Microsoft KB Archive/837525

= Service plans for Microsoft Business Network =

PSS ID Number: 837525

Article Last Modified on 3/4/2004

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Business Network 1.0

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SUMMARY
''Learn about the service options for Microsoft Business Network. The options include:''

 

Full Packaged Product Maintenance

 

Software Assurance



Open or Open Value licensing programs



Select or Enterprise Agreement licensing programs



 

Flex Support



Flex 5-Pack Support



Flex Per-Incident Support





Contact your local Microsoft partner for more information about enrolling in a Service Plan or if you have questions about your plan.



INTRODUCTION
The following service options are available for customers who use Microsoft Business Network.



Full Packaged Product Maintenance
When you purchase Microsoft Business Network (MBN) from Full Packaged Product (FPP), you will receive one year of a maintenance program that is included with your product purchase. FPP Maintenance includes:
 * All product updates.

Receive all major releases, minor updates, and tax updates for the product that you currently own. You will also receive database releases if the database was purchased from Microsoft Business Solutions.
 * CustomerSource.

CustomerSource is our password-protected Web site for Microsoft Business Solutions customers. It provides access to a searchable technical database, discussion boards, news, a subscription service, and more.
 * Online training benefits.

With FPP Maintenance, two users can access the Foundation Library of Microsoft Business Solutions Online Training. This eLearning option helps customers learn the ins and outs of their solution with two subscriptions to the Foundation Library. The Foundation Library provides self-directed tutorials that users can access from any computer that has Internet access.
 * Discounts on Flex Per-Incident Support and Flex 5-Pack Support.
 * The ability to purchase additional products, users, and services.

After the first year with a new solution, customers who purchased through FPP must purchase Software Assurance through Volume Licensing to receive continuous service. For more information about Software Assurance, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/programs/sa/default.mspx

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Note This document is a Portable Document Format (PDF) file. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed to view this document. To download Acrobat Reader, visit the following Adobe Web site:

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readermain.html

Download the FPP Maintenance Data Sheet

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Software Assurance
If you are a Microsoft Business Network customer who purchased through Microsoft Volume Licensing, you are automatically enrolled in a service plan named Software Assurance. Your service plan benefits scale according to your product purchase. Plan features are determined by if you purchased through the Open, Open Value, Select, or Enterprise Agreement licensing programs.

Open or Open Value licensing customers
If you purchased through the Open or Open Value licensing programs, the benefits in your Software Assurance program include:
 * Two technical support incidents with a three-hour guaranteed response time.

This benefit is available for customers with system list prices of $3,000 (U.S.) or more.
 * Discounts on Flex Per-Incident Support and Flex 5-Pack Support.
 * Managed newsgroups.

These online forums help customers collaborate with other customers to learn about their solution and to solve technical issues. If questions are not answered by other customers in two business days, a Microsoft Business Solutions support professional will respond.
 * Online training benefits.

With Software Assurance for Open/Open Value, two users can access the Foundation Library of Microsoft Business Solutions Online Training. This eLearning option helps customers learn the ins and outs of their solution with two subscriptions to the Foundation Library. The Foundation Library provides self-directed tutorials that users can access from any computer that has Internet access.
 * All product updates.

Receive all major releases, minor updates, and tax updates for the product you currently own. You will also receive database releases if the database was purchased through Microsoft Business Solutions.
 * CustomerSource.

CustomerSource is our password-protected Web site for Microsoft Business Solutions customers. It provides access to a searchable technical database, discussion boards, news, a subscription service, and more.
 * The ability to make suggestions for future products and new features.

Many of our product improvements and new features come directly from suggestions that our customers make. Every year, customers enrolled in a service plan are sent a Product Advisory Board survey. You can also enter your suggestions directly in our Global Suggestion Database throughout the year by using CustomerSource.
 * The ability to purchase additional products, user licenses, and services.

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Note This document is a PDF file. You must have Acrobat Reader installed to view this document. To download Acrobat Reader, visit the following Adobe Web site:

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readermain.html

Download the Software Assurance for Open/Open Value Data Sheet

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Select or Enterprise Agreement Licensing Customers
If you purchased through the Select or Enterprise Agreement licensing programs, your benefits reflect the commitment that you have made to a certain volume of product purchases. Your Software Assurance program includes:
 * Unlimited technical support incidents with a one-hour guaranteed response time.
 * The ability to proactively initiate Chat and ScreenSharing on support requests.

