The following article explains in detail Microsofts Academic Education Software initiative, a program designed to provide educational and

student discounts on core software titles to students (K-12 and post secondary), schools, teachers, staff, public schools, home schools, and other accredited education institutions. Our purpose here is to educate students and parents about software titles included as well as eligibility and required documentation, cost savings, comparison of Office suites and licensing as well as reseller verification. other than distribution, licensing, The centerpiece of the program is the Microsoft Office Professional 2010, a suite of seven powerful packaging and student Microsoft programs. If you are a student, imagine verification, the have access to the entire suite of powerful software functionality of the titles known as Microsoft Office for a fraction of the price just Microsoft academic because you are a student or have one in your household. software is virtually the same. While education costs continue to escalate - students can get a big break when purchasing Microsoft software. This is possible through the little publicized, Microsoft sanctioned student discount program know as the academic software program. Through the Academic software program students can purchase over twenty different Microsoft software titles from Certified Academic Education resellers throughout the US. Depending on which software program you purchase you can save up to 90% off the manufacturers suggested retail price provided you are a student. Following is a list of titles that are part of Microsofts Academic student discount program and the savings off MSRP. According to Studentware, a Certified Academic Education Reseller in Chelmsford, MA the flagship product of the Microsoft desktop software line, Office Professional 2010 Academic, is routinely sold for 80% lower than its offthe-shelf commercial version. The following is a list of the most popular titles that are included in Microsofts academic program.

UNDERSTANDING MICROSOFTS ACADEMIC SOFTWARE PROGRAM

f you are a student aspiring for a professional career in almost any field you probably know about Microsoft Office Professional or have used one of the Microsoft software programs.

Microsoft Academic Software discounts: Office Pro 2010 Student Discount Office for Mac Home and Business 2011 Student Discount Visual Studio Pro 2010 Student Discount Project Pro 2010 Student Discount Visio Standard 2010 Student Discount Visio Pro 2010 Student Discount Word 2010 Student Discount Publisher 2010 Student Discount Excel 2010 Student Discount OneNote 2010 Student Discount Expression Studio 4.0 Ultimate Student Discount PowerPoint 2010 Student Discount MapPoint 2011 Student Discount Visual FoxPro9.0 Pro Student Discount Access 2010 Student Discount *Provided by Studentware

Understanding Microsofts Academic Software Program

The Microsoft student discount mission In an effort to reach key education audiences with its core products, to provide education and students with the most competitive pricing, and to help control piracy through orderly distribution, Microsoft launched its Authorized Education Reseller program. Excerpts from the Microsoft academic software mission document include:

80% off MSRP* 45% 86% 80% Our purpose here is to 68% educate students and 72% parents about software 64% titles included as well as 64% 64% eligibility and required 38% documentation, cost 85% savings, comparison of 64% Office suites and 81% licensing as well as 90% reseller verification. 61%

The Microsoft Authorized Education Reseller (AER) program allows education partners to license Microsoft software at academic prices to qualified educational users. Microsoft AER Program in the U.S. allows for two Academic certifications; the resale of Academic Volume Licenses [to educational institutions] and the resale of Academic Full Packaged Product [to individuals]. These program changes should help us reach the key academic audiences with products like Office. The program seeks to improve dialogue between Microsoft and our resellers focused on the academic sector. By updating you on changes, informing you of news, and listening to your feedback, we can ensure that we continue to create innovative offerings to help those in education realize their full potential. [Our Academic Education Resellers are] authorized to sell Microsoft Academic Edition software licenses to education customers,[and become established] as a specially-trained company that is ready to provide complete solutions and services to your customers.

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In summarizing Microsoft Academic program, it was created to provide academic editions of its core software to service the education and student marketplace for the following purposes:

Understanding Microsofts Academic Software Program

if you are a student of any age or a parent of a student, you can save up to 90% on Microsoft programs but you will be required to document student status.

-Provide a very attractive discount for the education and student marketplace as an incentive to try the companys popular products and as a way to minimize unauthorized sharing and duplication. -Certifying special resellers called Academic Education Resellers (AER) to be the focal point to support the education and student segment

-Creating an Academic Edition of its core software that is almost identical to the commercial version in functionality to increase the companys reach to education and students

-Control piracy through academic licensing

If you see the word student in the title you might assume you are getting the full-featured version of Office Pro with its suite of seven programsBut this is not the case.

