The SocketTools Subscription is a comprehensive collection of every component included with SocketTools, and is compatible with virtually every major development tool available for the Windows platform.
- What is included with the SocketTools subscription?
- What support options are available to subscribers?
- Is there an evaluation version of the subscription?
- Where can I download the current subscription installer?
- How is the subscription licensed?
- Can we purchase a subscription for the entire company?
- Can another SocketTools edition be upgraded to a subscription?
- Does the subscription provide a perpetual license?
- Are there any runtime licensing restrictions?
- What is the subscription period for support and upgrades?
- How are subscription licenses renewed?
- What happens if the subscription is not renewed?
- Do subscribers have access to older product releases?
- Are the components identical to those in individual editions?
- How are the SocketTools components redistributed?
1. What is included with the SocketTools subscription?
The SocketTools subscription is a collection of every component in each of the SocketTools editions, including .NET classes, ActiveX controls and native Windows dynamic link libraries (DLLs). The subscription also includes a one-year Priority Support contract.
It provides value to developers who are creating applications using multiple development tools and programming languages, or when projects transition from one framework to another. For example, when an application originally written in C++ is migrated to C#, or from Visual Basic 6.0 to the .NET framework.
2. What support options are available to subscribers?
Priority technical support is included with the subscription while it remains active. This entitles you to unlimited technical support by email for any installation, development, debugging and redistribution issues. Responses will be on the same business day and prioritized over standard support requests. If you report an issue which requires a coding change, a hotfix for the issue will be sent to you as soon as its available, rather than waiting for the next general update.
3. Is there an evaluation version of the subscription?
Yes. You can download a fully functional evaluation version of the SocketTools Subscription which can be used for thirty (30) days. The evaluation includes all the components and libraries available with the licensed version. The only restriction is that the evaluation license will only be valid on your development system. You will be unable to redistribute your test applications to another system.
4. Where can I download the current subscription installer?
You can download the current installer from the website, and you can always download the latest release using the link which was provided to you when you ordered SocketTools. The subscription requires a different serial number than the installers for our other editions. You will not be able to use your subscription serial number to install one of the individual SocketTools editions. If you have any questions about installing the subscription, our support team can assist you.
5. How is the subscription licensed?
The subscription is licensed per-developer, meaning each developer who is using SocketTools in their projects must have a development license. The license is not tied to a specific development system or language, so the components and libraries can be used with any type of project and can be installed for multiple development environments. For example, it could be installed on a developer's primary workstation with Visual Studio 2019, as well as a virtual machine which hosts legacy development tools such as Visual Basic 6.0.
6. Can we purchase a subscription for the entire company?
Subscription licenses are per developer, so each developer who is using SocketTools would need a development license. If a developer leaves the company, the license can be reassigned to the new developer who takes over their projects.
7. Can another SocketTools edition be upgraded to a subscription?
Yes. You can upgrade an individual SocketTools edition to a subscription license. To upgrade your license, please contact our sales team at sales@sockettools.com and they can assist you. You will need to provide the product serial number for the license you want to upgrade.
8. Does the subscription provide a perpetual license?
Yes. Once you have purchased a subscription, you are licensed to use that version of SocketTools in perpetuity. Your development license will not expire even if you do not renew your subscription. You will continue to have access to updates during the normal lifecycle of the product; however, you will not be eligible to upgrade to the next major release at the active subscription price if your subscription has lapsed.
9. Are there any runtime licensing restrictions?
There are no additional runtime licensing or redistribution royalties, and the SocketTools components you use in your applications may be redistributed to as many end-users as needed without additional cost.
10. What is the subscription period for support and upgrades?
Subscriptions are renewed annually, and reminders are emailed to you or your designated purchasing agent. Active subscriptions are eligible for priority technical support and free upgrades to all releases including major releases during that time.
11. How are subscription licenses renewed?
Approximately one month before your subscription expires, you will receive a reminder by email to renew the subscription, followed by a two-week reminder, then a one-week reminder. Renewals during this time are at a reduced price and offer the same benefits as a new subscription license. If your subscription lapses, the renewal cost increases slightly for a thirty (30) day grace period. After that, the subscription can be renewed using standard pricing.
12. What happens if the subscription is not renewed?
You will no longer be eligible for product upgrades, new products included in the subscription service, or priority technical support. You will be able to continue using the components in your applications, regardless of whether you renew your subscription. You can continue to maintain existing software and develop new software using the SocketTools components and libraries even if your subscription has not been renewed. Note, however, that you will no longer have access to new releases and priority technical support after the subscription period ends.
13. Do subscribers have access to older product releases?
We recommend using the latest releases of SocketTools, however if you have a need for a specific older version of SocketTools, that can be made available to you. The download area for subscribers includes available builds for the current version and recent prior versions. Older releases may not be supported on newer platforms, depending on the technical requirements of the platform. In many cases, upgrading to the current version will resolve technical issues which may exist with earlier versions.
14. Are the components identical to those in individual editions?
Yes. All the components included with the SocketTools subscription are identical to those in the individual editions. For example, the SocketTools.FtpClient class included with the subscription is the same assembly that is included with the SocketTools .NET Edition. The difference is the subscription license can be used with all components and libraries in SocketTools regardless of type (.NET assembly, ActiveX control or native DLL), while a single-edition license can only be used with that specific edition.
15. How are the SocketTools components redistributed?
We provide redistributable installation packages for each component type, based on whether your project was developed using the .NET classes, ActiveX controls or native Windows libraries. Although you have access to components from all three SocketTools editions, you only need to use one runtime license key. In other words, you don't need to manage three different license keys for three different products, everything is included with the subscription.