By Stevie Smith Nov 12, 2007, 13:52 GMT
American software giant Microsoft Corporation has this week announced the new Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR) program, which allows refurbishment partners to take advantage of new licensing so that old hardware can be overhauled and equipped with genuine Windows XP Home and Windows XP Professional operating software, before being sold on to fresh customers.
American software company Microsoft has revealed a new licensing deal allowing refurbishment partners to sell old PCs with genuine Windows XP operating systems. Credit: Microsoft Corp.
"This program is tailored to the needs of large refurbishers that wish to work with Microsoft to deliver genuine Windows software licenses on systems they refurbish and sell," outlined Microsoft in its official press release.
Arriving as an extension of Microsoft’s existing Community MAR program, which runs alongside charities and educational and non-profit organisations, the new license alteration introduced by Redmond-based Microsoft will mean licensed refurbishment outlets can accept old PC systems and push them back into the consumer arena boasting Miscrosoft-certified OS software.
"Companies don’t know what to do with their old PCs, so they collect dust in the company cafeteria or stack up in the hallways," explained Hani Shakeel, senior product manager of the Genuine Windows Product Marketing team, in a related statement. "This is a very common fate for PCs these days, especially with the increased environmental regulations around the disposal of computers."
According to Shakeel, Microsoft and Gartner carried out a study in 2004 revealing that refurbished systems contributed around 13 percent (approximately 20 million) of the 150 million PCs in the ‘secondary market’. Microsoft suggests that current projections indicate that 28 million PC systems are attributed to the refurbished market, which equates to around 10 percent of the global PC market.
The new version of the MAR program, is presently open to "Microsoft’s A-list OEM friends worldwide," comments industry watcher Information Week, as well as various other refurbishing partners, which already include the likes of RedemTech and TechTurn.
"The new TechTurn and Microsoft relationship will allow us to provide more refurbished and recertified machines to both consumers via our online store, and to our worldwide network of dealers and resellers for business use," said Jeff Zeigler, CEO of TechTurn. "Being part of the Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher program helps us provide our enterprise customers with very cost-effective IT assets while helping them be environmentally responsible corporate citizens. The fact that our customers can rest assured they are receiving genuine Windows XP software gives TechTurn added credibility and a competitive advantage."
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