Microsoft Volume Licensing offers customized programs designed to meet the needs of your organization. Tailored to the size and purchasing preference of your organization, these programs provide simple, flexible, and affordable solutions that enable you to easily manage your licenses.
At the most elementary level, Microsoft Volume Licensing program models address organizations in two main categories: organizations with more than five but fewer than 250 computers and organizations with more than 250 computers.
 | Note Microsoft Volume Licensing programs are available only for the Microsoft Office for Mac Standard 2011
edition of Office. |
Listed below are a few keys to understanding the major characteristics of Microsoft Volume Licensing policies and programs and to choosing the best option for your organization:
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The size and type of your organization
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The products you want to license
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The way in which you want to use those products
 | Which Microsoft Volume Licensing program is for you |
Review the options below to discover which program best fits your needs:
Microsoft Volume Licensing programs | Description |
|---|
Open program | Entry-level program that is ideal for small and midsize organizations that prefer to pay-as-they-go. |
Select program | For mid-size to large organizations with multiple affiliates that want to license software at a business unit level while still getting the advantages of being a single organization. The agreement never expires and has an optional 36 months of Software Assurance. |
Enterprise agreement | For larger organizations that want to standardize IT across the enterprise. Based on a three-year enrollment term, this plan provides the deepest pricing discounts and includes comprehensive Software Assurance. |
Academic | For academic institutions, several programs offer flexible options to license Microsoft software for educators and students. |
| What's included in the volume licensing edition of Office for Mac 2011 |
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Word 2011
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Excel 2011
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PowerPoint 2011
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Outlook 2011
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Communicator for Mac 2011
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Information Rights Management (IRM)
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Support for Windows SharePoint Services
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Office Web Apps
License
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Remote Desktop Connection
Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2
is required.
Rights Management server running Windows Server 2008 R2
with Windows 7 SP1
is required.
Access to files stored on a SharePoint
server requires connectivity to Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services
3.0 or later.
Office Web Apps
require SharePoint Foundation Server 2010.
| Software Assurance for Microsoft Office for Mac Standard 2011 |
For some Microsoft Volume Licensing programs, you can also purchase Software Assurance. Software Assurance is a comprehensive program that helps to smooth licensing budgeting and provides a cost effective way to upgrade to new software versions. To help streamline software implementations and prepare users, Software Assurance also includes onsite deployment planning services, technical classroom training, and online training and home use licenses for end users. You can choose Software Assurance at the time of purchase and begin using your benefits immediately.
Microsoft Software Assurance for Volume Licensing allows customers to take advantage of license rights to the a new version of software, and to leverage the deployment and productivity benefits included with the Software Assurance program.
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Home Use Program Provides employees with access to the latest version of Office for Mac for their home computers to help them be more productive.
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Training Vouchers Provides instructor-led technical training for IT professionals and developers that can help optimize IT growth and productivity and reduce training budgets.
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TechNet Subscription Lets customers evaluate full-version software, access cost-effective resources to help plan and implement products, and find information, tools, and support to help resolve IT challenges quickly.
| Office for Mac Standard 2011
product activation
|
Some products sold through the Volume Licensing channel require product activation, as follows:
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Microsoft Office for Mac Standard 2011, which is only available to Volume Licensing customers, does not require product activation.
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All student Volume Licensing programs (Student Select, Student Option) require retail activation.
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Microsoft Office for Mac Home and Business 2011, distributed as part of the employee Home Use Program (HUP), requires online activation.
| Volume licensing resources |
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Microsoft Software Assurance
Improves productivity and cost-effectiveness across your organization by providing automatic access to new software versions, new technology, tools, deployment planning services, phone and web support, and training.
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Microsoft Product Licensing Advisor Provides online tools to help you find and select Microsoft products, find the right Microsoft Volume Licensing program, and determine estimated retail pricing (ERP) based on your software needs.
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Contact a Volume Licensing Specialist Helps you find a Microsoft Volume Licensing specialist or Microsoft reseller in your region.
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Microsoft Volume Licensing Reference Guide Provides a comprehensive review of the Microsoft Volume Licensing programs, and is available for download as a .docx or .pdf file.
