“The company is said to be abandoning a previous volume licensing scheme, which allowed institutions to buy Mac OS X at costs of $39 to $59 per copy, depending the amount of licenses ordered,” MacNN reports.
“Instead, schools must now pay for annual license renewals,” MacNN reports. “Apple is also said to be dropping cheaper site licenses for its iLife and iWork suites. Schools must as a result acquire upgrades in unison with Mac OS X updates, or pay normal retail prices.”
Full article here.
According to Apple:
The new Apple Education Licensing Program makes it easier to keep your school’s Apple software current and compliant. Coverage is purchased annually, keeping costs consistent year after year, and the new bundle structure allows you to manage against a single expiration date. Each license renewal provides one year of coverage, including any new releases that may become available during the year. And with the new program, you can even include at-home licenses for faculty and staff in your total count.
Apple software can be distributed through your school’s secured network or physical media kits—the choice is yours. A one-time enrollment fee (10 percent of the annual purchase price) is required the first year your school or district enrolls in the program. If you enroll before December 13, 2009, Apple will waive the enrollment fee.
Apple’s Educational Licensing Program software costs can be found here.