Microsoft users warned of upcoming Sharepoint and Lync Server price hikes

End users keen to avoid getting hit with these extra charges could push to purchase the products before the end of the month, advised Gibbons.

"If you set up an annuity agreement, through Microsoft's Open Value Subscription, Perpetual or Enterprise licensing schemes, in November, you will get the current pricing and that will be locked in for the duration of the agreement...and can defer the price rises for three years," he said.

"That's what we are advising customers, but there is only three weeks to go and that does not give end users a lot of time to rework their budgets and bring purchases forward, though."

The latest round of price hikes come hot on the heels of last month's announcement that the price of Microsoft User CAL licenses will go up by 15 per cent from 1 December.

One Microsoft supply chain source, who asked not be identified, expressed dismay at the latest round of price hikes.

"The price changes have to reflect value for money and customers need a ROI, but - in the case of Lync - do Microsoft believe they have improved the product four-fold to justify such a huge price jump?" he asked.

In a statement to IT Pro, a Microsoft spokesperson said: "These price changes do not necessitate an automatic price increase and some customers may see an overall price reduction"