Updated: May 2017
The software companies of world has decided the answer to that question is yes. I first heard about subscription licenses from Adobe back in 2013. Then Microsoft followed. For good or bad, whether we like it or not, it's here to stay.
I've had a crash course in subscription licensing this last year when PTC started offering subscription licenses for Arbortext software.
For some customers, it's the absolute right choice. For the project-based services companies who need it to fulfill a contract, a one-year license is a real plus. The economics of services companies are very different from product companies. Margins are razor thin and when you only need a product for a little while, getting a temporary license for the length of your product can really boost your profitability.
Subscription licensing also changes the way the business categorizes the expense. Be sure to consult your business leaders to find out if this style of licensing is something they're looking for.
PTC wrote an article about their subscription licensing. If you're an Arbortext customer, it's worth reading. Even though they frequently only mention Creo as the example, you should know that all the same information applies to Arbortext subscription licenses. All Arbortext products now have subscription license pricing available.
Update
PTC announced that they are moving to all-subscription licensing starting January 2018. We've discovered that there are a few new packages available because of the new subscription focus that are of benefit to small businesses. Contact us if you want to learn more.
Low Total Cost of Ownership
Arbortext pricing is competitive with leading technical documentation products for DITA and XML authoring tools.
Key Concepts:
news, release notes, techcomm tools
I have had ISODraw for many years. Can I transfer ISODraw from my old computer to my new computer?
You can transfer the license through the license management application on the PTC Website. If you have an old perpetual license (not subscription) and no active maintenance contract, you will need to pay maintenance up to current first. Contact PTC to get the license transferred to the new computer.