I would like to share our plans with the development, and finally the screenshots and preview of the new version 4 of our affiliate software.
First of all, I'd like to say that with the new version we are going to introduce one more "edition" of Post Affiliate.
It is called Post Affiliate Xpress, and it is a lightweight version of PAP.
Compared to PAP, it does not have some more advanced and special features, like support for recurring commissions and special commission groups. It still has support for PayPal subscriptions.
It is build on the new version 4 engine, it is simple, intuitive and efficient affiliate software, build with the "keep it simple" approach.
Xpress version should be sufficient for majority of merchants, as most businesses use standard per sale / lead commissions.
Post Affiliate Xpress will be released on 31st August 2008. This is the final deadline, and it will be not postponed.
Pro version will follow few weeks after that, on 15th October.
Post Affiliate Network (for running affiliate networks) will be released after that, I will not give a date estimation yet.
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I am old user when PAP still offer lifetime update. Will I get both express and Pro version? How about PAN version?
our upgrading policy regarding the new version 4 is as follows: 1. Post Affiliate Xpress 4 is not a new version of PAP, it is a lighter version, so there cannot be an upgrade from PAP 3 to PAX 4 You can migrate from PAP3 to PAX4, but then you will be not able to upgrade to PAP4 for free. In my opinion for current Pro customers it will be better to wait few more weeks for the new Pro version. 2. ALL our PAP customers will be able to upgrade to Post Affiliate Pro 4 for free. As a promotion for the new version release, we will not apply the limited 1 year upgrades policy. 3. Post Affiliate Network is different version, the upgrade will be possible, but there will be an upgrade fee. The pricing is not yet set.
I brought pap3 just because the support claim 2 things 1. pap upgrade is FREE for life 2. pap4 is going to be a network version So, i brought it years ago. Well, no harm since upgrade are free, so i jz brought it and wait for the upgrade. (and wait for the network version to come out) After a year....... now they "going" to release...... and guess what, they request for an upgrade fee... What can i say?....Sigh...
I agree what Wellie said. But since we can upgrade to PAP4 for free, and PAN is a much advanced version and can make us more money, I think paying some fees as an appreciation to the hardwork of development team is acceptable. As long as keep the fees extremely fair to us old customers. Develop a piece of good software like PAP and PAN is not easy work, some charges is reasonable. The important thing is make old customers happy with the special discount, for something which has been promised before, then customers and developers both party will be in win-win situation.
I'm still having trouble with sales tracking issues after giving it much attention and many attempts to fix. Should I submit a ticket to review this or will the new version negate anything done on this when it comes out ? My people are waiting for answers and I hate to keep them holding for more 'weeks' at time.
to weilies: Network version works totally different than standard affiliate program, it cannot be an upgrade to normal PAP. And yes, it is much more complicated, and requires more development. It is not possible to make software that covers everything for the price of $99. We said that we will make also network version in version 4, but I did not mean that it will be a functionality of PAP, that's simply impossible. to Rex: it depends on what changes you are going to make. If you'll make some customizations to PAP code, they will not work in the new version. Changes on your own website will most probably work also with the new version. Submit us a support ticket, and we will look at it more closely.
Any screenshots? We need a preview of the new PAP4.
you probably overlooked that there is a separate post with preview of the new version 4: http://blog.qualityunit.com/news/preview-of-the-version-4/
Hi, may we know bout the upgrade fee from pap3 > PAN? Really hunger for that. And how bout the release date for PAn?
Hi Mark, glad to see you're still around. I'm very happy to see that you guys decided to start communicating to us users about the development process and giving us a peek into the results of that development. This is going to help keep us interested while you finalize things. One thing I'd like to respond to from an earlier comment, the network version may be a completely different type of system, but I do expect that it will have the same feature set of PAP for the individual merchants who create an account in the software. As such, I would expect that those of us who currently use PAP3 would be able to migrate our campaigns into the networked version of PAP4 (is PAN4 the official designation?). Obviously, we would have to set up an account in the software just as we now set up affiliate accounts for ourselves. I do expect the network version to require an upgrade fee. My hope is that the final price of the network version will be similar to Alstrasoft's product ($390), and that the upgrade price will be under $300.
regarding network version - yes, it should look very much the same as PAP for the individual merchant. Pricing - as I said before, price of the network version is not yet decided, I think it will be higher (but I cannot estimate how much higher) than Alstrasoft's product, because simply our product and quality of the code cannot be compared to Alstrasoft software. But you don't need to worry, we don't want to just get more and more money from our customers, so we'll offer upgrades to PAN for reasonable price, and with even special discount for special cases (like our old customers).
