Ips Pricing Comparison, old vs new policy Options

[NickTheGreek]

There just seemed to be a little confusion here and there about pricing so i made this list for myself but thought i'd share it here for reference.<br><br>I wasn't entirely sure about the switchover date. However, the date of October 1, 2006 was officially stated over at the invisionpower.com forums in reference to a deadline date for upgrading Yearly licenses. So when that date is referenced here i have added "ttbomk". (i.e. To the best of my knowledge)<br><br>Anything else that i was unsure on was either left blank or has question marks. I was able to fill in 'most' of the data for the purposes of this topic however.<br><br>It seems that people are also a little confused over pricing for 'used' licenses. If i could play forecaster for just a moment... I doubt that we will see Yearly Licenses change in price very much at all on the second hand market until after the price change and obviously only with licenses that are still active. Even then i don't think it will be all that much. Even though the new Standard License is more expensive, the renewals add up to a cheaper rate than Yearly Licenses. I'm sure that won't stop people from trying to get higher rates now though. I think that the Perpetual License package will raise a little more second hand before the new price changes, but i still don't think the price change will have too large of an effect until after the new packages. We will prolly only see a greater rise in second hand prices then. We saw a similar trend with the Lifetime Licenses. Though again, i'm sure that won't stop people from trying to get higher rates now. <img src="http://forums.invisionize.com/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" emoid=":P" alt="tongue.gif" border="0"> <br><br>The new pricing and packages date is fast approaching th0. So if you need a license and want the old pricing... new or used, now is the time.<br><br>Anyhow, here is everything i could gather consolidated into one place. I hope it helps at least someone. <img src="http://forums.invisionize.com/style_emoticons/default/thumbsup.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" emoid=":thumbsup:" alt="thumbsup.gif" border="0"> <br><br><u><b>New Pricing:</b></u> <i>(Beginning October 1, 2006 ttbomk)</i><ul><b>* IP.Board Standard License - $149.00 / optional 6 month renewal at $25.00</b><ul>+ Includes 6 months of support and upgrades with 30 days phone support<br> + Two business day guaranteed ticket response time<br> + One installation of the software included<br> + Major software upgrades installed within 5 days of request<br> + Minor upgrades via easy upgrade pack</ul> <b>* IP.Board Business License - $299.00 / optional 6 month renewal at $50.00</b><ul>+ Includes 6 months of support, upgrades, and phone support<br> + One business day ticket response time<br> + One installation of the software included<br> + Major and minor software upgrades installed within 3 days of request</ul> <b>* IP.Board Enterprise License - Contact Us</b><ul>+ Pricing and options vary based on needs<br> + Support available 24 hours a day with response time SLA available</ul> <b>* IP.Gallery - $65.00 / optional 1 year renewal at $??.??</b><ul>+ Includes 1 year of support, downloads and upgrades</ul> <b>* IP.Blog - $50.00 / optional 1 year renewal at $??.??</b><ul>+ Includes 1 year of support, downloads and upgrades</ul> <b>* IP.Community Suite - $249.00 (Regular $264, Save $15)/ optional 6 month renewal at $25.00 <u>(per license unknown???)</u></b><ul>+ IP.Board Standard License<br> + IP.Gallery<br> + IP.Blog</ul> <b>* IP.Board Copyright Output Removal License - $???.??</b><ul>+</ul></ul><u><b>Old Pricing:</b></u> <i>(Ending October 1, 2006 ttbomk except for Lifetime which is long gone)</i><ul><b>* IP.Board Lifetime License - $185.00</b><ul>+ Includes lifetime support, downloads and upgrades</ul> <b>* IP.Board Perpetual License - $185.00 / optional 1 year renewal for support at $30</b><ul>+ Includes 1 year of support, lifetime downloads and upgrades</ul> <b>* IP.Board Yearly License - $69.95 / optional 1 year renewal at $69.95</b><ul>+ Includes 1 year of support, downloads and upgrades</ul> <b>* IP.Gallery - $65.00 / optional 1 year renewal at $65.00</b><ul>+ Includes 1 year of support, downloads and upgrades</ul> <b>* IP.Blog - $50.00 / optional 1 year renewal at $50.00</b><ul>+ Includes 1 year of support, downloads and upgrades</ul> <b>* IP.Board Copyright Output Removal License - $275.00</b><ul>+</ul></ul><u><b>Existing Customers of old License Packages:</b></u><ul><b>* Existing IP.Board Lifetime License Holders</b><ul>+ There is no change to your service.</ul> <b>* Existing IP.Board Perpetual License Holders</b><ul>+ There is no change to your service.</ul> <b>* Existing IP.Board Yearly License Holders</b><ul>1. You can contact customer service and upgrade to a perpetual license for $115.05 before the new pricing starts. <i>(October 1, 2006 ttbomk)</i><br> 2. You can do nothing and roll into the new Standard License structure and terms. That will happen like this:<ul>+ After the new pricing starts, <i>(October 1, 2006 ttbomk)</i> when you login to your client area your Yearly License will then read Standard License. This is just a change to your package name for internal tracking - don't panic<br> + You will notice the renewal date is set exactly the same as it was before.<br> + On your expiration date you will <u>not</u> receive your Yearly renewal of $69.95 - instead you will receive an invoice for $25 but that will renew for 6 months.</ul></ul></ul><u><b>Sources:</b></u><ul>* <a href="http://forums.invisionpower.com/index.php?showtopic=226814" target="_blank">forums.invisionpower.com (Coming Soon: Invision Power Board 2.2)</a><br>* <a href="http://forums.invisionpower.com/index.php?showtopic=226971" target="_blank">forums.invisionpower.com (New Pricing Simply Explained)</a><br>* <a href="https://www.invisionpower.com/customer/order.php?shop_cat=1,3,4" target="_blank">invisionpower.com (Invision Power Services Invision Power Customer Center)</a></ul><br><br>Please feel free to help plug in any missing or unknown info if you are able. <img src="http://forums.invisionize.com/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" emoid=";)" alt="wink.gif" border="0">

