Transition to EASE 5 - Questions and Answers

CONTACT

AFMG NETWORK

AFMG Download Portal

AFMG NEWS

FAQs

We are aware that the transition to a new software platform is associated with a number of questions. We have tried to address the most important ones below.

Please do not hesitate to contact our team in case you have any additional questions. We are looking forward to the exchange with you.

 

I am an EASE 4 user: Do I get an upgrade price for EASE 5?

Customers who already own a license of EASE 4 can currently purchase EASE 5 licenses at the renewal fees.

  • One-year license: Renewal Fee, 1 Year
  • Two-year license: Renewal Fee, 2 Years*

This offer is valid for every EASE 4 User Key you own. Any additional EASE 5 license must be purchased at Initial Fees. You can find an overview of all prices here: EASE 5 Versions & Prices.

After the purchase, the existing EASE 4 license remains unchanged. Additionally, a license for the new EASE 5 software is delivered.
This is not an upgrade within an existing software, but rather the purchase of a new software at a reduced price.

If you would like to receive a quote, please contact our Sales Team.

*The price for this is calculated as follows: Renewal Fee, 1 Year + Renewal Fee, 1 Year - 10 % package discount

I purchased my EASE 4 license after March 12, 2018: When will I receive my free license for EASE 5?

To help our existing EASE 4 customers make a smooth transition to the new EASE platform, AFMG has granted a free license of EASE 5 for each new commercial license of EASE 4.4 purchased between March 12, 2018 and October 3rd, 2022.

If you have purchased EASE 4 within that time period, you can call on your free license for EASE 5 at any time by just sending an email to AFMG. If you do not request your free license in the near future, it will be provided to you by AFMG automatically. Further details will be announced by email and through our regular newsletter.

Upon delivery, customers will receive a regular time limited 2 year license with the corresponding feature level*. As soon as your license term expires, the license is deactivated and you cannot continue to work with the software. The license expiration will be displayed in the software for the last 30 days of the license term and you will also receive reminder emails. To keep your license active, you have to pay a Renewal Fee. This can be done any time before the license term expires or up to 30 days after the license term has expired. After the period of 30 days the Initial Fee must be paid to activate the license again.

The existing EASE 4 license remains unchanged.

Please contact our Sales Team to initiate the delivery of your free license.

 

* EASE 4 JR -> EASE 5 JR
  EASE 4 Standard -> EASE 5 Standard
  EASE 4 Standard + AURA Module -> EASE 5 Pro
  EASE 4 Standard + EARS Module -> EASE 5 Pro
  EASE 4 Standard + AURA Module + EARS Module -> EASE 5 Pro
A higher feature level can be aquired by paying the difference between the price of a license with the higher feature level and the price of the license with the lower feature level delivered  for free.

 

Why is EASE 5 offered as a time-limited license?

With EASE 5 we have introduced time-limited licenses.

The main reason for changing the licensing model is that we want to deliver new, valuable features continuously and at a good frequency. This is a prominent expectation of many users today that we would like to fulfill. Additionally, the audio and acoustics world is innovative, the evolution of its technologies, methods and concepts requires our software to follow up.

Maintaining a software in the current IT environment, keeping it up-to-date and stable requires an on-going effort that is significant. This is not limited to the environment that the software runs in. It also applies to the environment in which the software is written, the tools it is built with as well as the platforms through which the software and related services are provided. That is the reason why nowadays most software is provided under a time-limited or subscription license.

Similarly important to us, time-limited licenses allow us to reduce the entry costs into the EASE world measurably. This makes the software more accessible for a broad range of potential users. The new concept also makes it much easier to upgrade to higher feature levels as you can switch to a different feature level at the beginning of each licensing term at no additional cost.

Finally, budgets for the software can be planned reliably as you can assume that no chargeable updates will occur within the time limit of the license. As the software is developed and provided continuously you can be sure that any necessary changes are automatically managed and distributed by AFMG at no additional cost.

What is the recommended practice for upgrading multiple licenses from EASE 4 to EASE 5?

This FAQ gives an overview of what should be taken into consideration when upgrading multiple EASE 4 licenses to EASE 5.

For how long can I still work with EASE 4?

EASE 5 has been released in October 2022 and replaces the predecessor software EASE 4.

The support for all EASE 4 licenses purchased before March 12, 2018 will end on September 30, 2025.*
The support for all EASE 4 licenses purchased on and after March 12, 2018, will end on October 31, 2026.**

This includes the following AFMG services:

  • Technical Support
    • E-mail support
    • Telephone support
       
  • Software Maintenance
    • Bugfixes for the software
    • Adaptations of the software in the event of changes to the current operating systems
       
  • Other Services
    • Transfer of license ownership
    • Updates of the EASE 4 loudspeaker database (limited support starting September 19, 2023)

Currently  all users are offered an upgrade pricing when switching to EASE 5.
Please visit our EASE 5 website to get detailed information about the new software and contact the AFMG CuS-Team if you need any assistance with the transition to EASE 5.

 

*This does not apply if feature upgrades including the AURA and EARS modules have been purchased for this license on or after March 12, 2018.
** This applies also for feature upgrades including the AURA and EARS modules that have been purchased for a license on or after March 12, 2018.

 

You want to upgrade to EASE 5?
 

Get started

Your EASE 4 license remains unchanged!