Retail Licenses to Open License, Upgrade Price

[JML]

We own five separate retail licenses for Office 2000 and Office XP. We'd
like to move to Office 2003 but would prefer to get into an Open License
program with Software Assurance. It appears that the only way to get into a
license program is to buy an Open License pack with full versions. However,
that's a heck of a lot more expensive than just buying upgrades to the five
retail licenses we already have. Is there way to "use" the retail licenses
to get an upgrade price to Open License with SA? If not, seems really wacky
as wouldn't MS *want* us to be an Open License customer but then they
actually make it more expensive to get into Open License rather than just
upgrading the retail versions.

Thanks

 

[Susan Ramlet]

Hi, JML,

I think I'd contact a Microsoft licensing specialist with this inquiry.

Call 1-800-426-9400, Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. (Pacific
time)
and ask to speak directly to a Microsoft licensing specialist. Worldwide
customers can use the Guide to Worldwide Microsoft Licensing Sites to find
contact information in their locations.

I've called them and have had good luck speaking with a real person for
free.