Marco Tech Blog

January 30, 2015

RAD Studio Update Subscription

Embarcadero is launching the new Update Subscription program, a version of the old Maintenance and Support on steroids.

Embarcadero is launching the new Update Subscription program for the RAD Studio family of products, a version of the old Maintenance and Support on steroids. The new program (described in details at www.embarcadero.com/products/rad-studio/update-subscription ) is an addition to the perpetual product license and not a license subscription, exactly as the maintenance was. In other words, you buy the license and also enter this subscription to future updates and more. Not only this is similar to the Maintenance (which it is going to replace), but it also has basically the same price. So why a new name? Because a few things are changing:

On-going maintenance, that is updates and hot fixes for versions before the last so you can keep working on a version and have critical bugs fixes for much longer time (up to 2 years) than today
Early access to hot fixes, updates, and new releases (before they are final and public)
Exclusive bonus features (not restricted to special offers) and technical content (in a similar way of the language class I did last December for current users only)

This will be added on top of the core features, of course, that is getting each new version released while the subscription remains active and 3 support incidents. Of course, the Update Subscription makes most sense (and saves you money) in the long run, if you keep it renewing for a few years. There are already many RAD, Delphi, and C++Builder developers on maintenance, we'd really want this new subscription to become universal.

So on one side we plan offering more to developers on the Update Subscription... and on the other side we plan offering less to those not on the program (in terms of bonus features, content, long term hot-fixes and updates, etc). I guess the message should be quite clear. The Update Subscription is a cheap way to stay current, and offers value even if you don't plan immediately embracing new versions with your main projects.

It is not a coincidence that at the same time we are pushing this new subscription, we do have a special offer running to upgrade to XE7 from older versions if you get the Update Subscription, see www.embarcadero.com/radoffer. Finally, it is also a great time to move up to Enterprise, as you can read at www.embarcadero.com/products/rad-studio/enterprise-upgrade (well, adding the Update Subscription at the Enterprise level, of course).

posted by marcocantu @ 11:07AM | 11 Comments [0 Pending]

11 Comments

RAD Studio Update Subscription

Hi Marco.
Next week my actual Maintenance and Support will 
expire: can I assume that my renewed M&S will be 
automatically transformed in the new Update 
Subscription program?

Comment by Marco Cirinei [http://www.happysoft.net] on January 30, 12:42

RAD Studio Update Subscription

Hi Marco,
We purchased Delphi XE7 Pro(Upgrade from XE2), back 
in September 2014(without Support and Maintenance).  
We wondering if it will be possible to purchase the 
Update Subscription today, without having to purchase 
another license?

The reason why we didn't purchase the Support and 
Maintenance, when we purchased Delphi XE7, was that 
we didn't see enough of improvements in the VCL to 
warrant paying more than just a simple upgrade.

But, the added value that the Update Subscription 
will give, especially being able to have updates and 
fixes for XE7 after XE8 is released, is enticing
(especially if the Out of Memory IDE issue would have 
a fix for XE7).

But, if we will need to purchase another license just 
to be able to purchase an Update Subscription, today, 
then that we'll have to wait on purchasing an 
upgrade, as it probably wont be XE8 not XE9, unless 
something attractive is included that relates to 
desktop development.

Thanks for listening and have a nice day.

Comment by Daniel Rail [http://www.filopto.com] on January 30, 14:48

RAD Studio Update Subscription

Hi Marco

first of all a real good decision!

"Updates and hot fixes for up to two (2) years and
three (3) major releases" was exactly what we missed
since a long time and always discussed with the EMBT
sales representatives. As well it will allow third
party suppliers to limit as well to this maintenance
window.

We have similar question than the others in that
forum. We just renewed our yearly SA for all our
licenses (starting as usual 1.1.2015 - 31.12.2015).
Now the big question if this SA shifts now directly
into this new "Update Subscription"?

best regards

Günther Schoch / gs-soft AG

Comment by Günther Schoch [http://gs-soft.com] on January 31, 16:36

RAD Studio Update Subscription

Really interested in this as we just renewed our Support and 
Maintenance in the last week.      Not sure how this applies to 
existing Support and Maintenance Customers? 

I really really like the idea of longer support periods of past 
versions.      Once I understand this, it seems like something 
worth sharing.

Comment by Robert Love on January 31, 20:41

RAD Studio Update Subscription

What's happened to the recharge program introduced 
last year? It's not even mentioned anywhere on the 
EMB's web-site.

Comment by Andrew on February 2, 12:49

RAD Studio Update Subscription

Yes, I want this subscription. Where can I buy it?

Comment by Gerhard Eichhorn on February 2, 14:32

RAD Studio Update Subscription

 I have been on Maintenance for many years, and its
been an excellent service. With the level of
complexity today, maybe 5 support incidents would be
better.  Not complaining.  We get looked after well.

Comment by Al. [http://www.altor.com.au] on February 2, 21:41

RAD Studio Update Subscription

Hi Gerhard Eichhorn,

Ask your Embarcadero sales rep.  

We asked the question to Embarcadero Sales, and they 
gave us two options: The one was to wait for XE8 and 
purchase it at the upgrade price along with 
purchasing the Update Subscription, and the second 
option(which is not available on the online store) 
was to purchase right now the Update Subscription(and 
only given a few days to make up our decision), which 
will be backdated to when we purchased XE7(so for us 
it means that it will expire in September 2015, since 
we purchased XE7 in September 2014).

Plead your case to the sales rep and good luck.

Comment by Daniel Rail [http://www.filopto.com] on February 5, 12:38

RAD Studio Update Subscription

We have purchased Delphi XE6 Ent on June 2014 for 
$2499 (Full Price), then Recharged to XE7 for $741 on 
Dec 2014.
So will we able to get the XE8 (when it released) 
with only this new Update Subscription price?

Comment by Jeyakumar [] on March 2, 06:29

RAD Studio Update Subscription

Hi Marco,

Been buying your books for years! :-) Been using
Delphi since version 4, and developed in Turbo Pascal
back in the DOS days.

I am hoping you can help me ... I upgraded to Delphi
Seattle 10 yesterday. On top of the IDE, I am now told
there is an update available, but it looks like it is
for subscribers only. I did not take the subscription
as I can not afford it right now as our currency has
gone down the tubes. but surely if  I bought the
program yesterday, I should have gotten the latest
version, with whatever bug fixes, especially as this
update one came out last year?

Many thanks

Comment by Andrew on February 3, 15:46

RAD Studio Update Subscription

Andrew, while we are strongly suggesting to buy also Update 
Subscription, for its many benefits including long term updates to the 
product, the Update 1 should be made available to anyone buying 
now. Contact sales or the partner you bought from... or follow up 
with me over email.

Comment by Marco Cantu [http://www.marcocantu.com] on February 5, 07:49

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