OVS quotes

[jonathan.lees]

Just had renewal quote for OVS, our 3 year pricing has expired and the quote has almost doubled what we paid last year. Can anyone share suppliers where I can get quotes from to compare... thanks

[Edu-IT]

VeryPC, Phoenix, Pugh, AMC Computer Supplies

[ticktock]

I'm the same. We were paying £3K a year for 70 FTE on a 3 year deal but have now been quoted £4K a year. I checked on here with my fellow Edugeekers and they tell me this is about right. I had 2 quotes more or less the same and I'm waiting on a 3rd.

[DrCheese]

It'll have doubled because the agreement Microsoft had with the government to provide better pricing expired a few years ago & it wasn't renewed. So MS now charge much more

+

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/buying-for-schools-microsoft-memorandum-of-understanding

[timbo343]

Yup, there's no getting away from it. Welcome to the 1st year of your new pricing. The FTE desktop license count has really increased in price.

[Ditto]

This has been a ticking bomb in the background that is going to start hitting schools increasingly hard. Perhaps time to look at Google alternatives(or other) - I suspect if enough shift, MS might look at introducing a more competitive Educational fee structure.

[jonathan.lees]

We're heavily invested in MS & O365, it's not gonna happen, plus we'd still need the desktop licences which is the biggest cost.

[Boredguy]

This has been a ticking bomb in the background that is going to start hitting schools increasingly hard. Perhaps time to look at Google alternatives(or other) - I suspect if enough shift, MS might look at introducing a more competitive Educational fee structure.

 

If your using SIMS, you need SQL server which is MS, which needs a server (MS) which needs cals to connect to the file share, and Windows OS.

Now if you were using a cloud based MIS maybe google is an option, but even now the licence cost isn't as bad as it used to be

[Ditto]

Yes, I understand, and have heard the same many times. It's a big change but some schools have moved this way. Personally, I believe it is easier for a primary school to make the move than a secondary. In terms of desktop licenses, a wholesale switch could move a large chunk of your IT away from Windows, but unless you get SLT buy-in to that challenge, I agree, it' not going to happen. Sadly increased expenditure means the money is going to pull from some other expenditure and to the detriment of the kids education.

[Ditto]

If your using SIMS, you need SQL server which is MS, which needs a server (MS) which needs cals to connect to the file share, and Windows OS.

Now if you were using a cloud based MIS maybe google is an option, but even now the licence cost isn't as bad as it used to be

I agree, that's required if you are running you own instance of SIMS. I'll leave it there with MIS selection and Cloud versus non-Cloud to avoid thread drift!

[timbo343]

If your using SIMS, you need SQL server which is MS, which needs a server (MS) which needs cals to connect to the file share, and Windows OS.

Now if you were using a cloud based MIS maybe google is an option, but even now the licence cost isn't as bad as it used to be

 

You are still going to need MS though in one way or another. The SQL license isn't that expensive, maybe a couple of hundred and you will still need a SQL license be it basic and a couple of CALs to keep the old SIMS database running with access unless you reinstall the SIMS database on a SQLExpress installation.

 

The desktop license pack is up at nearly £60 per licens0/FTE per year. (depending on where you shop)

Edited May 13, 2020 by timbo343