Academics Can "Test Drive" Microsoft SW
Through Microsoft's new Academic Technology Advantage (ATA) program, higher education customers can "test drive" their software solutions in their own campus network settings, and receive academic-priced technical support and certified training.
For an estimated U.S. retail price of $199, customers can evaluate for 120 days 11 leading Microsoft products: Windows 95, Office Professional, Windows NT Workstation 4.0, Windows NT Server 4.0, Internet Information Server, FrontPage, SQL Server, System Management Server, SNA Server, Exchange Server and Visual Basic Enterprise.
Included are two free comprehensive phone support incidents. Microsoft has partnered with Hewlett Packard to provide additional academic-priced technical support on a per-incident or unlimited basis. For example, 10 support incidents covering Windows NT, LAN, BackOffice applications and client connectivity would cost $799, a savings of nearly $700 (before March 31, 1997).
The ATA kit also contains three vouchers for BackOffice-certified training courses, redeemable from Productivity Point International, the largest network of Microsoft Authorized Technical Education Centers in North America. With the voucher, five days of BackOffice training is $900 instead of $2,000.
Academic Technology Advantage is available exclusively through local Microsoft Solution Providers for Education. For a list of participants, visit www.microsoft.com/education/hed/ata. The ATA offer expires June 30, 1997. Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA, (800) 363-2899.
This article originally appeared in the 02/01/1997 issue of THE Journal.