Microsoft volume price shift could see big rise for UK customers

Vendor decides to align pricing to euro from 1 July as partner Softcat urges clients to act swiftly to prepare

Microsoft's decision to align its volume licensing pricing with the euro could leave UK customers facing a "significant rise" in cost.

An announcement today on the website of Large Account Reseller Softcat reveals that, from 1 July, all end users in EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries will face changes to their pricing structure.

Prices for customers with volume agreements - such as Select, Select Plus, Open, Enterprise Agreements (EA) and Enterprise Subscription Agreements (ESA) - will be given prices exclusively in euros. UK pricing will be confirmed on 1 June and will be contingent on currency exchange rates.

But the Softcat missive warns UK clients that, should the current rate not "change dramatically", they can expect "a significant rise".

All new volume agreements will be affected, as will existing transactional arrangements, including Open, Select and Select Plus. Current pricing will be retained for the duration of existing EA and ESA contracts.

End users on such contracts are advised that, if they "wish to add additional technologies to these agreements...[they] may wish to consider adding them prior to 1 July".

"Existing EA or ESA customers may also wish to look at the timings of their agreements, which Microsoft will consider on a case-by-case basis," adds Softcat.

Customers should act swiftly to ensure they understand the impact of this decision and can minimise it, advises the reseller.

"Customers looking to enter EA or ESA agreements are advised to understand the impact of these changes as soon as possible and contact Softcat to discuss your position.

"The changes that have been announced are likely to impact most corporate and government Microsoft volume licensing customers to some degree; we recommend reviewing your position acting as soon as is practical," concludes the announcement