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Microsoft's cloud licensing changes: What you need to know

Take your Microsoft server apps to the cloud with license mobility

Starting July 1, Microsoft customers will be able to use their current license agreements to move server applications from internal data centers to cloud computing services, and contracts signed after that date will offer the same benefit.

But what Microsoft calls "license mobility" will only be available to customers who pay extra for Software Assurance, which can nearly double the cost of a license. Also, while the license mobility will apply to server applications, it won't affect the server operating system itself.

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