Last week, Embarcadero has announced a new plan for selling updates of Delphi and C++Builder. The idea is to make it easier (and cheaper) for early adopters and loyal users. In summary, the idea is that the new RAD License Recharge Plan allows you to continuall y recharge your RAD Studio, Delphi or C++Builder license with every major release at an affordable License Recharge fee for each release. 

The plan is called "Recharge Plan" and the concept is quite simple. Given we are currently working on a schedule of 2 releases a year for RAD Studio, we are going to start offering a special update price only from the previous version of the same product. This will cost half of the regular update price. Actually, it will be just a little less than half of the regular update price, as we want this to be the less expensive upgrade model.

You can read the details and a FAQ at www.embarcadero.com/products/rad-studio/recharge .

These are some scenarios:

  • If Delphi XE5 (Professional with or without the various packs, Enterprise, or above), when we will release XE6, you'll be able to upgrade your license to XE6 at a special price (less than half of the regular update price from, say, XE4). Later, as we release another version, you'll be able to keep upgrading at a similar low price.
  • By upgrading twice in a year, you'll pay less than if you skip a version and buy a regular update. And you'll benefit form having always the latest release available. In other words, early adopters and loyal users now have a good deal.
  • If you are still not on XE5, you can go ahead and buy it now. When the next version comes out, you'll be able to recharge your license. If you stay on an older version, you'll have to pay for a full upgrade.

One important element is this is not just a one time offer, but a long term plan for the future, that will depend on the number of releases of RAD Studio in a single year. With a more predictable plan, you'll be able better plan your investments, even without moving to the pre-paid maintenance program (which remains available, if you prefer that model).

With the fast moving landscape in mobile platforms, we need to keep release cycles shorter, and we are trying to adapt the sales model to better serve this new approach. Hope you like the idea and get ready to recharge your licenses.