Thanks Mark and your team, it's nice to see things are starting to roll again, appreciated, keep up the great work! However, I'm a bit confused if it is possible or not to track AdWords? In the PAP4 -features listing page the feature seems to be on both sides, "verified" and "not verified" ...what to believe? http://www.qualityunit.com/features/pap4.php If someone knows for sure, please advise, thanks
Hello Santagreeting, the things have been rolling for the whole year, we were working really hard on the new version, I just didn't have time to communicate about it, for which I apologize. Now with the blog it will be much better. PAX/PAP4 will have SubID tracking, so you will be able to track AdWords.
Thanks Mark, that's cool! After spending more than 20 years in business, I've clearly seen that even the best products in the world don't survive without communication with their clients. Nice to see QualityUnit is taking communication seriously. Your prompt reply appreciated, thanks! All the best from Sunny Spain :)
Hi: What are the confirmed features available in new version PAP4? Is multi currency feature confirmed as I am from India and I want to give my buyers option to buy products in Indian currency in India and in US$ (same price) for outside India buyers. List all new features coming in new version 4? Thanks, Rahul Dhongadi
i hope the "special case" old customer refering me ^.^ Coz seriously, you can check back my order. And the reason i brought PAP3(if you keep any of that) Anyway, is there any fix date for it? PAN
Hi everybody, it looks great. And it is time for that ... I have been waiting for a year for the next upgrade. For me there is no worry about the prices. Some hundred dollars more or less should not be that important for a good running business. If somebody worries about a 200-Dollar-fee, which is not eaven a "yearly fee" but a "lifetime fee" I guess he is doing something wrong in the business. However, but there are some other things that I am confused about. First there was pap3. Then pmp came. Nice software, could also have worked for me, but I started with pap3 and there was no way to migrate. So I keept pap3 and set up another installation of pmp for some other things. Now there are three "names" around, that confuse me e ven more: - pap xpress - pap xpress pro - pap xpress network The resulting questions are: How can I upgrade/crossover/change? To which versions can I migrate from my "old" pap3? I love to test new versions as soon as they are published. So I´d like to text papx in the first version, but the pro-version is the last one that is going to be published. Can I upgrade to xpress and later to pro? Is there any difference in the upgrading-frequency? In my mind the pro-version should be the "best-supported" one. It is the "pro" and it is more expensive (I guess). It looks weired if the pro-users will have to wait longer for updates then the "light"-users. I am worrying that the light-version will gain much more users and so the pro-version will not be developed and bug-fixed as quick as the light-version. All in all it seems to me like: Too many versions, too weired. I would be glad if you could simply put pap3, pmp and all the xpress-versions on the same "platform" and then sell the funcitonality as modules or something like that. That also would make the upgrading much easier. However, could you clear up the upgrading- and version-questions for me? Berst wishes, Julian!
