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Save 43% or more on MSDN Subscriptions!

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MSDN Subscriptions are the best way to get the latest developer tools and technologies, including Visual Studio .NET, with continuous, priority access to product updates and new releases. A Subscription also offers information and technical support resources needed to design, build, and test XML Web services and applications using Microsoft technologies.

Through MSDN, you have the choice of multiple subscription levels, allowing you to choose the one that best fits your needs and requirements. You can see what is included in the various MSDN Subscriptions HERE. Once you have determined which subscription is best for your needs, you probably contact your regular Microsoft licensing provider and order the MSDN subscription you need. Here is where many people go wrong…

You can view the U.S. ERP prices for the various 1 year MSDN Subscriptions HERE. These are the standard Retail Boxed versions of the MSDN Subscriptions which include a 1 year subscription. At the end of the first year, you can renew your subscription for another year at the lower renewal/upgrade pricing listed above the full price on this same page. Let’s look at a few examples:

* MSDN Universal: 1-Year Subscription = $2,799 ERP with 1-year renewal of $2,299 for a total of: $5,098 for a 2-year subscription
* MSDN Enterprise: 1-Year Subscription = $2,199 ERP with 1-year renewal of $1,599 for a total of: $3,798 for a 2-year subscription
* MSDN Professional: 1-Year Subscription = $1,199 ERP with 1-year renewal of $899 for a total of: $2,098 for a 2-year subscription

What if I told you that you could get the above 2-year subscriptions for the following prices:

* MSDN Universal $2,855 ERP (44% savings off above)
* MSDN Enterprise 2-Year Subscription - $2,146 ERP (43.5% savings off above)
* MSDN Professional 2-Year Subscription - $1,196 ERP (43% savings off above)

Well, you CAN! And you should be. Effective last January 1, 2004, you have the opportunity to start a new Open License Business authorization number with the order of only one MSDN Subscription instead of acquiring additional licenses to meet the current five license minimum or acquiring the MSDN Subscription under an existing authorization number. What does this mean to you? Simply order your MSDN Subscription through the Microsoft Open License Business Program (which anyone who orders MSDN qualifies for) and you get these savings! It is that simple. Here are the part #s you need:

* MSDN Universal 2-Year Subscription (License + 2 Years of Software Assurance): Part #534-02031
* MSDN Enterprise 2-Year Subscription (License + 2 Years of Software Assurance): Part #389-00142
* MSDN Professional 2-Year Subscription (License + 2 Years of Software Assurance): Part #388-01883

Here’s another advantage of doing this (as if saving 43% was not enough), you can then purchase all of your other Microsoft products over the next two years under this new Open License Business Authorization # with no minimums to take advantage of the lower pricing, additional rights, electronic licenses, etc. instead of buying your software through Retail Box. (As an FYI, as a business customer, you should not be acquiring your software through Retail Box anyway. Please see my December 20th post, “You’re asking the wrong question… And it may be costing you money,” for a full explanation of this).

Knowledge IS power… Hopefully you are a little more powerful after reading this.

Thank you and have a wonderful day,

Eric Ligman
Small Business Development Manager – U.S. Central Region

This posting is provided “AS IS” with no warranties, and confers no rights

Comments

  • Anonymous
    January 05, 2005
    Hate to tell you, but for the VAST majority of cases you are still WAY too expensive.

    What about this: I get you a MSDN Universal Subscription for 5 licensed users (!) PLUS an additional 5 copies of Windows XP and Office (for the sales dudes) for less than 500 USD for a year, and this possible for two years.

    IF - big if - you are a software developer. How? Get on the low cost/low entry way of becoming a Microsoft Certified Partner. The EMPOWER-Program delivers this.

    Information can be found here: https://partner.microsoft.com/global/40010429

    The current fee is 375 USD per year (!), possible for two years. AFTER THIS you need to become a MS Certified partner. Which is not so hard AND - even better - which is also cheaper than getting a MSDN Subscription.

  • Anonymous
    January 05, 2005
    The comment has been removed
  • Anonymous
    January 06, 2005
    The comment has been removed
  • Anonymous
    January 06, 2005
    Thomas,

    Thank you for the feedback. There are definitely pricing advantages for our ISV (which you are referring to), Certified, and Gold Certified Partners which they can take advantage of. My post was in no way trying to diminish that. As was directly stated in my post, I am trying to show anyone who purchases MSDN (no partner status needed) how to save their valuable IT budget dollars by leveraging the Volume Licensing options they have available to them instead of buying the more expensive Retail Boxed solution.

    For your solution, it only applies to software developers, as specifically stated in your post, “IF - big if - you are a software developer.” For my solution, it applies to anyone who reads this, “IF – small if – you buy MSDN.” After all, if they are not interested in buying MSDN, they probably are not reading the post anyway, so it should apply to all of them by default.

    I do appreciate you bringing the EMPOWER option up for all of the ISVs who may read this post though. Any ISV, Certified, or Gold Certified Partner should definitely look into the various resources available to them: http://www.microsoft.com/partners.

    Thank you and have a wonderful day,

    Eric Ligman
    Small Business Development Manager – U.S. Central Region

    Join the excitement! New Small Business Channel Community:
    1) Community SharePoint Site: http://www.mssmallbiz.com/ - It’s Making HEADLINES!!
    2) Online User Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mssmallbiz
    3) MS Small Business Blog: http://weblogs.asp.net/mssmallbiz/
    Enabling millions of small businesses and partners to realize their full potential

    Some of the headlines on the NEW MS Small Business Channel Site:
    - http://www.integratedmar.com/ecl-usa/story.cfm?item=18651
    - http://crn.com/sections/breakingnews/breakingnews.jhtml?articleid=30000364
    - http://www.msmvps.com/bradley/archive/2004/08/25/12351.aspx

    This posting is provided “AS IS” with no warranties, and confers no rights
  • Anonymous
    January 06, 2005
    The comment has been removed
  • Anonymous
    August 24, 2005
    For those of you who have been around the Microsoft Small Business Channel Community for a few years,...
  • Anonymous
    April 21, 2008
    What an interesting week it has been. Since my original An upgrade is an upgrade. Apparently some people