Microsoft Alters Licensing To Cover Disaster-Recovery Needs, Online Services

Microsoft has made licensing changes that will address customers' disaster-recovery needs and use of online .Net services.

Effective June 1, the Redmond, Wash.-based software company has added a provision to its Software Assurance maintenance program that entitles customers to install a server software product on a "cold" server at no charge in a disaster scenario, such as a fatal server crash.

Microsoft defines "cold" server as a backup server that is turned off until a disaster strikes. The backup license lasts for the duration of the customer's Software Assurance contract.

And as it launched more .Net business services, Microsoft also recently added Online Services coverage to volume licensing.

This means that, effective June 1, Microsoft will officially include services such as MapPoint Web Services and Microsoft Office Live Meeting to its volume licensing program, the company said.The services will appear on its July price list for volume licensing customers, a Microsoft spokesperson said.