Google Sketchup licensing
10 11 2006And there was me worrying about Sketchup licences. With my predisposition towards free and Open Source software the technicians get a bit twitchy when I ask for some obscure software titles to be added to the network. So at school we’re going through licences with a magnifying glass, not wanting to get caught out by the small print; when we’ve installed something we want to be sure that as an institution, rather than a single user, we are covered for network-wide installations.
I’ve been a bit glum since I’d spotted a page at Google Sketchup that (I thought) suggested a licence was needed. Not to worry, we’ll find the cash somehow because this is an awesome product. So today I phoned Google to make sure, just clutching at straws really before I take the plunge and spend money. To my surprise I’m informed that it’s OK to download and install the free version across the network! “Splendid”, says I, and asked for it in writing (keeps the techies happy). So on Monday I look forward to rolling SketchUp out across the network and writing some schemes of work to make use of it’s astounding features.
Hi Dale
I have been using sketchup with a primary school and are warned we have 8 hours of working time before we have to buy @£350 for a site licence! How do you get round that?
Janey
Hi Janey
I phoned Google and got them to confirm in writing that no purchase is necessary. Who’s warning you about needing licences? Google told me that the optional Pro licences would be about £10 a seat and the documentation I found indicated that a licensing server would be required in addition for management of concurrent licences. The chap I spoke to at Google however sent me an email indicating that we didn’t need licences so we were happy with that. Oh yes.
Hoping that helps
DJ