Software+licensing

= ** Introduction: ** There are many applications on a single computer, and many more on a whole school's worth. Keeping track of what you have installed and which ones you need to respect licensing restrictions for can be a difficult task. =
 * Software licensing**

**MoE Software Licenses for Schools**  Over the last few years the MoE has negotiated agreements that have allowed schools to use software from a number of vendors at no direct cost to the school. These agreements have certainly simplified matters for most schools as having the appropriate licenses is just a matter of filling out the correct forms periodically. The agreements cover software from the following vendors: [|Microsoft] and [|Symantec] through Datacom [|Apple] through Renaissance Novell through Novell

The MoE also pays for web filtering and firewall solutions from Watchdog and Telecom if schools choose to use their products.

**Buying Licenses**  When you purchase software it is important you understand which kind of license you are buying. Some of the common ways to purchase software are:
 * **Individual** licenses are meant to be installed on one computer only
 * **Family** licenses can be installed on a given number of computers in one household
 * **Concurrent** licenses allow you to run a certain number of copies of a given application at any one time. This means you can install the software on as many computers as you like in your school, but only the number of copies that you are licensed for should be running at any one time.
 * **Fixed** licenses mean that you can only install the software on the number of machines that you bought licenses for.
 * **Site** licenses allow you to put the software on all computers on your site for a set fee. Sometimes these licenses will extend to home use for your staff as well.

**Software for Learning**  The revamped [|Software for Learning] site is a good place to look for software that is being used in New Zealand Schools and has been recommended by teachers. The software listings have icons to easily convey information such as if it is free, can it be downloaded and which Operating System it needs to run on.

**Online Applications**  Increasingly now accessing the applications you want online is a real possibility. [|Google Apps] is being used in a lot of New Zealand schools now and [|Microsoft's Live@edu] is also becoming popular. Not to mention a host of wiki, blog, photo sharing, networking sites etc. While it is important to check the terms and conditions of these sites, particularly with regard to minimum age requirements if your students are using them, they are another way of simplifying your software licensing.

**iPod Touch Applications** <span style="color: #213627; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> When you download an application from iTunes, should you put it on a class set of iPod Touches? The comments on this forum post help explain the current position. []


 * <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Reflection: **<span style="color: #213627; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Is there anything else we need to consider? <span style="color: #173519; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">**Leave a message in the DISCUSSION tab above** (this will appear in the thread below).

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