Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is changing the way it bundles and prices some of its enterprise product licenses.
Microsoft currently has two types of CALs (client access license)– a Core CAL and an Enterprise CAL (ECAL) Step Up edition. In the current version, the Core CAL provides licenses for basic server products such as Windows Server, Systems Center Configuration Manager, SharePoint Standard edition, and Exchange Standard edition.
The ECAL Step Up option currently adds CALs for Active Directory Rights Management Service (RMS), Forefront Unified Access Gateway, and Forefront Endpoint Protection (FEP) Suite. It also includes CALs for Systems Center Client Management Suite, besides SharePoint and Exchange ECALs.
The new configuration moves the Lync Standard CAL into the Core CAL package from the ECAL Step Up among other changes. The changes in configuration and costs won’t take effect until August.