Microsoft is going to let users move some of their licensed Microsoft server software to Amazon's cloud under its newfangled Microsoft License Mobility with Software Assurance program.

It says they can move Windows Server application licenses between their on-premises environment and AWS.

In a blog Microsoft goes off on an Azure-ignoring riff saying, "This is a game changer because now you can get industry leading enterprise-grade software from Microsoft and run them on the highly reliable, scalable on-demand infrastructure from AWS - it's the best of both worlds....Imagine the possibilities!"

The recognition extends to Exchange, SharePoint, SQL Server Standard and Enterprise, Lync, System Center and Dynamic CRM.

Microsoft says users can either buy new licenses or migrate their existing licenses including their Volume Licenses. There are no associated mobility fees; users have the flexibility to deploy workloads on-premise and on AWS.

Microsoft asking ISVs with migration tools to help out.

The Redmond blog says, "One interesting pattern that we are seeing already with several customers in the pipeline is [the] "diagonal upgrade" - "upgrading" to the cloud as part of their regular software upgrade and migration process. For example, they are upgrading from on-premises MS SharePoint 2007 deployment to MS SharePoint 2010 in the AWS Cloud. They are not only seeing significant cost-savings but also increased business agility and scalability as a result of moving to the cloud."