Is SugarCRM CE Being Left Out the Loop?!

[eqeact]

On review of the videos for the new upgrades for SugarCRM 6. I'm wondering is CE being left out the loop as far as the upgrades, and new interface? It appears that [of course] the professional version[s] are the only series that is getting the newly branded looks. Any suggestions as to when the CE version will have a reasonably updated build?

[al3]

Several people "in the know" as well as various tech commentators tell us that Sugar is in the process of orphaning the CE edition as it no longer fits into their business model.

YMMV.

[Leibinz]

Can anyone confirm this is the case?

[al3]

Can anyone confirm this is the case?

At this time I think Sugar's abandonment of CE is more perception than fact, and people love to start rumors... however, sometimes perception is the precursor to reality.

Time will tell.

[eggsurplus]

I believe CE will have it's place going forward but new features will mostly/all go into Pro/Ent.

[al3]

I believe CE will have it's place going forward but new features will mostly/all go into Pro/Ent.

In the past Sugar got valuable feedback about new features from the open source community. I don't think that is true anymore, because there is little to comment on seeing as the new theme and many "features" are no longer part of CE... thus there is not much to comment on.

I don't know how current this article is about the top 10 open source CRMs out there, but I know the one named after a large cat (don't think I can say name here) is starting to get a large following.

Another list of open source CRMs is here.

Al

[eqeact]

I want to thank everyone that added there commentary. It really helped [me] to figure out what's going on, and to make a determination on other factors.

Thank you.

[clint]

Hi all -

First and foremost, I have no idea what al3 thinks he knows about the future of Sugar Community Edition. He is neither "in the know" himself nor part of any strategic planning discussions for the future of the Sugar product line. I can tell you for a fact the SugarCRM team has no plans to orphan the Community Edition as al3 incorrectly asserts in this thread. We have consistently invested in the Community Edition in every release, adding new features and continuously improving the quality of the product.

Yes, we have absolutely stayed true to the same business model we have followed since our inception in 2004 and put more features into the Professional Edition over the Community Edition and more into the Enterprise Edition over the Professional Edition. In 6.0 we focused on the new user theme as part of the Professional and Enterprise editions which certainly has helped many customers see the value in paying for their subscription to the Professional Edition.

Never forget that having a strong Professional Edition that companies pay to subscribe to has always funded the further investments in the Community Edition. Finding the right balance of features and functionality in the free Community Edition product versus the for-fee Professional Edition product is something we consistently evaluate and listen closely to feedback on. Healthy discussion around SugarCRM's business model is always encouraged. However, rest assured that any comments about the abandonment of the Community Edition are strictly the result of some wild imaginations and unscrupulous rumor-mongering.

Care to chat more on this topic? Feel free to post your thoughts here or private message me directly.

Best,
Clint

[al3]

[SIZE="3"]Hi all -

First and foremost, I have no idea what al3 thinks he knows about the future of Sugar Community Edition. He is neither "in the know" himself nor part of any strategic planning discussions for the future of the Sugar product line.

I correspond with some people who are "in the know" so to speak, I read a lot of the so-called pundits, and the message that get from "them" is not the exact message that you have posted here. My small insurance agency (www.ancins.com) is heavily dependent on CRM technology and so I have an interest in this sector of the computer industry. (I also wrote and own www.jaya123.com which is not CRM but it should show that I have some credentials to evaluate software products and systems.)

I don't know whom to believe, I'm only posting what seems to make sense to me from what I've heard and what I've seen and what I've read. There is a huge difference between posting a lie and posting conjecture.

I don't know why the posting of "my" conjecture warranted such personal invective from Clint. It was not my intention to anger him or anyone else on the Sugar "team."

I can tell you for a fact the SugarCRM team has no plans to orphan the Community Edition as al3 incorrectly asserts in this thread.

I certainly hope that is true. However, given recent events, there are many commentators and bloggers all over the net who have either echoed an opinion similar to mine or suggested that Sugar is "re-evaluating" its position vis-a-vis open source.

We have consistently invested in the Community Edition in every release, adding new features and continuously improving the quality of the product.

I would not characterize CE 6.x as above, and I'm hardly alone in that opinion.

Finding the right balance of features and functionality in the free Community Edition product versus the for-fee Professional Edition product is something we consistently evaluate and listen closely to feedback on.

That is good to hear, but many people don't think that the balance was attained with CE 6.0.

Healthy discussion around SugarCRM's business model is always encouraged.

That is good to know.

However, rest assured that any comments about the abandonment of the Community Edition are strictly the result of some wild imaginations and unscrupulous rumor-mongering.

There is an old saying in the financial markets. "Buy on the rumor, sell on the news!" In the many years I've been involved with open source I've found that conjecture often becomes fact so I've learned to listen to all sides.

I feel a lot of this would be "moot" if Sugar provided the small one or two person business with an affordable license for Pro. But they don't. We are "relegated" to the CE edition and the release of 6.0 which many thought was a step backward in form and function has caused a lot of people in the Sugar community to look up and ask "Where are we going here?"

I think that is a good discussion to have.

Al

[Angel]

I certainly hope that is true. However, given recent events, there are many commentators and bloggers all over the net who have either echoed an opinion similar to mine or suggested that Sugar is "re-evaluating" its position vis-a-vis open source.

I find it funny that you like to stir the pot on this topic even if the discussion only touches the fringes, yet you always fail to provide any evidence supporting your case. You are the one contributing to the rumors you speak of.

All the articles I've seen all revolve around the open source purists being upset that Pro and Enterprise aren't also AGPL licensed (or licensed under another open source license that they want), which again, is not news. The only news there is that they are just now deciding to write about it, as that's always been the way its been with Sugar.

Like I said before, show me the proof...all you are doing at this point is continuing to fan the flames of incorrect rumors. If that's your particular style, then at least add a disclaimer to your messages indicating that you like playing the rumors game so people know what they are reading.

I should add that you also have a habit of twisting words, as evidenced by an email exchange you and I had where you were asking me to confirm whether I too was missing some buttons on the email toolbar. Upon me confirming I too was missing the buttons, you then wanted to assert that I too was indicating that the email client had problems, etc., when the reality was that all I did was say "Yes, I am missing the buttons as well" and didn't even have a clue that it was indicative of a problem you had already formulated in your head but didn't share with me.

So, forgive me if I have a hard time accepting your analysis as the truth nor allowing you to put the community in a panic without any evidence in this case as well.