Forum Discussion
Device or OSE - Microsoft 365 E3/E5
Hello everyone, I do not want to hide the fact that I am a little confused about the licensing of Microsoft 365 (M365 for short) and and i think that you are also affected by the questions and are surprised at the end.
Context of all Topics – MCA an Enterprise (E3/E5)
LicensingConcierge1
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Which is the reason for my contribution?
I would like to take you on a little time travel through the Microsoft websites.
First question
How many devices or operating system environments are covered with M365 apps?
Depence on...
Licensing Brief - PDF
Microsoft 365 Apps in commercial licensing | Licensing Brief https://www.microsoft.com/licensing/docs/view/Licensing-Briefs
Ok this one is from august 20220 but unfortunately there is not one that is newer.
What inside?
Short - OSE - 5 CC OSE
Excerpt -
The Microsoft 365 Apps for Business per user license also allows licensed users to access Office experiences on PCs, Macs and mobile devices. The licensed user can run the software for local or remote use on up to five concurrent operating system environments (OSEs). Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise licensing treats physical and virtual OSEs the same, so the five concurrent activations can be on five different devices or multiple OSEs on a single
Device. These devices can be enterprise-managed devices or employee personal devices. The licensed user can also use the software activated by another user under a different user AL.
Okay next source - the ultimate
Product terms
https://www.microsoft.com/licensing/terms/en-US/productoffering/Microsoft365/MCA
What's inside?
Applicable License Terms
Microsoft 365 is governed by the License Terms of the individual products and services comprising Microsoft 365, as modified by the License Terms in this Microsoft 365 Product Entry.
and
License Assignment and Windows Use Rights
The use rights for the Windows component of Microsoft 365 licenses are modified as follows:
• Licensed Users are not required to be the Primary User of any device.
• Licensed Users may only run Windows Enterprise locally on devices with a Qualifying Operating System.
Ok, we are looking for O365 as part of the suite
https://www.microsoft.com/licensing/terms/productoffering/Office365Suites/MCA
What's inside?
Not a single qualified notice for O365 E3/E5 about the quantity and about the general license conditions for online services? Can’t find any information like OSE or Device (for E3/E5)
Ok, next stop on the journey –
Microsoft Learn
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/deployoffice/overview-licensing-activation-microsoft-365-apps.
Subscription User Based Licensing - 03/01/2023
More information
This is the default licensing mode for Microsoft 365 Apps. In this mode, the license is stored in the user's profile. With a single license, users can install and activate Microsoft 365 Apps on up to 5 desktops/laptops, 5 tablets and 5 mobile devices. User-based subscription licensing requires user-level activation and user login with an Azure Active Directory account.
It is recommended for most scenarios where the user has specific computers and does not share them frequently.
• Well done - in a nutshell - 5 desktops/laptops, 5 tablets and 5 mobile devices.
Same content here
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/commerce/licenses/subscriptions-and-licenses?view=o365-worldwide
How many devices can you install Microsoft 365 on? - 03/28/2023
If your subscription includes any of the following products, each person can install Microsoft 365 on up to five PCs or Macs, five tablets, and five cell phones.
• Well done - in a nutshell - 5 desktops/laptops, 5 tablets, and 5 mobile devices.
Consistency is guaranteed
• But why isn't this kind of information in the product terms and conditions?
By the way, in case you missed the OSE show after Microsoft 365 Applications
https://www.microsoft.com/licensing/terms/en-US/productoffering/Microsoft365Applications/MCA
You will be happy - I know it is a different product than the Enterprise Plan products, but why is there no consistency here?
**
Windows 10/11 Enterprise Licensing as part of the Suite
also a surprise
Product terms
We are on the way to Microsoft 365
https://www.microsoft.com/licensing/terms/productoffering/Microsoft365/MCA
and jump to
Licensing and Windows usage rights
Usage rights for the Windows component of Microsoft 365 licenses will change as follows:
• Licensed users do not have to be the primary user of a device.
• Licensed users may only run Windows Enterprise locally on devices running a qualifying operating system.
Ok, now check out the
Windows Desktop Operating System Page
https://www.microsoft.com/licensing/terms/productoffering/WindowsDesktopOperatingSystem/MCA
License Assignment for Windows Desktop Operating System Licenses
Prerequisites for per-user license assignment (except for Virtual Desktop Access).
The licensed user must be the primary user of at least one device licensed with a qualifying operating system. This one device must also be the primary work device of the primary user.
• The question is: primary user or not......
In case I should be wrong I say now shcon thank you for the support.
If in return the description can be optimized, I would be happy about it.
How many devices or operating system environments are covered with M365 apps?
All Microsoft 365 plans are licensed with a single User Subscription License assigned to an individual user & the licensed user can install each licensed M365 app on up to 5 PCs/Mac + 5 tablets- Buy Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise | Microsoft 365. See the attached document for a breakdown.
Resellers should contact their Indirect Provider for assistance
Most, if not all, of the MS Learn Docs & websites have a "feedback" option where you can submit questions such as "You will be happy - I know it is a different product than the Enterprise Plan products, but why is there no consistency here?"
If this reply answers your question, please Accept as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly. Otherwise, please let me know if you need further assistance on this topic.
Regards,Microsoft CSP Licensing Concierge
4 Replies
- LicensingConcierge1Silver Contributor
How many devices or operating system environments are covered with M365 apps?
All Microsoft 365 plans are licensed with a single User Subscription License assigned to an individual user & the licensed user can install each licensed M365 app on up to 5 PCs/Mac + 5 tablets- Buy Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise | Microsoft 365. See the attached document for a breakdown.
Resellers should contact their Indirect Provider for assistance
Most, if not all, of the MS Learn Docs & websites have a "feedback" option where you can submit questions such as "You will be happy - I know it is a different product than the Enterprise Plan products, but why is there no consistency here?"
If this reply answers your question, please Accept as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly. Otherwise, please let me know if you need further assistance on this topic.
Regards,Microsoft CSP Licensing Concierge
- LicenseOlliCopper ContributorMicrosoft CSP Licensing Concierge, thank you for your reply.
This finally confirms what I had described. However, two things remain unanswered from my perspective.
- Why is it not clearly stated in the product terms?
- The attached document is known, but it is not an official source for licensing. Only the product terms are resilient, at this point we are at the first thing that is still open.- LicensingConcierge1Silver Contributor
This finally confirms what I had described. However, two things remain unanswered from my perspective.
- Why is it not clearly stated in the product terms? I do not know why the Product Terms website does not contain the information, but I imagine that it's because one webpage cannot house all of the information for each product, which is why you have webpages such as the one in my reply.If you'd like to submit feedback, I think that the Partner Hour sessions would be the best platform.
- The attached document is known, but it is not an official source for licensing. Only the product terms are resilient, at this point we are at the first thing that is still open. I'm sorry, what is the question please?
If this reply answers your question, please Accept as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly. Otherwise, please let me know if you need further assistance on this topic.
Regards,Microsoft CSP Licensing Concierge
- LicensingConcierge1Silver Contributor
Hi LicenseOlli
Welcome to the community!
I have to start by informing you that you've used the CSP community to submit your post, when this should be posted in the BizApps community (which includes MW, such as M365), based on your first question.
I will move your post and update your labels for your convenience