Software Quarterly

Acquiring Software:
A Simple Solution


The recently announced IBM Software Advantage provides new and simpler software discounts and licenses to make it easier to acquire IBM workstation software.

Consistent worldwide, the initiative enhances discounts based on customers' worldwide software spending and establishes a standard worldwide agreement for workstation software remarketers and distributors. "Customers and remarketers have told us that they want simplified software licensing agreements and discount structures," says John M. Thompson, IBM senior vice president and group executive. "The IBM Software Advantage makes it easier to obtain workstation software from IBM."

Customers of all sizes who intend to acquire IBM workstation software in large quantities will find the IBM Software Advantage for Workstations attractive. It features a simple 24-month worldwide contract with common international discounts based on a customers worldwide, aggregated spending. Customers can now have a worldwide software license agreement that is transferable.

The initiative covers PC and UNIX operating system-based software licensed through remarketers after June 20, 1995. The move is part of an overall effort by IBM to improve software licensing. IBM is also making related improvements to System/390 and OS/400 software.

In addition, the IBM Software Advantage offers software remarketers and distributors global agreements that allow them to sign a single contract with a single set of terms and conditions for licensing IBM software in all eligible countries. This approach will enable small resellers and independent firms to remarket IBM software by signing contracts with large distributors or remarketers. Also, IBM eliminated "use keys" for IBM-owned software and introduced tools to help customers self-manage their software licenses.

Made in response to customer needs, these changes give customers budget predictability and flexibility in licensing software.

See IBM Software for more information.


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