Microsoft opens up discount programme

Software giant urges resellers to target public sector SME market with Open Licensing discount

Shaune Parsons: This is brilliant news for us.

Microsoft is encouraging its channel to take advantage of the 47,000 SME opportunities in the public sector, by widening the requirements needed to qualify for its Open Licensing discount.

Previously only available for Microsoft LARs, the launch of the vendor’s Open Licensing Programme for Government means from 1 October 2008 all Microsoft partners are eligible for the discount.

Mark Smith, head of public sector channel at Microsoft, said this allows partners to offer their customers a discount on the previous commercial price and it will enable more partners selling Microsoft Open Licences to target the public sector.

“This new channel to market means partners can reach more customers. Partners might already have that reach selling hardware or other software, but now they can offer customers Open Licensing,” he said.

Shaune Parsons, managing director of Computer World Wales, welcomed the move. “This is brilliant for us because smaller resellers were previously frozen out of deals when they tried to offer software.”

Andrew King, managing director of software VAR Grey Matter, agreed. “This will encourage more Microsoft VARs to sell into the public sector.”

Andy Trish, founder of reseller NCI, said the decision would open up the market. “Microsoft stopped VARs from buying Select Agreements from LARs earlier this year. Allowing all partners to take advantage of the discount means we can compete.”