Has anyone noticed, or does anyone care about, the number of tools available for web hosting companies that are available for monthly/yearly payments? I mean, it seems like we've gone from paying for software out-right, to having to cough up monthly payments for the stuff. Here are some examples:

CPanel/WHM...~$99/month
Ubersmith...$99-$399/month
PHP Support Desk...$150/year
Customer Service Chat...$$$
I'm sure there are many others

With the exception of PHP Support Desk, which can be purchased out-right for an extra $100, these charges really start to add up! So I'm wondering how everyone else copes with this. Like I said, it USED to be that you PURCHASED the software, and got something like a year's worth of support and upgrades. But this trend is really starting to bother me.

Now, in the instance of CPanel/WHM, I'm sure someone will come along and say that you get all of these wonderful, automatic updates, etc. But the fact is that ALL of the "automatic" updates I have seen so far have been bug fixes. Something they should fix anyway.

Any opinions? I may just be bellowing about nothing here.:D

Well they see that hosts need it so why not make money for it.
Plus cpanel is coming out with so many fixes and new design and everything is new, maybe that's why the price is raised, and from what I know they are being developedby a new company.

This is going to be a growing trend.

I'm not sure about cpanel, but Ubersmith does offer a one time buy out option.

I think that the updates/bug fixes/quality control features offered by the ASP model are advantages

Like Microsoft predicted.. selling software for a monthly rental fee.. it's happening.. why do you think they are creating the Microsoft . NET framework?

Hi:

I went to the site to see the pricing for the uBersmith script, but did not see an option to purchase (just monthly fees) Do you know what the cost is?

There are other alternatives to "leasing" software on a month to month basis. A trip over to hotscripts.com may come up with something interesting.

I am currently looking at Modern Bill http://www.modernbill.com but am not 100% sold on it yet. Anyone use this one yet? I'd like to find something with a trouble ticket system integrated into it too.

sPoT!

ubersmith does not offer a purchase option
only monthly payments.

i think its because they use their own secure servers to do everything..so you pay recurringly, every month

Incorrect RunOfTheMill, according to this post:
http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=138986&highlight=Ubersmith+pricing#post138986

Also might be of interest:
http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=133901&highlight=Ubersmith+pricing#post133901

i stand corrected
1600$ to purchase.

Hadnt seen it on their site, thats why i assume it was monthly only.

:D