We began notifying users about Sage’s plans to incorporate select Extended Solutions (a catalog of program code modifications written or acquired by Sage to enhance the capabilities of MAS 90 and MAS 200) titles into the version 4.4 release a few weeks ago. Sage has started to notify users with Extended Solutions directly, detailing their intentions and plans:

• The Extended Solutions title(s) that you own is among those that have been retired
• We have already incorporated many popular titles into the core product, either as additional features or a new module, such as Paperless Office and Direct Deposit that were added in 4.3
• If you are not on the current release, version 4.3, and own a title(s) such as Paperless Office that is available in the core 4.3 product – please note that the separate titles that support older versions have been retired
• You’ll continue to receive Compatibility and Product Updates for Sage MAS 90 or 200 version 4.3 until 11/1/2010, and while you remain on Plan, you’ll also continue to receive Customer Support for your title until 11/1/2010
• Year-End updates will be provided for Extended Solutions titles on version 4.3 through year-end 2009
• If you aren’t currently on version 4.3, and have plans to upgrade, you’ll be able to request your Extended Solutions 4.3 title updates through your Business Partner or Sage Sales Advisor team until 11/1/2010
• In future releases and product updates, you’ll get more value in the core product as we incorporate features and functionality from a select group of Extended Solution titles, such as ACH Electronic Payment for Accounts Payable
• Please note that during the phase-in process of Extended Solution features over the next few product updates and releases, Sage will be focusing on incorporating those features into the core product, and therefore we will not bring Extended Solutions titles up to compatibility with the 4.4 release

For the most part, this is exactly what we expected: Sage is simplifying their product line and giving users more value for the price of their annual subscription/maintenance agreement. You can see all of the titles Sage is bringing forward here.

Those titles that will not be incorporated into version 4.4 updates will be retired and made available to a select group of preferred development partners that have access to the source programming code and are capable of bringing the titles into compatibility with the 4.4 releases.  Over the course of the twenty years we have been in business, we have worked several of these partners and are pleased to see their inclusion on this list; they are each known for delivering reliable modifications.

The detail we had not been previously notified about was the November 1, 2010 date which is the last day to request software copies, download compatibility and product updates or receive support directly from Sage (we will continue servicing these systems). Said plainly, you will be well served to engage your reseller/service team and developer so you can upgrade to version 4.4.

Which Extended Solutions are you using and what do you think about Sage’s plan to bring them online as a standard feature?