[source]Invisionize[/source]

[NickTheGreek]

So anyway, let's recap on some scenarios

1) I have a Yearly, it expires BEFORE the changes take effect. How do the changes affect me?
1a) You will need to either renew your Yearly at the current rate ($69.95) BEFORE the change, or you will need to buy a Standard at $149. If your license isn't active at the changeover time, it is not eligible for upgrade.

2) I have a Yearly, which expires AFTER the changes take effect. How do the changes affect me?
2a) You have two options. You can either upgrade it (before Oct 1st) to a Perpetual for the difference (~$110) or you can simply do nothing. If you do nothing, your license will automagically become a Standard license with no upfront cost, saving you ~$80 upfront! You will then be able to renew it at Standard prices ($25/6mo) rather than your old pricing of $69.95/yr.

3) I have discounted Yearlies (bulk buying, the short term 2004 Sale, etc) that expire after the change. How will this affect me?
3a) A bit of a bummer, but you'll be converted to the new Standard as well. If your discount is due to bulk buying, you have two other licenses at full price, so evened out you do still save. If you got it from the sale, then your support will cost about the same (from memory, the 2004 Sale was $49), so no real changes for you!

4) I have a Perpetual license. How does this affect me?
4a) It doesn't. You will continue to renew in the same way, and pay the same amount. Updates are still free for the lifetime of Eternity and the Universe (or IPS, whichever dies first - I'm betting the Universe) and support is what you pay for.

5) I have a Lifetime license. How does this affect me?
5a) It doesn't. You will continue to not pay, and will enjoy the level of support guaranteed by the Standard plan - with the exception that the Lifetime license included Phone support. Go you!

6) I have Perpetual or Lifetime, what sort of support do I get now that there's two tiers?
6a) You get the same as Standard, except that Phone Support was included in the Lifetime and Perpetual description, so you will likely still receive that.

7) I currently have Blog, Gallery, Board, and Downloads. With the new Community Suite, what will I now pay?
7a) At this time, you'll still be paying for everything seperately. You should put in a ticket to Sales after the changes take effect, I am certain they will happily migrate you to the new pricing structure!

8) I have Blog, Gallery, AND/OR Downloads but don't have the Community Suite altogether. How do the changes affect me?
8a) There are no changes to the individual pricing structures. Nothing will change for you.

9) What's this about 2 days ticket response time? My board is down NOW, I need help!
9a) *laugh* The 2 days is the guaranteed response time. It doesn't mean you will always have to wait 2 days for support. If it's a slow day (not much support tickets) you will probably get served within the hour. This is actually an improvement on the old system, where you had NO guarantee of support. In fact, I still have an (open) ticket from June!

10) Do any of these new licenses include lifetime updates (ala Perpetual)?
10a) No. All new licenses (under the new licensing structure) now require 6 monthly renewal. Also see Q12, Q2, and Q4.

11) So, I have to pay more often for support then? And access to IPSB?
11a) Yes, you will need to pay 6 monthly, and will still lose access to IPSB if you don't renew. Of course, there's nothing in the system preventing you from renewing early!

12) I don't have a license, I want to get one. How does this affect me?
12a) Buy now, and they are the same as (2) and (4), so you will save by having jumped the gun. The "old school" prices are still around until IPB 2.2 is RELEASED, not when RC is out. You probably have a good month to go, but you should probably get in early anyway.

13) Woah, there! Back up, we get free telephone support with old school Perpetual and Lifetime licenses?
13a) I'm sure I'll be brutally maimed by customer service if I'm wrong, but the magic 8 ball says "more than likely" - our licenses were bought on the understanding as per IPS' standards of service at the time that Phone Support was offered as well as ticket support (see http://www.invisionpower.com/ip.dynamic/pr...rd/whyuse.html). Since everything else is remaining the same for us that already own licenses, this is unlikely to change - because IPS is cool like that.

14) What what what? You mention Telephone Support as if we don't get it with the new licenses!
14a) Yes. About that. The new Standard license includes 30 days Telephone Support. After that, Ticket Centre for you! The Business license includes 6 months (so life of agreement) Telephone Support. This support is only available during business hours. The exception is The Enterprise License (which is likely out of the reach of the majority of us poor folks, so I've made it a proper noun) includes Service Level Agreement guaranteed 24/7 Telephone Support for the lifetime of the contract.


Also for those who have access to IPS Forums, you may find this thread;
http://forums.invisionpower.com/index.php?showtopic=226825 handy regarding questions probably already asked in releation to the new pricing

[source]IPS[/source]