Several of Microsoft's top channel partners are scratching their heads over the manner in which Microsoft announced the addition of two new service packages to its Software Assurance offering. Software Assurance (SA), a volume licensing program that lets companies upgrade to new software that's released during the term of the contract with Microsoft, and to spread payments over a three-year period, gives VARs a way to help larger customers save money.

Microsoft sweetens the SA pot by offering customers free consulting engagements called Packaged Services, which cover areas such as SharePoint and desktop deployment, and are provided by a stable of channel partners of Microsoft's choosing. In a blog post, Eric Ligman, Global Partner Experience Lead in Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Group, said partners can register on the Microsoft Office System Solution Directory (OSSD) to offer Packaged Services to eligible SA customers.

Full Article