New Assurance pricing.

I have just obtained quotations from Sphinx for a 32 user development system on SPARC utilising Standard Engine, 4GL and SQL. I was advised that prices were going up on 1st January 1993 and that in addition to the package price, we would also be charged something known as "assurance" on top. The idea, supposedly, is that we need "assurance" in case we need to upgrade the package. When I then inquired if upgrades would, therefore, be free of charge, I was informed that, as far as he knew, upgrades would be charged as they are now. I would therefore be grateful if someone could comment on the following question(s) :- Just what are we getting for our assurance money? If not covered in the answer to the above, what is the reason for inflicting this upon an already hard pressed dealership community? Many thanks Neil Neil S. Briscoe Telephone: +44 252 376737 System Administrator Fax: +44 252 376644 Email: neil@salmon.demon.co.uk nbriscoe@cix.compulink.co.uk Bartec Medical Systems Ltd. Impression House Invincible Road "!##@!** Listen who swears Farnborough Christopher Robin has fallen downstairs" Hants GU14 7NP -- The Goodies Book of Criminal Records England "A man is incomplete until he's married -- then he's finished!" -- seen on a desktop calendar