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Partners: Backlash Likely From Vista Enterprise Licensing Plan

Windows Vista Enterprise will be available only to those who sign up for Software Assurance, Microsoft's software-maintenance program.
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The enterprise version, as well as the upcoming Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs will be available only through Software Assurance, Microsoft's software maintenance program.

"There will probably be some pushback on that. There's already been pushback on buying Software Assurance because there's no guarantee [software] will be released during the term of the customer contract, " said David Orvis, license management services strategist at Software Spectrum, a Plano, Texas-based solution provider and major Microsoft reseller. "In some cases, it will help Microsoft get Software Assurance contracts. But Vista Enterprise being an entitlement only on SA?
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Delays in shipping SQL Server 2005, for example, upset some customers who bought SA contracts that expired before the database actually shipped, said one partner who asked not to be named.