Licencing

Spent a few hours at Data #3 today discussing licencing issues, with particular reference to Microsoft products and a renewal of our virus software licences next year.

I am looking at the following Microsoft options in licencing for our schools:

• Select Agreements - applications bought on an individual basis as the need arises. Purchasers tend to keep these for a set period ie 3- 4 years before rolling over to new versions when a new licence must be purchased.
• System Agreement - requires a minimum of 2500 units to be licenced. A number of options for software suites, including Office, Desktop, etc - prices vary depending upon software required and paid annually. Includes all updates and rollovers to new version, such as Office 2003 to Office 2007
• Consortia Agreement - a minimum of 2500 units, but can be made up of a number of schools all with a range of software to suit their individual needs. Licencing costs vary from school to school as a result. Licences includes all updates and new versions.
• School Agreement - individual schools enter into an agreement to have a suite of software tailored to their own needs. This being the most expensive option. Licences include all updates and new versions.

Schools will be informed of this discussion and invited to participate in system wide debate to assist with the development of a proposal to take this to the next stage. I would anticipate having something in place for the beginning of the 2008 school year.