Microsoft Corp. Value Skype for Business Server License w SA - Year 2 of 3 Annual Payment Option

Server Licenses: A license must be assigned for each instance of the server software that is running the front-end server role—all other roles do not require a license. Lync Server 2013 is licensed in one edition for all deployment scenarios (CALs and other licensing options sold separately).

Microsoft Lync:

Microsoft Lync ushers in a connected user experience transforming every communication into an interaction that is more collaborative, engaging, and accessible from anywhere. For IT, the benefits are equally powerful, with a highly secure and reliable system that works with existing tools and systems for easier management, lower cost of ownership, smoother deployment and migration, and greater choice and flexibility.

Microsoft Lync 2013 is an enterprise-ready unified communications platform that connects people everywhere, on Windows 8 and other devices, as part of their everyday productivity experience. Lync provides a consistent, single client experience for presence, instant messaging, voice, video and meetings. Lync 2013 supports multiparty HD video conferencing, modern “touch first” capabilities for fast and natural communications, and work anywhere scenarios that do not require a VPN for encryption. Lync 2013 users can connect to anyone on Skype, enabling rich communication with hundreds of millions of people around the world.

From controlling costs to managing compliance, Microsoft Lync delivers value that speaks to the needs of the organizations.

Software Assurance:

Software Assurance (SA) is an offering available with Microsoft Volume Licensing programs that helps you get the most from your software. Software Assurance is a comprehensive maintenance program that can help you gain control of your technology strategy, improve IT staff skills, decrease support spending, and effectively plan for new software deployments. With Software Assurance, you can access training and deployment resources that enable employees to work more efficiently than ever. You also acquire tomorrow's technology at today's prices and have the ability to spread payments annually instead of upfront (or in two-year payments for the MOB and MOV programs).

SA provides:

1. Newly released updates and upgrades of your software (Note: SA entitles you to the rights to the new software, but you will still need to purchase software media packs via the Microsoft Licensing Fulfillment [MLF] program.)

2. Home use rights for MS Office applications covered under SA.

3. For owners of Server products only -- access to TechNet Managed Newsgroups and TechNet Plus subscription media, ensuring that IT staff have resources available to address their technical issues

4. For customers with at least 5 server licenses and with all related client licenses also covered by SA -- Problem Resolution Support, which provides Web-based support for Standard Editions, and phone-based support for Enterprise Editions

5. Cold Server Backups - For each server license for which a customer has active Software Assurance, the customer has the right to install the same software on a "cold" backup server for use in disaster recovery.

Other tools include Corporate Error Reporting (CEP) to help you analyze problems and distribute fixes, Enterprise Source Licensing (1,500 desktops or more) that lets you access Microsoft Windows source code for internal development and support, and the Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) for speeding up and automating deployment.