microsoft overpayment.
Total: $40+ Billion bid on Yahoo! Exaggeration? Sure but think about this:

If 1,000 agreements x $1 million minimum overpay a year = $1 Billion a year in minimum potential free money paid to Microsoft for doing ZERO!

If you read some of the posts in here:
You Paid what?
Microsoft and Sushi?
25% of the World uses Exchange 2000 Bet these people feel pain.
Exchange is free Mr CEO/CIO?
Personal Favorite, Microsoft Apologizes for Vista Redmond shipped it perhaps SOLELY to meet SA's which were about to expire with NOTHING available since the previous 3-4 years!

You know this is not something new from my discussions.(Note to self, fix search box for blog)

So before you go picking on IBM and their licensing which can seem archaic, convoluted or just bewildering...at least you get what you pay for and CHOOSE to use.
Microsoft will sell you everything from Groove (like anyone uses it), Communications Server, don't forget pieces of Sharepoint, SQL and much more.

It's not wrong of them, that's just good business.

What is wrong is that, in theory, EVERY employee is being charged for ALL of the licenses in your EA. Sure you may have worked around a piece or 2, but really an in depth discussion, review and analysis could save a 10,000 person company at least a $1 million a year with a high end of $5 million or more.

I put my money where my mouth is, I offered to do Exchange migrations for free, I/we still do support for free for various people and requests, and we handle SA, EA reviews for free. We do however have an arrangement depending on how much over the minimum guarantee we actually help you retain.

You are still thinking to sign on that agreement? I know you are, because it's easy, isn't it?
Legal said yes, finance allocated budget, who could complain?

Shareholders? Your Board? Your CEO? What will YOU reply after they read the report which is going out to the top companies Boards and CEOs?