Computer 2000 extends Licensing Online

Scheme will now cover Microsoft's Open Value licensing programme

Computer 2000 (C2000) has extended its License Online (LOL) scheme to cover Microsoft’s Open Value licensing programme.

The broadliner has claimed that it is the first UK distributor to offer Open Value online. LOL is C2000’s web-based quotation and ordering tool that allows channel players to build quotes and place orders online.

Open Value enables firms with between five and 250 users to purchase a licence for Microsoft products over a three-year period and includes Software Assurance, Microsoft’s maintenance programme.

The contractual nature of Open Value agreements means that each one must be tailored to the individual customer.

Alice Smitheman, volume products director at C2000, told CRN: “Microsoft’s Open Value programme has been around for a while, but it’s pretty complex for resellers to find all the necessary information and provide the quotations.

“We recognised that it was a part of Microsoft’s business that it wanted to promote, so we’ve worked with them to build the tools for LOL.”

Smitheman claimed the move will simplify the licensing for resellers and assist them in identifying the best programme to offer customers.

Karen Dallyn, Microsoft partner manager at Microsoft Gold VAR Lynx Technology, said: “We buy our Open Value licences through C2000 and this will be a big improvement. The majority of our sales people are not specialists in one vendor’s products as they sell a wide range of products. To have a tool that calculates Open Value licence quotations for them will be invaluable.”

Steve Haddock, Microsoft partner group manager, said: “By making Open Value available through LOL it is making it easier for Microsoft partners to find, understand and interpret the different options available to their customers.”

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