Adobe moves Creative Suite software to online only

Staff , Reuters 06 May 2013

Adobe announced the changes on its website Monday.

Adobe Systems said upgrades for its flagship software package, which includes Photoshop, Illustrator and Flash, would be available only through online subscriptions, effective immediately.

Adobe is the latest traditional software company to make a big bet on the cloud-based subscription model pioneered by companies such as Salesforce.com, NetSuite and Google.

Subscription models bring in less money upfront as payment is spread over the entire period of use unlike traditional packaged software, but typically ensure more predictable recurring revenue.

Upgrades will be available only through online subscriptions from June 17, a company executive said on Monday at an annual conference, where Adobe showcases its latest products.

"Hundred percent of what we do moving forward will be in Creative Cloud, there will be no more Creative Suite, there will be no new version of Creative Suite," said Scott Morris, senior marketing director of Creative Cloud.

Creative Suite 6, launched in June 2011, combines software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Flash and Dreamweaver that are used by professional designers.

Creative Cloud helps customers access the Creative Suite software package through online subscriptions.

Customers can buy a Creative Cloud subscription for $74.99 on a monthly basis and $49.99 per month for an annual subscription.

The Creative Suite 6 Master Collection, which includes all Creative Suite tools, is priced at $2,599, an amount that could buy more than four years worth of Creative Cloud annual subscriptions.

"This is a shift that we've been looking at for quite some time," David Wadhwani, Senior Vice President, Digital Media, told Reuters in an interview.

"We plan to continue to support and sell Creative Suite 6 and customers can continue to purchase that for the foreseeable future," he said.

While the existing design programs will still be sold for a license fee, which customers buy once and can use for years without making extra payments, those software won't get the newer functionalities, Adobe executives said.

Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters.

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As with many new announcements, there seem to be some contradictions in what Adobe says here. Maybe I can figure it out if I study hard.

"there will be no more Creative Suite, there will be no new version of Creative Suite," said Scott Morris,"

"David Wadhwani, Senior Vice President, Digital Media, told Reuters in an interview.
"We plan to continue to support and sell Creative Suite 6 and customers can continue to purchase that for the foreseeable future,"

????

Given what they've done to a couple of their programs, it might be an advantage NOT TO GET any updates, but that's probably sort of a personal thing.

We do have a few people who have indicated they use some rather dated PS versions. They might like to take a look at what they'd have paid at $50/month so they can brag about how much they've saved. ???????

John