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	SPLA Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Enterprise Agreement, Select License or Open License to provide software services?

Normally if you use Microsoft software products to deliver software services to your customers (or third parties), you need to sign a SPLA. The SPLA allows the delivery of software services if your customers do not want to acquire their own licenses in a dedicated service environment. The SPLA also provides mechanisms for you to license the server software for commercial purposes and for your customers to access these servers.

What are software services?

Access to software hosted in data centers using the Internet, telephony network, or private network; these services are rendered on a contract basis for commercial gains; here the hosted softwares are not directly installed at customer end.

What is the difference between e-commerce and a software service?

E-commerce is a transactional relationship where the customer is purchasing goods or services through a web site. As a result of the final transaction, the customer receives a physical product (for example, buying a book online), information (for example, a bank statement), or a service (for example, package delivery). The software involved is just a mechanism to enable the acquisition of the good or service.

A software service is when the customer is receiving access to a software application that supports its business operations. For example: web site, e-mail services, content delivery services, and customer relationship services.

What type of licenses are acquired under the SPLA program?

Licenses acquired under the SPLA are monthly non-perpetual licenses that can be used during the term of the agreement.

How does SPLA help in meeting the Microsoft compliance for licensing?

You will be in breach of your agreement with Microsoft if you choose to license your commercial hosting servers via other license programs like FPP/ Open licenses. SPLA, the month-to-month licensing program enables service providers to provide hosting, outsourcing and other software services meeting the compliance requirements. For further information, please see Volume Licensing Programs Comparison.

How does a SPLA work?

The Service Provider License Agreement (SPLA) program, designed by Microsoft enables all service providers and ISVs to license Microsoft products on a monthly basis to provide services and hosted applications to their end customers. The end users can use the software as a service without acquiring software license directly with Microsoft.

SPLA is the only Microsoft licensing program that provides 3rd party license use rights to hosting and software service providers.

What are the Microsoft Products included in SPLA?

All Microsoft products listed in the SPUR (Service Provider Use Rights) document comes under SPLA.
Service Provider Use Rights (SPUR) and summary of changes to the SPUR (438 KB - .doc file)

How can I become a SPLA partner?

Users wishing to enroll in the SPLA agreement need to meet one of the following two eligibility requirements:

		Enroll in the Microsoft Partner Program as a Registered Member as well as enroll in the Microsoft Hosting Program.
		OR
		Enroll in the Microsoft Partner Program as a Certified Partner
		Contact Kryptos Networks to sign a Service Provider License Agreement.

	For enrollment as a Registered Member, visit the Microsoft Partner Program site. To register for the Microsoft Hosting Program, visit the Microsoft Hosting Program resource site. For further information on acquiring SPLA through Kryptos Networks, please email to spla@kryptosnetworks.com

What are the license rights under the SPLA?

The license rights under the SPLA are:

	The right for the licensee to provide software services.
	The right for the licensee’s customers to access or use the Microsoft licensed products running on the service provider’s server.
	The right for the licensee to provide multi-tenancy (more than one customer) to use the same Microsoft server products.
	The right to pay for actual use on a monthly basis - Post paid
	The right to no up-front license fees and no minimum commitments.

How do I manage the SPLA licensing when there is an increase in the number of users?

You payment is based on actual usage for the prior month; additional Subscriber Access License (SAL) or PL can be acquired as your usage grows.

What is the role of Kryptos as a SPLA reseller?

As a Microsoft certified SPLA reseller, Kryptos help you in acquiring SPLA easily and acts on your behalf for administration of these licenses and reporting them to Microsoft. Our accounts team handles monthly usage orders and periodic media orders.

Click here to submit a frequently asked question via email.

	SPLA Resources

	SPLA Customers
	SPLA Benefits
	SPLA Resources
	SPLA Brochure
	Service Provider Use Rights (SPUR)
	Licensing Comparison.
	SPLA Program Guide