RE: License Key Expiration Message & ROBOT replay

Hey Bob,

IBM sold MAPICS to Marcam at the end of 1991, with transition taking place
during 1992.  Marcam changed there name to MAPICS, Inc. in 1995.  

Any billing problems, like the one your having should be directed to Dick
Cook, CEO.  He keeps getting told that the billing systems are working.  I
assure you they haven't worked properly for many years.  If you think the
situation is bad for customers, you should try experiencing it as an
Affiliate.

As for the original discussion, the license procedures have become more
draconian for two reasons.  

1. The technology has improved on the AS/400 to better track license usage.
Unfortunately, there is still a fundamental lack of understanding about
"concurrent user" licensing.  I still have hope this will be fixed someday.

2. IBM never actually put in place software licensing.  When Marcam bought
the product from IBM, IBM had no idea who was actually using their software.
It is now 12 years since Marcam changed the product to XA and began charging
and tracking for licenses. (There was an ALF fee charged for some of the IBM
MAPICS/DB product, but was not consistent and did not impact AS/400
operations.)  You may be surprised as the number of "illegal" copies of
MAPICS that are out there.  I still run into bootlegged copies of MAPICS II
and MAPICS/DB.  Until this stops, I'm afraid MAPICS, Inc. will keep
"improving" the license methodology.  As a result, we all lose in the end.

Kevin Fox
kdfox@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Cejka [mailto:robert.cejka@xxxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: Friday, April 02, 2004 9:06 AM
To: MAPICS ERP System Discussion
Subject: RE: License Key Expiration Message & ROBOT replay

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't IBM sell Mapics in 1995?  Since 1995
we have received a CORRECT ALF invoice just 1 time.  The other years it
was either sent at the wrong time or it was for the wrong amount.  We
have received as many as 3 ALF bills in the same year.  One of them in
Yen!  It is not our paying habits that is the problem!

Bob Cejka
Sporlan Valve Company


-----Original Message-----
From: mapics-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:mapics-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
DaleGindlesperger@xxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, April 02, 2004 10:50 AM
To: MAPICS ERP System Discussion
Subject: Re: License Key Expiration Message & ROBOT replay



"But that is exactly why it is broadcast.  This was thought to be an
incentive to get the customer to buy more or settle up their debt with
MAPICS.  Yes it is annoying, but if you want it to go away, pay (at
least that is the perception).

Paola Groeber
Consultant"

Paola, I agree with that being the probable reason, and to be honest, it
does work as a tickler sometimes.  But it's still annoying..... like we
IT people need more aggravation.

What I don't like is when the message pops up before I get invoiced
(which has happened).  But as problems go, this one's pretty minor
(except for the ROBOT replay, which for some reason only impacts
sometimes).

Dale Gindlesperger
IT Manager/Special Projects Leader
Fleetwood Folding Trailers, Inc.
258 Beacon Street
Somerset, PA  15501




_______________________________________________
This is the MAPICS ERP System Discussion (MAPICS-L) mailing list To post
a message email: MAPICS-L@xxxxxxxxxxxx To subscribe, unsubscribe, or
change list options,
visit: http://lists.midrange.com/mailman/listinfo/mapics-l
or email: MAPICS-L-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Before posting, please take a moment to review the archives
at http://archive.midrange.com/mapics-l.