Cornell departments can now purchase Microsoft software at deep discounts

By Beth Goelzer Lyons

Cornell departments can now purchase Microsoft software at deep discounts through a two-year Microsoft Select contract negotiated by Academic Technology Services (ATS) and the Purchasing Department.

The Microsoft Select 4.0 volume software licensing program commits Cornell to purchasing a minimum number of Microsoft's applications, server software and system software within two years, in exchange for very low pricing. The contract also enables Cornell to purchase licenses to use software separately from the software itself or the manuals.

For example, if a department already has Microsoft Office on one computer and wants to put it on nine more, the department could instantly buy nine licenses and then copy the existing software to the other computers. For an additional fee, the department could enroll in the Upgrade Advantage option to receive upgrades for the remainder of Cornell's contract.

"The program will save Cornell a lot of money," said Ken May, ATS software acquisition coordinator. "The savings with Microsoft Select are half to two-thirds of what you'd pay off the shelf."

Departments can order Microsoft licenses, media (disks or CD-ROMs) or documentation 24 hours a day directly from Software Spectrum, the Microsoft large account reseller awarded the contract. A Cornell purchase order or procurement card number is required. The toll-free number is (800) 987-9352, and representatives dedicated to Cornell's contract are available from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Orders may also be sent by fax (800-697-3447) or U.S. mail (Software Spectrum, 22721 E. Mission, Liberty Lake, Wash. 99019-9514). To facilitate record-keeping, Microsoft will send a license certificate for each license purchased. Several shipping options are available for media and documentation.

All of Cornell's units are eligible to participate, including the Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, Cornell-in-Washington, the Arecibo Observatory and the Weill Medical College. The program cannot be used for personal purchases. The initial contract term is June 1, 1998, through May 31, 2000.

For details about pricing and ordering and answers to frequently asked questions, visit the web site http://www.cit.cornell.edu/software/licenses/msselect/. An open information session with representatives from Microsoft and Software Spectrum will be held June 9, 2 to 4 p.m., in 100 Caldwell Hall.