PhotoModeler Maintenance Agreements

A Maintenance Agreement gives you access to all major and minor software upgrades, as well as product-directed technical support by email and phone for one year. 

Key benefits

• The first year of maintenance is included free with all new licenses and upgrades.
• Users receive new features earlier – no need to wait for major upgrade versions.
• After the first free year, a maintenance agreement is optional – PhotoModeler continues to run even without an active Agreement.

Yes, the first year of Maintenance Agreement is free and is included with your purchase of full and upgrade products. After the first year, the renewal is completely optional.

When you participate in the software maintenance program, you automatically receive the newest versions of PhotoModeler software upon release at no additional cost. This allows you and your organization to keep up with the latest software technology developments, take advantage of powerful new features and usability improvements, and manage software licenses more easily.

When your Maintenance Agreement expires PhotoModeler will continue to run normally. However, once your Agreement has expired you will no longer have access to new software upgrades and updates (major/minor/fixes).  You can always download the software version that was released just before your maintenance expired. In addition, you will not have access to technical support, except for problems relating to licensing (e.g. lost your PhotoModeler license) which will always be supported for free. You will be able to download older patches and updates that were released during the time your Agreement was active. Note there is a Per-Incident Support Fee structure if you need support outside of a maintenance agreement.

Yes, all releases from version 2010 onward are still sold as perpetual licenses. You have the right to use what you have purchased for all time. Even if you do not renew your Maintenance Agreement you can continue to use your current version of PhotoModeler for as long as you want.  

There is a Subscription license too. See answer below regarding the difference.

A Maintenance Agreement provides software updates and support for Permanent Licenses.  A Subscription is a license that renews on a regular basis (monthly or yearly) and includes updates and support while the Subscription is active. 

• A Permanent License will always run, a Subscription runs only when active (regular payments monthly or yearly)
• A Subscription includes updates and support while active.
• Maintenance Agreements are for Permanent Licenses only.
• A Permanent License can get updates and support while its Maintenance Agreement is active.

Renewing a Agreement involves buying a renewal from your reseller, and using the program's Licensing Dialog to update to the new expiry when the order is complete. See Renewing Maintenance.

A one year Maintenance Agreement is included with the purchase of PhotoModeler, or purchase of an upgrade or trade up. The Agreement year starts when the software is first activated for use. Maintenance Agreement fees are paid annually in advance on a per computer basis. After the first year, the cost to renew is shown here: How to Renew PhotoModeler Maintenance.

PhotoModeler Standard and Premium have a fix price to renew up to 30 days past the date of expiry.  Paying for renewal advances the expiry date one year from the current expiry date.  After 30 days past expiry, the price increases monthly to a maximum. Paying for this  'expired renewal' advances the expiry date one year from the renewal order date.

With a Maintenance Agreement you can download and install all major and minor upgrades for your product that become available while the Agreement is active. You also receive unlimited support for product problems - these are problems such as crashes, and the program not operating as documented. You will also be entitled to receive a reasonable amount of training assistance and project-related help.  If you have more significant needs for training or project assistance please contact PhotoModeler Technologies to learn more about additional services available.

To get recent upgrades and to get support, you need to have an active Maintenance Agreement.  If you keep your maintenance up to date every year, then you pay the lowest price.  To be fair to all customers, the fees increase over time the longer your maintenance has expired. After the first year, the cost to renew is shown here: How to Renew PhotoModeler Maintenance.

Maintenance Agreement renewals are purchased from your reseller, or if you purchased directly from PhotoModeler Technologies, you will be able to buy the renewal from us directly. Once you have purchased your renewal you will receive an email from the vendor (usually within 1-2 business days) telling you the Agreement has been renewed. After receiving that email, you will press the "Renew " button in PhotoModeler's Activation dialog - this connects to PhotoModeler Technologies' activation server via the Internet to grab the renewed license file.

Yes, you can use the offline activation method of the licensing dialog to renew a Maintenance Agreement - this involves emailing or calling in with your machine ID, receiving a special code from the vendor, and typing this code into the program.

PhotoModeler's Getting Started pane and the License Management dialog show the date of expiry.

The three main reasons for Maintenance Agreements are:

1. New major features don't have to wait until the next major upgrade cycle (potentially 2 to 3 years) and instead can be released as soon as they are finished - i.e. customers get access to exciting and useful features sooner.
2. The cost to upgrade is spread out over time and is less 'peaky'.
3. To cover costs of technical support.