-Help combat rising education costs

-Improve communication and feedback through its distribution system from end users, parents, academic intuitions, public schools, and certified Academic Education Resellers. An open communication channel with the education and student marketplace will help the company to provide future updates to its products

This can be a source of confusion for many. Weve consulted the following comparison chart to help sort it out. If you see the word student in the title you might assume you are getting the full featured version of Office Pro with its suite of seven programs (Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, OneNote, Publisher, & Outlook). But this is not the case. The Home & Student and Home & Business versions have different price points and a different mix of programs. They also have different licensing, for example, Office Home &
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Office 2010 Professional Office Pro 2010 Academic - Student Discount Office 2010 Home & Student - Student Discount Office 2010 Home and Business - Student Discount Office for Mac Home and Business 2011 - Student Discount Office Mac 2011 Home & Student Office Mac 2011 Home & Student Family Pack

Office 2010 Student edition Vs. Academic edition When shopping for Microsoft 2010 student discounts, students and parents should be aware that Microsoft has no less than seven versions of the off-the-shelf Office program offered both in PC and MAC:

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Student comes with licenses for 3 PCS but contains a suite of only four programs (Outlook, Publisher, and Access are not included)

Understanding Microsofts Academic Software Program

Differences between standard Office Pro 2010 and Office Pro 2010 Academic According to Studentware the functionality of the Office Professional 2010 Academic is virtually the same as the Office Professional 2010 Off-the-shelf version. The differences between the two editions include:

In summary, other than distribution, licensing, packaging and student verification, the functionality of the Microsoft academic software is virtually the same.

1. How the product is sold (through certified academic education resellers) 2. How the products are licensed. The academic version is licensed for one PC while the off-the-shelf version comes with licenses for 2 PCs 3. Packaging (may be labeled academic) 4. Verification of student enrollment in a K-12 or post secondary accredited school, home school, or academic institution is required.

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Reseller Certification Microsoft tests, certifies and authorizes all resellers of its academic products. And all of Microsofts academic software is available only through their network of Academic Education Resellers. These are the only Resellers that are certified to sell authentic academic software. Certified resellers will bear the official Authorized Education Reseller logo and upon request they should also be able to produce an up-to-date official Microsoft certificate. If your reseller cannot produce these upon request continue shopping until you find one that can. Who is eligible? Its not just full and part-time students that are eligible for this special accommodation for Microsoft 2010 student discounts. Both full and part-time Faculty and school staff at public school districts and private schools are also eligible. Equipping teachers and staff with the same software that students are using only helps in the student training and support process. Home schoolers are also eligible. So in brief, if you are a student of any age or a parent of a student, you can save up to 90% on Microsoft programs but you will be required to document student status. Explaining the verification process To demonstrate eligibility students or parents need to provide one of the following: -Current student identification card -Valid school report card for the current calendar year -School enrollment letter confirming the current calendar year; or -Government provided student bus/train (or equivalent) pass

Understanding Microsofts Academic Software Program

In order to qualify, eligibility documentation must show the school year or valid date

Summary The details of the Microsoft Academic software program are not widely advertised. The purpose here has been to shed light on the companys academic mission and to spread the word so that more eligible students might participate. Furthermore, the purpose of this article is to help students and parents better understand what software programs are included, who is eligible, cost savings, differences in Office suites, licensing variations, required documentation, as well as how to verify that you are buying legitimate software from a reputable authorized reseller.
Special thanks to Studentware, who was consulted in the creation of this article. Studentware specializes in selling Microsoft Academic software to the educational community in the United States. They are a Microsoft Partner and have achieved Certified Academic Education Reseller status for Microsoft Office Professional 2010 as well as more than twenty other titles. More information on Studentware can be found at www.Studentware.com Copyright 2012 Duplicated online content is monitored

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Copyright 2012 No part of this article may be reproduced without prior written consent. Content is monitored for duplicate internet content for copyright infringements.

Understanding Microsofts Academic Software Program

Tags: Microsoft academic software program, Microsoft Office 2010 Student Discount, Microsoft Office Professional 2010 Academic, Microsoft Pro 2010 Academic, finding student discounts on Microsoft software, Microsoft software student discount, academic software discounts, student eligibility for software discounts, Office Pro 2010 suite comparison.

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