IBM is introducing important changes to the Passport Advantage and Passport Advantage Express offerings. In order to expand the offerings available under Passport Advantage, new terms have been added that apply to "Selected Support", technical support offerings for Open Source and other non-warranted code. Worldwide general availability of the first Selected Support offerings is planned for November 15th, 2005.
Summary of changes
Existing Passport Advantage customers will receive notice of the changes either by hardcopy mail or by e-mail on or around October 15th, 2005. In accordance with the Passport Advantage Agreement, these changes therefore take effect for all existing Passport Advantage customers on January 15th, 2006. However, if they choose to obtain any of the Selected Support offerings between the worldwide general availability of the first Selected Support offerings date on November 15th, 2005, and January 15th, 2006, the new Passport Advantage Agreement terms will come into effect for them as of the date of that order, and will be applicable to that order.
For all new Passport Advantage enrollments on or after October 15th, 2005, the new revision of the IBM International Passport Advantage Agreement will apply. Copies of that Agreement in all language versions will be available on the Passport Advantage program page under 'Program Information' as of the above date. New customers enrolling in Passport Advantage must use this new revision of the Agreement. Please note that no changes have been made to the Passport Advantage Enrollment Forms in connection with these program updates.
For all new Passport Advantage Express transactions on or after November 12th, 2005, an updated revision of the IBM International Passport Advantage Express Agreement must be used.
In brief, here are the changes being made to Passport Advantage and to Passport Advantage Express:
- Introduction of new Selected Support services. Terms have been added to the Agreement that cover new support-only offerings to be made available through Passport Advantage and Passport Advantage Express.
- Updates to Country Unique Terms concerning certain countries’ eligibility for Automatic Renewal.