Chat and ScreenSharing can help you quickly access support professionals and efficiently resolve technical issues. Have a real-time chat conversation or, with your permission, hand over control of your computer to the support professional to have the technical issue resolved for you.
 * Managed newsgroups.

These online forums help customers collaborate with other customers to learn about their solution and to solve technical issues. If questions are not answered by other customers in two business days, a Microsoft Business Solutions support professional will respond.
 * TechNet Plus.

A TechNet subscription is the definitive resource of tools, software, and utilities that IT professionals rely on to plan, deploy, manage, and support the other Microsoft products and technologies that you use. Examples include Microsoft Office, Microsoft Exchange Server, and Windows XP Professional.
 * Online training benefits.

With Software Assurance for Select/Enterprise Agreement, four users can access the Foundation Library of Microsoft Business Solutions Online Training. This eLearning option helps customers learn the ins and outs of their solution with two subscriptions to the Foundation Library. The Foundation Library provides self-directed tutorials that users can access from any computer that has Internet access.
 * All product updates.

Receive all major releases, minor updates, and tax updates for the product you currently own. You will also receive database releases if the database was purchased through Microsoft Business Solutions.
 * CustomerSource.

CustomerSource is our password-protected Web site for Microsoft Business Solutions customers. It provides access to a searchable technical database, discussion boards, news, a subscription service, and more.
 * The ability to make suggestions for future products and new features.

Many of our product improvements and new features come directly from suggestions that our customers make. Every year, customers enrolled in a service plan are sent a Product Advisory Board survey. You can also enter your suggestions directly in our Global Suggestion Database throughout the year by using CustomerSource.
 * The ability to purchase additional products, user licenses, and services.

For more information about Software Assurance, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/programs/sa/default.mspx

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Note This document is a PDF file. You must have Acrobat Reader installed to view this document. To download Acrobat Reader, visit the following Adobe Web site:

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readermain.html

Download the Software Assurance for Select/Enterprise Agreement

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Flex Support
Flex 5-Pack Support and Flex Per-Incident Support provide an affordable way to receive support from Microsoft for those who prefer to pay as they go.

Flex 5-Pack Support
Flex 5-Pack Support gives you greater responsiveness, the convenience of an advanced purchase, and an even more affordable way to receive support from Microsoft Business Solutions. Flex 5-Pack Support:
 * Includes a three-hour guaranteed response time on telephone and electronic support requests.

Note Customers must enroll in a service plan and must be able to access CustomerSource access to submit support incidents electronically.
 * Incidents expire one year from the date of the purchase of the 5-Pack.
 * Is available at a discount if you are enrolled in Software Assurance for Open/Open Value or FPP Maintenance.

Flex Per-Incident Support
Flex Per-Incident Support gives you convenient access to support assistance on an as-needed basis. Flex Per-Incident Support:
 * Includes an eight-business-hour response time on telephone and electronic support requests.

Note Customers must enroll in a service plan and must be able to access CustomerSource access to submit support incidents electronically.
 * Can be purchased with a credit card when requesting support assistance from Microsoft.
 * Is available at a discount if you are enrolled in Software Assurance for Open/Open Value or FPP Maintenance.

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Note This document is a PDF file. You must have Acrobat Reader installed to view this document. To download Acrobat Reader, visit the following Adobe Web site:

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readermain.html

Download the Flex Support Data Sheet

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Enroll in a Service Plan
If you are interested in enrolling in a Microsoft Business Solutions service plan, if you want to upgrade from your existing plan, or if you have any questions, contact your local Microsoft partner. For help finding a Microsoft partner, you can:  Visit the following Microsoft Web site to locate your local Microsoft Business Solutions sales office and contact them about a recommendation:

http://www.microsoft.com/BusinessSolutions/worldwide.mspx

 Talk to a Microsoft Business Solutions sales representative in the United States. To do so, call toll-free (888) 477-7989, and then select option 1.</li> Talk to a Microsoft Business Solutions sales representative outside the United States. To do so, call 1 (701) 281-6500.</li></ul>

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products. Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

Keywords: kbinfo KB837525

Technology: kbMBN100 kbMBNSearch

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