It's hard to miss the 'Better Together' message in Microsoft's product launch frenzy. However, for the first time one such 'Better Together' scenario is going to cost you extra. I'm referring to the removal of Outlook 2007 client software from the Exchange CAL. Previously, when a customer purchased Microsoft Exchange server licenses, and the appropriate number of CALs, they received a copy of Outlook along with each CAL. Well, technically they acquired the right to run Outlook... the software itself had to be ordered through Worldwide Fulfillment or via Volume License mailings/downloads. But regardless, if you owned Exchange Server 2003 and Exchange CALs - Outlook 2003 client software was included at no extra charge.
This held true even if you didn't own the entire Microsoft Office suite, or were running a previous version of Office. I've participated in many Exchange 2003 deployments where customers rolled out Outlook 2003 alongside Office 2000 or Office XP (usually for benefits such as cached-mode and RPC/HTTPS). This version mismatch had a few minor issues, such as the inability to use Word as the Outlook e-mail editor. However, in most cases it wasn't a show-stopper.
Well - those days are officially over. Unless your Exchange CAL Software Assurance was current as of November 30, 2006 - an upgrade to Exchange Server 2007 and Outlook 2007 might cost more than you expected. The official announcement is buried in the Product Use Rights section of Microsoft.com (scroll down about half way to the sub-heading "Outlook 2007 grant for Exchange Server 2003 CAL customers"). I've included the relevant text below for completeness:
Exchange Server 2007
Outlook 2007 grant for Exchange Server 2003 CAL customers
Unlike prior versions, Exchange Server 2007 Standard or Enterprise does not include the right to install Outlook on devices for which CALs are obtained. However, for each Exchange Server CAL, Core CAL Suite or Enterprise CAL Suite with active Software Assurance coverage as of November 30, 2006, customers will be granted one Office Outlook 2007 license. The right to use Outlook under that license expires upon expiration of the corresponding CAL. Use of Outlook under this offering is subject to the customers’ license agreement and the product use rights for that product. If Software Assurance coverage on the corresponding CAL is maintained continuously (i.e., renewed with no lapse in coverage), and one later version of Office Outlook (i.e., N+1, where N=Office Outlook 2007) is made available prior to the expiration of that coverage, customers’ license will be for that version instead. Alternatively, customers are eligible to acquire Software Assurance coverage for that Office Outlook license, provided that coverage is acquired by February 28, 2007. Customers who wish to acquire Software Assurance coverage for Office Outlook after that date must first acquire a new license for the version of Office Outlook that is current at the time coverage is acquired.
A couple things strike me as odd about this decision. First, it isn't well-publicized on the main Exchange 2007 web site. I can find plenty of 'Better Together' articles that extol the benefits of running Exchange 2007 with Outlook 2007 (here, here & here for example). However, not one of them mentions the licensing change above. Heck, the change isn't even spelled out in the Exchange Licensing FAQ.
Second, without Outlook 2007 - what exactly does Microsoft expect clients to use to access Exchange 2007? OWA? Previous versions of Outlook? It just doesn't make any sense to me. Outlook 2007 rocks... so why create another deployment blocker?
What are your thoughts on the Exchange CAL changes? Will this impact your deployment, or were you planning to roll out the entire Office 2007 suite anyway?