- Message sent to our RA Contract Customers -
It has been a crazy few months for me. Due to this, I know I have not been in contact with a couple of my RA Customers. It is normally my policy to not push or flood my clients' mail boxes with email. I trust my clients to know when they need me, and I try to only contact them when there is worthy news. However, some time has passed since the last email, and I feel its about time for some updates on FirstClass. I will try to keep it short. For more detailed info on any topic please contact me.
Server Updates
For the past few months, there has not been much news about FirstClass due to the delayed software release, but FirstClass v11 is now out and has been running well. The client side had a major delay, but it is now out as well. I'm recommending to all of my clients to get updated to v11 this summer. Unlike minor updates, a major update (like moving from FC v10 to FC v11) must be scheduled by the district IT Director, and it is advised that we have a phone/net meeting to go over all the aspects. For more info or to schedule this update, drop me an email. I'm looking to the early summer to push this update out and then follow up with any needed admin training. All of this is included in the RA Contract.
There have been some minor updates released to version 10 as well. I will be pushing them out (depending on your current version) in the next month. As always, this will be during off-hours and none of your staff should be affected. Bi-yearly maintenance will be performed, and if anything worthy of reporting is found I will be dropping you an email. If you have any questions or would like to go over any settings or aspects of FirstClass, please let me know. This service is included in the RA Contract.
Mobile Clients
The full FirstClass Mobile Blackberry Client is out! It includes a Mailbox, Conferences, Documents, & Communities, but does not include Calendars and Contacts. Calendars and Contacts must use the current Blackberry apps, which require syncing to FirstClass.
The Android Client is almost finished and will be out in June (we hope). It includes a Mailbox, Conferences, FirstClass Documents, Communities, The Pulse, My People, Flagged Items, & Community Invitations
A Mobile Client for the iPhone/iPod/iPad has been out, and it has been very popular. It includes a Mailbox, Conferences, FirstClass Documents, Communities, The Pulse, My People, Flagged Items, & Community Invitations
Consulting, Demos, and Meetings
Because you have our RA Contract, you are entitled to meeting time with us. So, call me! Or email me! Either way let's get together. Most of our customers really appreciate this time and find it very valuable. On-site meetings can be scheduled as well as off site net-meetings or phone meetings. Topics can include: FirstClass features and solutions, demos, best practices, mobile connectivity, hosting the district website on FC, electronic forms and workflow, productivity, or even conversations on FC vs Google.
Training
We provide all levels of training for small or large groups. Almost every training session we preform is tailored for your needs, based on your server. Schools that have had training end up really using FirstClass to its potential and end up being very happy with it. One of the key reasons for anyone to dislike FirstClass is a lack of knowledge of what it can do and how to use it. Get them trained!
Licenses Still Discounted (great time to BUY NEW LICENSES)
A deep discount on licenses is still available until June. This is a great time to snatch up some licenses. Something many are not thinking about is the fact that these cheaper licenses will have lower on-going maintenance costs. This is the time to purchase student licenses. If you are going to purchase licenses in the next your or more this is the time to make it happen.
staff licenses - $11.40/user ($1.40 yearly maintenance)
student licenses - $5.10/user ($0.51 yearly maintenance)
Archive licenses are even cheaper!
--> this really is amazing pricing for full licenses. The on-going cost is very small due to this.
Contact me right away to get a quote. These prices have an end date of June 14th (as always we can take a post-dated PO and be billed in July).
New RA Contract will be sent out in June
The new RA Contracts will be sent out in June for July Payment. This will include the next year's M&S Costs. There should be no increase to our service cost. If there are any changes or additions needed, please let me know. As always, extra days bundled to the contract are discounted. If there will be planned training or on-site service dates, make sure to let me know so we can add them. If there are changes to next year's plans, please make sure to contact me.
Out of the Office May 9-22
I will be out of the country for the next two weeks. I will still have email and remote access, but may not be as available for a quick reply. Any requests for new work will be pushed back until my return.
It has been a very strange year with the massive delay to FC 11. But it's now available, and we are seeing a lot of great things with FirstClass. I wanted to send this email to you so we can catch up and schedule some time together. Drop me a reply and let me know how you're doing.
As always, if you need me, I'm here. Just let me know. If there are any quesitons or needs please contact me.
Rob Rickard
Common World inc.
608-807-1324
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