When SCS 9 was released, SCS 8 users who upgraded to SCS 9 were charged an upgrade fee, unless they had only purchased their SCS 8 license within the previous 4 months. That upgrade fee was approximately 50% of the price of a new equivalent SCS 9 license.
For some time now we have been advising new users that their license fee entitles them to free updates for 12 months, but this 12-month limit has not been imposed yet. However, when SCS 10 is released this free-update period will become effective. This means that if you purchased or upgraded your SCS 9 license within the previous 12 months then you may upgrade to SCS 10 at no additional cost. If you purchased or last upgraded your SCS 9 license more than 12 months earlier then you will need to purchase an update plan if you wish to upgrade to SCS 10. An update plan will cost 20% of the current equivalent new license cost, and will entitle you to updates for the next 12 months.
SCS 10 is expected to be available on general release in July 2008.
Examples
SCS 9 License purchased 1 Jan 2008
May upgrade to SCS 10 at no cost.
Free updates available until 31 Dec 2008.
SCS 9 Professional License purchased 15 March 2007
To upgrade to SCS 10, user will have to purchase a 12-month update plan. This will cost $US30 (based on the current price list).
This update plan will provide updates for the next 12 months.
Upgraded SCS 9 Lite License to SCS 9 Standard on 25 April 2008
May upgrade to SCS 10 at no cost.
Free updates available until 24 April 2009.
Key points
- On purchasing a new SCS 9 or SCS 10 license you are entitled to free updates for 12 months from the date of purchase.
- On upgrading your SCS 9 or SCS 10 license (eg upgrading from Standard to Professional) you are entitled to free updates for 12 months from the date of purchasing that upgrade.
- When your free update period has expired you may continue to use the version you have for as long as you like, but if you wish to download the latest version then you will then need to purchase an Update Plan.
- The cost of a 12-month update plan will be 20% of the current cost of the equivalent license (rounded to the nearest dollar/pound/etc).
- For example, if you have an SCS Standard license then the cost of a 12-month update plan is currently 20.00USD, 10.00GBP, 20.00CAD, 13.00EUR, 21.00AUD, 26.00NZD, or 156.00HKD.
- If you have an SCS Professional license then the cost of a 12-month update plan is currently 30.00USD, 15.00GBP, 30.00CAD, 19.00EUR, 31.00AUD, 40.00NZD, or 236.00HKD.
- There is currently no time limit on when you may take up the Update Plan - after the 12-month period you can wait until you are ready to download a new version of SCS and purchase your 12-month update plan then. You will still get 12 months updates available from the time of purchasing that update plan.
If you have any questions or concerns about Update Plans, please email me at mdaniell@optusnet.com.au.
