Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : How high will Microsoft fly? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: David R who wrote (43379)	4/25/2000 2:24:00 PM
From: SunSpot	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74651

I have internal details of how much MSFT distributors earn, but cannot disclose that here. What I can tell you is, that there are american and international versions of the same software. During installation we are typically prompted whether to use British or American spelling, Letter paper size or A4. I also believe that there is still differences in encryption technology. In earlier versions we could only get 40 bits encryption in contrast to the US versions with 128 bits encryption. I don't know if that has changed. The prices I mentioned were retail prices taken from a danish guide over cheapest software retailers. Companies typically buy via Microsoft Open License Program (now also No-License Program), but there is not especially much to save this way. The big difference is, that MOL/OLP/NLP gives the possibility to buy licenses and disk sets separately. Disk sets are typically $20 (without license) and licenses are a little cheaper than retail, sometimes structured differently. The disk sets are not produced by Microsoft, but by another company, I think in Ireland, that Microsoft has engaged with. The licenses are pieces of paper, especially made for each MOL/OLP/NLP sale by Microsoft (as far as I know). I also mentioned the prices for the danish versions. International versions (sometimes named US version although they are not), are, as far as I know, cheaper than national versions, but are often sold even more expensively in the shops, due to lower turnover. The prices are without VAT, since I always calculate prices without VAT for comparison. VAT is 25% and is to be added. I think the minimum VAT that all european countries must have, is approx. 15%. If a private consumer wants to upgrade his/her PC from Windows 98 to Windows 2000, it is at least $340 including VAT for the package (retail).