[3336] in comp.os.os2.announce archive
Q&A about IBM's New Subscription Offering
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Timothy Sipples)
Sat Aug 30 20:07:27 1997
To: os2ann.DISCUSS@bloom-picayune.MIT.EDU
Date: 30 Aug 1997 15:07:00 -0400
From: tsipple@us.ibm.com (Timothy Sipples)
Reply-To: tsipple@us.ibm.com (Timothy Sipples)
Reply-to: tsipple@us.ibm.com (Timothy Sipples)
[Followups directed to comp.os.os2.misc]
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On Tuesday, August 26, IBM made several significant announcements relating to
the OS/2 Warp product family. One of these announcements introduced a new
subscription program. (For a copy of this announcement, please visit the
newsgroup comp.os.os2.announce on the Internet or link to IBM's U.S.
announcement letters at http://www.ibmlink.ibm.com/ibmlink.)
I've received several questions about this new subscription program. Most of
these questions (and their answers) appear below.
Q. Why is IBM introducing a new subscription program?
A. Actually, the program is not new. IBM has for years offered the "Upgrade
Protection Option," part of the IBM Software Advantage volume licensing
agreement for PC software. Under Software Advantage, discounts are provided
if you purchase a lot (approximately U.S. $10,000 or more) of IBM software.
Feature enhancements introduced under the IBM Software Choice program are
provided at no charge to those who have Upgrade Protection.
However, participating in the Upgrade Protection program has, of course, meant
doing $10,000 or more of PC software business with IBM. Not everyone falls in
that category. To address the needs of individual users of OS/2 Warp family
products, a subscription program has been announced with terms and conditions
similar to the Upgrade Protection Option. Software developers, independent
support and training workers, small businesses, and individual users all now
have access to IBM Software Choice enhancements at a reasonable price.
Q. Suppose I purchase the subscription plan for OS/2 Warp Version 4. Do I
automatically get OS/2 Warp Version 5 at no charge?
A. Probably. It's important to note that the subscription plan is a lot like
buying insurance. You automatically get any new version(s) (could be more
than one!) and feature enhancements introduced for the product(s) you cover
under the plan. You're covered for a two year period (at the end of which you
can renew). You get any UNANNOUNCED products -- you have to be on the plan
prior to the official announcement of any new version in order to get it.
(However, you can sign up for the subscription plan at any time and get all
IBM Software Choice enhancements for your product.)
Although there are no guarantees (as they say in the investment business,
"Past performance is no guarantee of future results"), IBM customers who have
purchased the Upgrade Protection Option have usually reduced the cost they'd
otherwise face in version upgrades.
Q. There are two prices listed ($249 and $149) for OS/2 Warp 4. Which do I
get?
A. Like OS/2 Warp Version 4 itself, there's a "program package" subscription
plan and an "additional license." The higher price reflects CD-ROM
shipment(s). Any enhancements (usually major versions) that cannot be easily
distributed electronically will be provided on CD-ROM by direct shipment.
Unless you need more than one CD-ROM copy, if you have more than one copy of
OS/2 Warp 4 you can just buy one "program package" subscription plan and
whatever number of "additional license" subscription plans you need to cover
your remaining copies.
Q. Are these list prices? Do dealers have different prices?
A. Yes. They are Suggested Retail Prices. Your IBM Software dealer may
indeed offer a different price (and IBM encourages you to contact your
dealer). Although the subscription plan is administered by IBM, we expect
that most regular IBM Software dealers will offer it for sale.
Q. What does it mean that feature enhancements require "OS/2 Warp plus
appropriate FixPack"?
A. IBM may release certain feature enhancements under Software Choice that
require a particular FixPack level to operate correctly. These FixPacks are
available at no charge from the IBM Software Support homepage at
http://ps.software.ibm.com.
Q. I saw "Copy and Use on Home/Portable Computer: No" in the subscription
plan announcement. Does that mean that the subscription plan is not available
for home users of OS/2 Warp?
A. No. That's simply a reminder that, like OS/2 Warp itself, you can't copy
software from work and bring it home (or vice versa) without paying for it.
Q. Is the subscription plan available for OS/2 Warp Server? For IBM's new
WorkSpace On-Demand?
A. Yes indeed.
Q. Is the subscription plan available for other IBM software products?
A. Typically not. (There are a couple exceptions, notably IBM Antivirus.)
IBM has chosen to offer this plan, along with Software Choice, especially for
users of OS/2 Warp family products.
Q. Is the subscription plan available outside the U.S.?
A. Yes, although the exact terms and conditions will vary depending on the
country you live in.
Q. Do I get a password to the IBM Software Choice web site when I purchase
the subscription plan?
A. Yes! There's a return card provided to get a password. (Refer to the
official announcement for details.)
Q. Can I get my money back if IBM doesn't release the feature enhancement(s)
or version(s) I'm looking for?
A. Beyond the standard return policy (30 days) for all IBM software products,
no. (Again, it's like buying insurance.)
Q. If IBM introduces a derivative product which is not a clear version
upgrade, do I get that product?
A. Maybe. In the past, IBM has usually offered a no charge or reduced charge
"switchover" for customers participating in the Upgrade Protection Option.
Q. Do I get Netscape Communicator Version 4 for OS/2 Warp if I sign up for
the subscription plan?
A. Yes! (It's listed as one of the forthcoming IBM Software Choice items.)
Q. If I'm eligible for Software Advantage, should I get this subscription
plan or the Upgrade Protection Option?
A. Get the Upgrade Protection Option, since that counts toward your volume
discounts. (Note that the IBM Software Advantage program is now also
available for educational institutions.)
Q. Do I have to purchase subscription plans for all my systems?
A. No. You can choose any number of systems you wish to have covered -- just
purchase that number of subscription plans.
Q. Bottom line, is the subscription plan worthwhile?
A. That depends. If you tend to lag a version behind, upgrade slowly, have
little interest in new feature enhancements (especially Internet features),
and/or space your software upgrades years apart, the subscription plan may not
be for you. Otherwise, users of OS/2 Warp family products who are not
otherwise eligible for the Upgrade Protection Option should seriously consider
signing up for the subscription plan.
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