Unused Software Activation Keys Are Waiting for Some Customers

Why haven’t you activated your new software activation key?

First, let’s recap for the past three years…

As of January 2017, we changed everything about this company – its leadership, putting customers first in support and development, and our approach to software development.

In the past three years, we have the following completed work:

• 624 development requests entered prior to Jan 2017 were closed after Jan 2017
• 232 development requests entered prior to Jan 2017 remain open (119 defects; 113 enhancement requests)
• 191 open defects currently in the system (the majority of them are minor)

I would be remiss if I didn’t thank our wonderful team of developers who have done such fantastic work since January 2017.

That said…

Your New Software Activation Key is Waiting for You

We moved onto a new software activation key platform in July of 2019. The “legacy” system was a source of customer dissatisfaction. We had outgrown it years prior.

We created new keys for all customers as of July 2019. The keys were emailed to these customers via email in early July 2019.

In the past 3 years, about 60% of our customers have activated these new keys (this number is inclusive of the growth of about 25% per year in customers since then).

That means that 40% of our customers HAVE NOT activated their new key. Why?

I get email all the time from people who say, “Hi! I purchased your software back in 2013 and thinking about trying the latest version. Do I need to buy the software again?”

The answer is, “No! Once you’ve bought the software once, you never have to buy the software again.”

I’ve been trying to spread the word about this for several years now (more than three).

Recently, we had our eCommerce provider (UltraCart) make a change that prevents previous customers from buying the software. When they attempt it, they get redirected to the cheaper upgrade purchase.

Important – if you’ve purchased from us… EVER… you’re entitled to the most recent version of Ham Radio Deluxe. That’s how you get bug fixes, performance improvements, and minor enhancements. What you’re not entitled to is direct access to our tech support and significant features released since the expiration of your Software Maintenance and Support.

The point of this story isn’t to describe how the purchase and Software Maintenance and Support works. If you need that explanation, click HERE.

The point of this story is this…

If you’ve purchased this software in the past… prior to July 2019… a new software activation key was created for you in our new system. You are ENTITLED to activate that key. You are always ENTITLED to be running the latest version of Ham Radio Deluxe (you are not expected to stick with the version that was current when you made your purchase). You’re entitled to all the fixes and improvements made to the software – past, present, and future.

What are you waiting for?

If you don’t have your new software activation key, go here https://keyretrieval.hamradiodeluxe.com and retrieve it using the email address used for your last purchase.

[The activation key is attached to your email address. The installation is attached to your callsign.]

If you’ve changed email addresses, let us help you with that at https://support.hamradiodeluxe.com

Once you have your new key, go download the software from https://www.hamradiodeluxe.com

If you want access to feature enhancements or our technical support team, you will always have the option to purchase the Software Maintenance and Support renewal. It will always be 50% of the full purchase prices. But don’t let the fact that your Software Maintenance and Support has expired prevent you from moving to the latest version of Ham Radio Deluxe.

You deserve it.

Mike, WA9PIE, VK4EIE