Q. Can I upgrade from one Edition to another?
A. Yes, you can purchase an upgrade from the Professional to Enterprise or Internet Editions or from the Enterprise to Internet Editions. All upgrades must be purchased directly from Concept Software. At the same time you upgrade, you will receive one year of additional and a subscription to download the latest version.

Q. How difficult is it to implement Protection PLUS?
A. Many factors help determine what the learning curve will be for each individual. Protection PLUS is a toolkit that must be called from within the source code of an application. This means that a software developer is the minimum skill needed for a successful implementation. While most people will simply copy and paste our sample code, understanding the code can help implement our product most successfully.

Q. What if I am too busy to activate my customers?
A. Concept Software has a companion service and product to help with your Protection PLUS-protected software distribution and activation. SoftwareKey SOLO fully allows automation to give you more time to work on other things!

Q. How often do upgrades become available? What is the cost?
A. There are generally several minor updates to Protection PLUS components per year with new features, documentation, sample code, and any required fixes. Major upgrades are generally made available every one to two years. Protection PLUS is sold with an upgrade subscription that provides either 90 days or one year of free downloadable upgrades, depending on which Edition was purchased. This subscription is renewable and provides you access to the latest version, no matter how major or minor. If your subscription expires and you wish to download a newer version, simply renew your subscription online for instant access!

Q. Does the Internet Edition include everything I need to generate activation codes from my web server?
A. No. Protection PLUS only includes client components that are shipped with your application. While the Internet Edition does include the Automation Client , which is used to automate communication between your web server and your application, SOLO Lite or SOLO Server is used on the server to generate activation codes. SOLO Lite gives you complete control over the entire online experience. Server scripting source code and a sample license database is included to jump start your development on online ordering, unlocking, and Electronic License Management. Meanwhile, SOLO Server is a complete, secure, automated method to license software and manage your business operations.

Most wrappers have very limited customization on their user interface. Therefore, it is often apparent to the end user which wrapper is being used. In addition, many wrappers have their name or logo embedded, which gives the user information on which software licensing package you are using. This can be considered too much information to give to a hacker who wants to steal your software. If you view the hacker newsgroups on the Internet, you often see conversations about specific wrappers and how to get around them, mainly because the application TELLS you which wrapper they are using! In addition, your software is becoming an advertisement for the wrapper developer.

Most wrappers only work with EXE applications - they do not work with applications that are packaged as ActiveX/COM objects or DLLs. Because PLUS is an API, it works under most of these environments.

Q. Can you compare Protection PLUS to other similar products?
A. The API (programming interface) approach built into Protection PLUS provides the ultimate in customization and flexibility. It is unique and provides options unavailable with other protection licensing schemes. Protection PLUS is also more reasonably priced than its competitors when you consider the features offered. Protection PLUS is field tested and field proven. We also provide one-on-one support to our customers to ensure your success.

Q. Can I get customized consulting services?
A. Since Concept Software has many years of software licensing and e-commerce experience, we have mastered many of the issues involved in combining these two technologies. When you license our SoftwareKey technology, you can call upon our technical team to assist you during your implementation and deployment. We have discounted rates for Protection PLUS customers. Custom service packages may be negotiated at a further discount.

Also, many of our users have expressed an interest in providing consulting services for users of various programming languages. In many cases, if we are not able to help you, we might be able to find someone who can!