Can someone explain the value in Software Insurance?

[Vocalpoint]

I am considering my upgrade from SBPro v10 to SBProv11 and I am always struck by the inclusion of "Software Assurance" during checkout.

When I see my price to upgrade - it is $42.00 CDN. If history is any indicator - approx 2 years will pass until the next major upgrade and the cycle will begin again. To be clear - as a Syncback user for at least 10 years now - I have NEVER seen a major upgrade come out with any less frequency than approx 2 years.

Which brings me to Software Assurance. For my current upgrade - I see $42.00 CDN for the V10 to V11 license and then the option to drop another $20.95 CDN for Software Assurance - which states this will cover me to Aug 4, 2024.

Firstly - what exactly do I get (between now and Aug 4, 2024) for prepaying this extra $20.95? Except for a $62.95 upgrade price? I am almost 100% confident that will NOT be a SBPro v12 dropping any time before Aug 4, 2024. And it appears that I will be charged ANOTHER 20.95 on Aug 4, 2024 to presumably carry me through to Aug 4, 2025 - a timeframe in which we may actually see a new version of SBPro drop.

But - when we finally arrive at the release of SBPro v12 (Summer 2025 for arguments sake) - and (if history holds) my price is still $42.00 to upgrade - what is the point of "prepaying" for two years? The end game is the same - except for the the part about keeping $42.00 in my pocket until Aug 2025.

Is the only true value in this "assurance" - the unlikely possibility that the upgrade price of SBPro skyrockets pass $42.00 by the time we get to Aug 4, 2025?

If anyone can clearly show me why this is a thing - I would appreciate it.

Cheers

VP

[john006]

I am considering my upgrade from SBPro v10 to SBProv11 and I am always struck by the inclusion of "Software Assurance" during checkout.

When I see my price to upgrade - it is $42.00 CDN. If history is any indicator - approx 2 years will pass until the next major upgrade and the cycle will begin again. To be clear - as a Syncback user for at least 10 years now - I have NEVER seen a major upgrade come out with any less frequency than approx 2 years.

Which brings me to Software Assurance. For my current upgrade - I see $42.00 CDN for the V10 to V11 license and then the option to drop another $20.95 CDN for Software Assurance - which states this will cover me to Aug 4, 2024.

Firstly - what exactly do I get (between now and Aug 4, 2024) for prepaying this extra $20.95? Except for a $62.95 upgrade price? I am almost 100% confident that will NOT be a SBPro v12 dropping any time before Aug 4, 2024. And it appears that I will be charged ANOTHER 20.95 on Aug 4, 2024 to presumably carry me through to Aug 4, 2025 - a timeframe in which we may actually see a new version of SBPro drop.

But - when we finally arrive at the release of SBPro v12 (Summer 2025 for arguments sake) - and (if history holds) my price is still $42.00 to upgrade - what is the point of "prepaying" for two years? The end game is the same - except for the the part about keeping $42.00 in my pocket until Aug 2025.

Is the only true value in this "assurance" - the unlikely possibility that the upgrade price of SBPro skyrockets pass $42.00 by the time we get to Aug 4, 2025?

If anyone can clearly show me why this is a thing - I would appreciate it.

Cheers

VP

While the initial cost may seem higher with Software Assurance, it could save you money in the long run if major upgrades are released frequently. If the upgrade price for SyncBackPro increases significantly in the future, you would have already secured your upgrades at a lower cost.

[davidenos]

In your case, if you purchase the Upgrade Assurance subscription for $20.95 CDN, you will be covered until August 4, 2024, and you will not have to pay for upgrade fees when SyncBackPro v12 is released (if it is released before August 4, 2024). If SyncBackPro v12 is released after August 4, 2024, you will need to purchase another Upgrade Assurance subscription to receive the upgrade for free.

[Vocalpoint]

While the initial cost may seem higher with Software Assurance, it could save you money in the long run if major upgrades are released frequently. If the upgrade price for SyncBackPro increases significantly in the future, you would have already secured your upgrades at a lower cost.

Yeah - I thought I had already mentioned that no major upgrade has ever come out "frequently". It's two years for certain and without fail.

This still makes no sense to me.

VP

[Jason Henry]

Hi VP, Software Assurance ensures you get future SyncBackPro upgrades at a fixed price, protecting against potential price increases. It provides cost predictability and ensures continuous access to new features and improvements until the specified date.

[Vocalpoint]

Hi VP, Software Assurance ensures you get future SyncBackPro upgrades at a fixed price, protecting against potential price increases. It provides cost predictability and ensures continuous access to new features and improvements until the specified date.

This would make sense too - if the price actually spiked.

But the delta between what you would add on for Software Assurance and the "real" price of the next upgrade (which is always very attractive) does not compute. I suppose if the upgrade price went from $34.00 CDN (my last one) to $100 CDN - then yes - SA would make sense.

But that has never happened and if it did - I would simply stay on my latest version of SBP (at that increase time) - and not upgrade.

SA still makes no sense for this software.

VP