That’s an easy question, and one we’re happy to answer. The new version of DMP FLO Suite is not for free, but you’re already paying. All new features (including the updates of the components, such as InDesign Server CS4) are included in that maintenance.
New DMP FLO Suite features
Not only are the new features included in the maintenance, but we’re also adding some updated and new contentFLO applications. The standard web2print, the corrections workflow, and several more will be coming over the next weeks and months. We try to make these applications as configurable as possible, so no programming or implementation projects are needed to start using them if you feel that the standard functionalities suffice.
InDesign Server CS4
Adobe InDesign Server comes with a maintenance contract as well, which is part of the DMP FLO Suite maintenance fees. So all updates are included as well. Update whenever you feel your prepress department is ready!
Enfocus Switch
While the configurator and new features for Enfocus Switch are free for all customers, we can’t give away Switch itself. You will need a license to automate prepress workflows. But if you already have Enfocus Switch running, you can start integrating it with the FLO Suite right away, without additional costs.
Elpical Claro
In the case of Elpical Claro Single, we really didn’t have much choice. eRez was taken out of the stores, so we had to replace it with something to keep our digital asset management system operational. And we even managed to do this without additional costs for existing customers. We will be making considerably less on your maintenance fee for 2009, but we feel it is worth it to guarantee that you don’t loose any functionalities.
Callas pdfToolbox
We even went further than that. We added a new component to the DMP FLO Suite, and are making it available immediately to all existing customers. The cost of this will be carried by your maintenance fee as well. We won’t always be able to add external applications without an additional cost for existing customers, but in the case of pdfToolbox we felt that it was worth the additional cost for us. This way, we don’t have to distribute an “optional” extension to the FLO Suite functionalities which we want to use in the future to support a lot of different applications and workflows.