Re: Informix vs. Oracle: The Support chapter

Hi! I'm from Bulgaria. The Informix version of our product is OnLine 5.0.2. When we purchased Informix product we purchased Informix support contract too. But when it finnished and we asked for another contract we was surprised when we saw it. They sent us a contract which is saying that we will receive new versions of our Informix product for free. There was no any point about any kind of support. So we didn't sign the contract again. Two weeks ago, however, when I had a meeting with the company, which is called itself INFORMIX Autorized Technology Center, they show me the two most expensive contracts. One - the old one. The second one they said me is a new tipe of contract - the most expensive. It include in itself the older contract plus developers support. For examle, ***maybe*** we'll have a chance that they'll answer us if we ask them any questions about Informix bugs. No immediate onsite support at all, which is just what we need. And there is a point in this contract which is highly unacetable for us: "INFORMIX doesn't support any product for which the new version is existing. Maximum period for upgrade is six months." They said us that INFORMIX doesn't support version 5 at all, while they do it, but from next year - maybe NO MORE. So, if we want to use the adventages of the contract we must install the last version of our Informix product and pay defaults for the time we didn't sign the contract. We don't want to buy a new versions of Informix products, because we are developing a big project. And we have no time to study the bugs of the new versions. And the situation will be such, untill there will be no guarantee that when Informix server shutdown there will be somebody who will be able to help us and explain us what happened. I will be thankfull to anybody who will be able to send me a copy of the main points in the Informix support contract. And does Inoformix oblige its representatives (in a little countries like our) anything? What are the Informix prices (per cents of the products' cost) usually? :( Milen. P.S. Sorry for my english. ====================================================== Database: Informix OnLine 5.0.2.UC6 OS : SCO OpenServer Enterprise System Release 3.0 E-mail : dbadmin@svilosa.bis.bg ====================================================== On Mon, 25 Aug 1997, Nils van der Laan wrote: > Since I posted the question about the differences between Informix and > Oracle, a lot of answers and opinions have reached my inbox. Thank you > for your input, and as I can see, the discussion still isn't over. > > Next to the product a company makes, the support is also very inportant. > Adding to my question about Informix and Oracle, I would like to ask > about experiences with the support they received from either Informix or > Oracle. Is there a winner here (or a definate loser)? > > } > }Nils van der Laan > }email: nilsl@simac.nl > } > }Simac ERP Solutions bv > }Pastoriestraat 157 > }5612 EK Eindhoven > }Tel: 040-2968625 > }Fax: 040-2968699 > } >