In November 2018, it was announced by Swiftpage that the embedded third-party software component of Act! that facilitates the licensing services is being discontinued by the manufacturer at the end of 2018. Whilst Swiftpage have a new licencing service for Act!, it is important that you apply an update to your Act! installation to avoid any interruption to your service.
The simplest way to avoid any issues is to upgrade to the latest version. Act! v21 was released in November 2018 and provides support for current Windows platforms, Office 2019 and some fantastic new features - see what's new.
For 30 years, Act! users have been fortunate enough to be able to purchase a licence and use it ongoing without the need to pay additional software fees. Whilst Swiftpage did not have plans to change the model at this time, unfortunately, a third party was involved therefore the decision was forced upon Swiftpage, along with many other software companies using the third-party's services. To their credit, Swiftpage have responded "swiftly" and provided a solution to ensure that Act! users can continue to reap the benefits of their CRM without disruption. Whilst there may be upgrade costs involved for customers on older versions, the new Act! v21 will provide many new features and productivity enhancements that will undoubtedly improve their team's productivity and save money in the future.
Who is affected by the licence changes?
Everyone who uses Act! will be affected in some way as current Act! Licence number will no longer be able to access the registration server after it is shut down by the service provider on 31st December 2018.
The good news is that If you are v18 and above, Swiftpage will be providing a patch that will redirect your Act! installation to the new licence service. For Act! users on V17 and below, your version is unsupported and you will need to upgrade. Please see your version below for the steps that you need to take to avoid disruption to your service.
Users with a current Act! subscription will receive the newly released Act! v21 that will include the necessary new licensing component. It is strongly recommended that you upgrade to Act! v21 before December 31, 2018 in order to ensure uninterrupted access to Act! in January. Please contact your Act! Certified Consultant if you require assistance.
If you have an active subscription and decide not to upgrade to v21, please see update instructions below for the version that you have installed.
Update Release Schedule
Act! v21.0 – 20th November 2018
DOWNLOAD ACT! V21 (Full Version) DOWNLOAD ACT! V21.0 Update 5
Please read factors to consider when upgrading Act! before applying any updates or contact your Act! Consultant.
To ensure uninterrupted access to Act! in January 2019, we strongly recommend that you upgrade to the current version of Act! (v21) by December 31, 2018.
Should you elect not to upgrade to Act! v21, users on version 20 will have access to a one-time update to address the licence issue. This update will ideally need to be applied to all Act! installations prior to 31st December 2018. Note that this update can be applied in the new year however please consider what happens if the update is not applied to Act! prior to 31st December 2018.
Act! Update Notifcations
To be automatically alerted of new Act! updates, turn on your Act! Notifications (In Act! go to the Tools menu>Preferences>Notifications tab and select "Automatically check for product updates every" box.) See Knowledge Base Article
Update Release Schedule
Act! v20.0 Update 9 – 14th December 2018
Act! v20.1 Update 8 – 14th December 2018
DOWNLOAD ACT! V20.0 Update 9 DOWNLOAD ACT! V20.1 Update 8
Please read factors to consider when upgrading Act! before applying any updates or contact your Act! Consultant.
To ensure uninterrupted access to Act! in January 2019, we strongly recommend that you upgrade to the current version of Act! (v21) by December 31, 2018.
Should you elect not to upgrade to Act! v21, users on version 19 will have access to a one-time update to address the licence issue. This update will ideally need to be applied to all Act! installations prior to 31st December 2018. Note that this update can be applied in the new year however please consider what happens if the update is not applied to Act! prior to 31st December 2018.
Act! Update Notifcations
To be automatically alerted of new Act! updates, turn on your Act! Notifications (In Act! go to the Tools menu>Preferences>Notifications tab and select "Automatically check for product updates every" box.) See Knowledge Base Article
Update Release Schedule
Act! v19.2 Update 5 – 21st December 2018. This update will only apply to Act! v19.2. If you are not already on v19.2, you can download the software below.
Full version downloads
Download Act! PRO v19.2 Download Act! PRemium v19.2
Please read factors to consider when upgrading Act! before applying any updates or contact your Act! Consultant.
In accordance with the Act! Support Obsolescence Policy, support for Act! v18 ended on November 30, 2018. After this date, no further Service Packs, Hotfixes, or compatibility updates will be delivered for Act! v18.x products, and users will no longer be eligible to receive support for any issues encountered with their product.
To ensure uninterrupted access to Act! in January 2019, we strongly recommend that you upgrade to the current version of Act! (v21) by December 31, 2018.
Should you elect not to upgrade to Act! v21, a one-time update for v18.x products that addresses this specific issue will be made available from 11th January 2019. You will need to be on Act! Version 18.2 to apply this update when available. Swiftpage do not make any representations as to how long this one-time update will provide the functionality of Act! that you expect. Please note that the update in this instance shall not be precedent, or require Act! to provide, neither now nor in the future, any fixes for additional issues that may or will arise after the date of obsolescence as specified in the Act! Support Obsolescence Policy.
Act! Update Notifcations
To be automatically alerted of new Act! updates, turn on your Act! Notifications (In Act! go to the Tools menu>Preferences>Notifications tab and select "Automatically check for product updates every" box.) See Knowledge Base Article
Update Release Schedule
Act! v18.2 – 10th January 2019. This update will only apply to Act! v18.2. If you are not already on v18.2, you can download the software below.
Full version downloads
Download Act! PRO v18.2 Download Act! PRemium v18.2
Request a quote to upgrade. To discuss your options, call us on 02 9431 2222 or contact your Act! Certified Consultant.
These versions of Act! are unsupported. In accordance with the Act! Support Obsolescence Policy, users on these versions are no longer eligible to receive critical updates and enhancements that ensure your product continues to run optimally.
To ensure access to Act! in January 2019, we will need to upgrade to the current version of Act! (v21) by December 31, 2018.
Request a quote to upgrade or to discuss your options, call us on 02 9431 2222 or contact your Act! Certified Consultant.
How do I get the update?
By turning on Act! Notifications you will be automatically notified when an update is available. In Act! go to the Tools menu>Preferences>Notifications tab and select "Automatically check for product updates every" box. Alternatively, you can check back on this page as the updates will be posted here when they become available. Please note that this software update will be made available to you at no charge however any services required to assist you with the upgrade will be charged on a fee for service basis.
What happens if the update is not applied to Act! prior to 31st December 2018?
As of January 1, 2019, certain common actions you may take that interact with the licensing component will cause Act! to fail and you will no longer be able to access your database. Examples of these common actions include attempting to install Act! on new hardware, modifying existing hardware, and modifying your user count. Please check above to see what action is required for your version. For an expanded list of actions, click here.
Factors to consider when upgrading Act!
When upgrading any software, it's pertinent to take a bit of time to consider the impact it may have on your business. With Act!, you should check the Act! v21 System Requirements to ensure compatibility with your other office software/hardware. For example, Act! v21 no longer supports Microsoft Office 2010. Also, if you have AddOns or Custom Programming, check with the provider to ensure compatibility. For more information, please read factors to consider when upgrading Act!
For more information see the Act! Knowledge Base Article
To discuss your options, call us on 02 9431 2222 (AU) or 09 428 2281 (NZ) or contact your Act! Certified Consultant.
