Office 2010 Home And Business Business licensees t

Microsoft officials have stated the firm expects to release Windows seven to manufacturing prior to the end of this month. But they've been less forthcoming about when end users is going to be in a position to obtain their hands on the item — other than consumers who buy at retail new PCs with it preloaded starting October 22.On July 10, however, Microsoft notified its reseller partners that it plans to allow business consumers who;ve purchased volume licenses plus Software Assurance contracts to obtain Windows 7 before the finish of July.Russian enthusiast “Deeper2K” posted a picture of the partner mailing (in Russian) and tweeted on July 10 that Microsoft has committed to providing Software Assurance customers with the final Windows seven bits just before the end of July.Deeper2K mentioned Microsoft had told partners it was extending a special Windows seven promotion for Software Assurance customers through August 31. Customers who buy Software Assurance by that date will have the rights to upgrade to Windows seven on PCs they purchased starting on August 1, 2008. Microsoft is offering end users 15 percent off the cost of Windows seven via the promotion, he said.Earlier this year, Microsoft officials acknowledged they were offering Software Assurance users Windows 7 incentives, but didn;t spell out the particulars. In June, I received this statement from a Microsoft spokesperson:“For a limited time,Office 2010 Home And Business, Microsoft is offering a promotional price on Microsoft Software Assurance to consumers that purchase a new PC with Windows Vista Online business. Clients with Software Assurance will have access to Windows seven Enterprise when it is released. We recommend buyers contact their Microsoft Volume License reseller for a quote specific to their business enterprise.”I;ve asked Microsoft for further clarification of the Windows seven deal it is offering its volume licensees. A spokesperson pointed me to the Microsoft Incentives site. More details are there. Specifically,Office Professional Plus 2007, it says :“For a limited time,Office 2007 Pro Plus, recieve a 15% discount on Open Software Assurance or Open Value Software Assurance attached to new PCs equipped with Windows Vista Small business. This offer will allow you to save on Software Assurance today, while giving you the rights to Windows seven when it is released. Software Assurance purchases must be made within 180 days of a new PC purchase.” (The “redeem by” and “purchase by” dates are listed as August 31.)Microsoft is believed by my sources to be a week or so away from RTMing Windows seven. This week, as part of its announcement of the promotion to president of Windows chief Steven Sinofsky, Microsoft reiterated that it is on track to release Windows seven to manufacturing in late July.The provider is planning to use next week;s Worldwide Partner Conference as an opportunity to get its resellers all set for the new OS. Microsoft has scheduled 27 sessions dedicated to helping partners make money on Windows seven through migration,Purchase Office 2007, deployment,Office Pro 2007, the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack and other related channels.Update: Just a reminder: The Windows 7 retail discount preorder program ends tomorrow, July 11, in the U.S. and Canada.