The wait is almost over! Sage Timeslips 2017 is set to be released no later than July 2016. All future annual releases will continue to be available between June and July. They announced the new database platform Firebird which all future releases will also be built on. Once released, BDE (Borland Database Engine) will be retiring and sold as a perpetual product not tied to any subscription. Sage Timeslips 2017 and Firebird are fully supported on Windows 7, 8, and 10. The good news is customers are able to purchase the product and licenses just as they have before, so nothing is changing in that aspect. For those with Sage Premium, it will be sold as a subscription and now has limited feature sets. Remember, if a subscription lapse, data will be available in a read-only mode, so don’t lapse. SR 6 is also available for download now.
The conversion process from BDE to Firebird is essentially seamless. Firebird, Timeslips Premium, and Timeslips 2017 are self-contained platform that makes the conversion process simple, fast, and easy. Customers that are on a subscription basis currently, can transition to the perpetual product at any time.
It’s the first time Sage is releasing its annual perpetual product with new features, functionality, and enhancements through a service release. Customers on Premium that are billing through subscription will also have the availability to have the features and functionality throughout the year, as the updates are available. Customers on Sage Timeslips 2017 or the perpetual addition will have to upgrade on an annual basis to take advantage of new features. They will receive ‘fixes’ throughout the year with regard to updates.
Quick Bill and Calculated Fields on invoices will NOT be available features on Sage Timeslips 2017.
Sage Timeslips 2017 perpetual addition and subscription have 2 features that set them apart. In the future, it’s expected there will be many more features that separate the two.
Customers can purchase the product and additional licenses just as they have before. Sage Business Care will be the only Sage support available. 30-day support is offered to new perpetual customers.
Another change, perpetual customers are able to purchase electronic billing and own it outright. Subscription customers are able to subscribe to electronic billing by monthly fee or a discounted annual fee.
They also announced they are in the process of changing the way product feedback is currently handled through the database to Sage City. This will allow for the community of Sage users to provide feedback, support issues, and suggestions as a whole.
Note, Sage Timeslips 2014 will be unsupported as of August 31, 2016. For support and training on all versions of Sage Timeslips software www.timeslipssupport.com or call 800.766.6770