Product Lifecycle Policy
Although we are very proud of our industry-leading free technical support, we do
not indefinitely provide technical support and discounted version updates for older versions
of BarTender. This page will help you plan how and when to update your software and
whether or not you want to take advantage of the significant cost-savings you get
when you include a
software maintenance agreement with your initial software purchase.
Frequency and Types of Version Updates
Major Version Updates
The typical time between major version updates varies depending on the type of update:
-
Point Release Updates, such as updating from version 9.2 to 9.3, or 9.3 to 9.4 typically occur every 5 to 9 months.*
- Full Version Updates, such as updating from version 9.4 to 10.0, usually contain more significant changes. These typically take 8 to 14 months.*
For any given Full Version Update, there are typically between 2 and 6 Point Release
Updates before the next Full Version Update occurs again.*
The cost of major version updates depends on whether or not you have a
software maintenance
agreement.
- With a software maintenance agreement, major version updates are free.
To get an upgrade, please see the Receiving Maintenance Upgrades section of the Software
Maintenance web page.
- Without a software maintenance agreement, "conventional"
update discounts apply. (Please contact your reseller for actual prices.)
Service Releases
Service releases for a specific BarTender version are published as needed. The translation
of new features into non-English languages is usually published as part of an "SR1"
service release. Additionally, there may be one or more subsequent service releases
to address possible defects. Once the next major version update is released, there
will not typically be any more service releases for the previous version of BarTender.
When you purchase a copy of BarTender, any service releases published for that version will always be
free.
End of Discounts for Conventional Version Updates
Discounts for Conventional Version Updates Typically End once Four or Five Newer Versions have been
Released
If you do not purchase a
software maintenance agreement within 90 days of the purchase of your original
software, then our discounts for "conventional" version updates apply.
When each
major version update of BarTender is released, the suggested retail price for a conventional
update of your already-purchased software typically increases by between 20% and 40% of the full retail price
of a brand new copy, depending on
whether it was a Point Release Update or a Full Version Update.* That means that, on average, once four or five "major" version updates have been
released, discounts for your older version of BarTender expire (unless you update
it sooner).
Based on the frequency and types of Major Version Updates (as described at the top
of the page), and adding in a 90
day grace period, discounts for "conventional" version updates
of BarTender usually expire completely somewhere between 2-years-2-months
and 3-years-8-months after the initial purchase. A reasonable "typical" estimate
is three years.* (If you have a
software maintenance agreement, you can take as long as you want to update
your software. However, you are still subject to the "End of Support" limitations
described below.)
At this time, the oldest version of BarTender that is eligible for discounts when updating
is
9.2.
However, discounts
to update from this version expire very soon:
May 31, 2012
. Thereafter, the oldest updatable version of BarTender will become
9.3.
End of Support
Technical Support for BarTender Continues for Four Years after the Next Version
is Released
After you purchase BarTender, once the next major version of BarTender is released,
the "End of Support" countdown for your version begins. You will have another four
years in which to receive Technical Support. After that, you can only get support
by updating to a newer version of BarTender. (There is nothing keeping you from
using your copy of BarTender beyond the End of Support deadline -- you just won't
be able to get Technical Support for it anymore.)
At this time, the oldest versions of BarTender that are still supported are 9.00 - 9.1
and support for these is set to expire on July 01, 2014.
Thereafter, the oldest supported version of BarTender will be
9.2.
How to Stay Informed
Just Make Sure You Register!
To receive proper notification about new software releases, as well as announcements about "End of Discounted Updates"
and "End of Support," just make sure that you provide a proper e-mail
address when you register your copy of BarTender.
*Policies on maintenance and upgrades are subject to change. The typical times given
between software releases and the described changes in the price of version updates
after each release are given as good faith estimates that could change in the future.