Ever since the new Enterprise Cloud Suite (ECS) was released and there was no clear bridge path for the System Center Client Management Suite I have been trying to figure out why. Well the August 2015 Product Terms have answered the why by removing the System Center Client Management Suite from both the ECAL and ECAL Bridge.
In order to soften the blow Microsoft has added a special promotion on page 86 of the August 2015 Product Terms shown in excerpt 1 below. This language is a bit squishy to me, so I have asked Microsoft if this language actually grants a perpetual license to the System Center Client Management Suite, or just the right to use it while under active Software Assurance (SA). I am still waiting for an answer from Microsoft.
I would also like to note that excerpt 2 below is from page 14 of the June 2015 Product List, and I cannot find any like language in the July or August Product Terms. I have to assume any licenses purchased under the new Product Terms will not be eligible for this extended use right.
Excerpt 1
System Center Client Management Suite Promotion The right to use System Center Client Management Suite will be included with all Enterprise CAL Suite and Enterprise CAL Suite Bridge for Office 365 (with or without Microsoft Intune) licenses ordered through December 31, 2016.
Excerpt 2
Extended Use Rights for Enterprise Cloud Suite Customers For qualifying customers, the Enterprise Cloud Suite or combination of Office 365 and Enterprise Mobility Suite provides access rights to the component services of Exchange Online Archiving for Exchange Server and System Center Client Management Suite. “Qualifying Customers” are Enterprise Enrollment or Enterprise Subscription Enrollment customers who have active Software Assurance coverage for the Enterprise CAL Suite as of November 30, 2014.