Microsoft 'Open Value Subscription' is None of the Above

daveofdoom writes "This week Microsoft launched an SMB program that contains the words 'open', 'value' and 'subscription', none of which are common to Microsoft products, culture, or marketing. Digging in a bit I found myself confused not only by what the program portends to be but why it would be called 'Open Value Subscription' unless they were hoping to leverage buzzwords and concepts related to open source and SaaS (software as a service). It's such lame and dishonest branding the marketing group should be ashamed."

Comments

Value?

[HangingChad]

meaning that customers acquire their software licenses from a Microsoft Reseller, who in turn, acquires the licensing from a Microsoft Volume Licensing Distributor.

First we have seven layers of Vista licensing hell, now we have circle jerk licensing. You buy your license from some guy selling them out of the back of his car in an alley, then he gets them from another distributor who packages volume licenses...where's the value in that for the customer?

And if somewhere in that chain your licenses aren't legit, of course MS isn't going to hold you responsible. No BSA audits for you...oh, wait, you'd still be subject to those. But if you could prove you didn't know the licenses were bogus they might waive all the fines! Wo-ho! Lucky you!

Pretty soon they're going to need to offer a certification in MSBS just to manage enterprise licensing.