Adobe quietly removes Adobe Acrobat XI from the price list

Adobe quietly removes Adobe Acrobat XI from the price list

Adobe has recently (not) announced that Adobe Acrobat XI is no longer available on the CLP price list. Instead, they have released a new version that is called ‘Acrobat DC’. Adobe Channel Sources have advised us;

“it is possible to downgrade as long as you have access to a historical serial key for deployment of additional seats of Acrobat XI.  There is no formal process for downgrading you just need to ensure that you have enough licenses to cover the total amount of deployed licenses for version XI and DC”.

The comment from our Channel Source has made us think that the changes will not immediately affect any deployments of Adobe Acrobat, but they may have an impact in the future. However, if customers are looking to upgrade to the latest version of Adobe Acrobat, they will have to purchase the new version (Acrobat DC) at an increased price. It is also worth noting that Acrobat DC shares functionality with the current Creative Cloud version of Acrobat, and still has compatibility with Adobe CC products.

Adobe’s business model

Our source in the Channel is concerned that Adobe’s business model is moving towards cutting out the channel, and focusing more on a direct model. Either way, it does not bode well that they have not communicated these changes to professionals whose job it is to help Adobe customers manage, maximise and purchase licenses. How are partners in the channel supposed to support their customers, which are ultimately customers of Adobe?

Reaction

There are no doubts that the Campaign for Clear Licensing will pick up on the news of another vendor not communicating licensing changes to customers.  As they are currently working on making Oracle licensing clearer, recent stories about Adobe and a lack of communication/help surely mean that Adobe are high on their list of vendors to tackle.

Personally, we think that vendors need to ensure that they communicate ANY licensing changes clearly and through the correct channels. Adobe have already ruffled a few feathers with the move to subscription based licensing, and not helping users upgrade/migrate to the new licensing model, so why then annoy customers and partners further? We hammer home the fact that communication is an integral part of ITAM, and we think that vendors are one of the biggest culprits of not providing the communication and education that customers deserve and need.

Have your say

What do you think about the lack of communication from Adobe? How can the ITAM/Software Licensing community push vendors to communicate correctly with customers and partners? Let us know and leave a comment below.

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