Hello, I guess I have to explain the Xpress version and why we release it first. First of all, PMP has nothing to do with PAP. It is a separate product, and you cannot convert/upgrade from PAP to PMP or back.. Our affiliate software Post Affiliate will have 3 editions: Post Affiliate Xpress (PAX) 4 - to be released 31 August Post Affiliate Pro (PAP) 4 - to be released on 15 October Post Affiliate Network (PAN) 4 - released after Pro, date not estimated yet All new editions are build on the same new engine 4, the difference is that Xpress is more simple and lightweight version. It is released as first, simply because the edition with less functionality will be logically finished first. The PAP4 will be released one and half month later, we'll spend this time to develop & test the additional Pro functionality. The same applies to Network version after Pro. Release of Network version is not yet estimated, it is too much in future to make a good estimation. All the editions are build on the same engine, so the bugfixes and other development will be shared with all editions. Upgrading - you will be always able to upgrade to newer version of the same edition, or to higher edition. So you will be able to upgrade: PAP 3 to PAP 4 or PAN 4 PAX 4 to PAP 4 and PAN 4 PAP 4 to PAN 4 I hope it is clear now. to rahul: yes, multi currency support will be in version 4 to weilies: yes, I will recognize you as a "special case" customer :-)
Hi Mark, it is getting clearer, but in fact I wonder: So you will have four (!) different versions out, that are valid to confuse me, even If I am a customer since years already. I am not really sure if I would better work with pmp then pap3, and now it is getting such a mixture. My personal favorite would be something like an “enterprise-version”, that collects all functionalities togehter: pmp, pap4, pan4, pax4 and so on. But in fact: You are confusing me a lot. And my goal in marketing is always: Most power in the main product. Which one is it: pmp? pan? pax? However, I also couldn´t find out what the difference between pax, pan and pro is. In fact, even if pmp and pap have about the same functionality, they are different and can´t be combined. pax is the "light version", right? pap4 is the update from pap3, right? So that is clear. But what will be the functions of pan? Is there something new inside of it? Will it be just more functions, but does it include all of the pap and pax-functions? As I said: My favorite would be to have all pap-versions and pmp-functions includet in pan, so I can simply buy pan and then I know, I have everything and can use everything that I want to use in the same network. ;-) Next question: I like to update quickly. In the moment I am using pap3. Can I upgrade from pap3 to pax and later to pap4? Oh ... I think you worte that already: No upgrade from pap3 to pax. Is the date (October 15th) a fixed date for the release of pap4? Best wishes, Julian!
Sorry the repetition, but I think I understood the "structure": There are three versions: xpress: light version pro: normal version network: network version Is it right, that each "higher" version includes all functionalities of the "lighter" versions? Then this structure should be okay, but I would suggest to communicate that clearly. When I hear "pax" and "pan" I don´t unterstand the "hirarchy". And I also didn´t understand that the "pro"-version simply is the normal version: "Post affiliate PRO". For me it was always "pap3". ;-) However, if you could then integrate the pmp-functions into the same framework/engine and have it for example as an module or something like that, so each post-affiliate-merchant can simply add the pmp-functionality for his customers, when in the same time the business-contacts work with pap or pan, this would be great. pmp is great in usability for the users, who "just" refer something to a friend. I like to use that for my customers. And pap/pan is great for business-contacts. But using them bouth as two pieces of software at the same website seems weired to me. Best wishes, Julian!
After spending a great deal of time reading over this blog, i would like to say that i remember when the very first affiliate software was launched by QU and after years of using it, i have found Q U to be fantastic with there support. I have been waiting for a good two years for the release of the up and coming product, searching the net hi and low for what i beleive is what is coming. If it has the functionality of paydotcom ill be very happy and would not mind in the least to pay for it. i would have to say this company is a all round fantastic company to deal with. yet i have my fingers crossed :) Inn being a long standing client i hope that Q U value all of us that have waited for so long for this up-in coming release and give the long standing clients that have been with Q U from the begining a free upgrade or the product at a good price. in respect to Alstrasoft’s product its the biggest pile of bugged software on the market and for the price.. all i can say is good on ya Q U for giving us something that has quaility.
PS just to note i am refering to Post Affiliate Network Pro 4 I just hope i dont have to wait to much longer.!!!
Hi mark, This is my concern. If i am using PAX now (put all merchants account into one single main account) Coz i really cant wait no more :( And in future while pap4 network come out, can the single account "split" all the transactions, banners into different merchant's account? It sounds a bit impossible for me, but i really hope it does support :D P.S. Thanks for consider me as "Special member"
Hi all of you, just to make it sure, I should add this: - I am VERY happy with the QU-Products - The support is great, the prices are very (!) fair - The products are great The "wish" would just be, to pack them better togehter. Like the support-center and the live-agend ... I would prefear it as one combined product. Like the pap and pmp, they should not be "splited". But however, this is really the onliest thing where I would beg for a change. Over all your products are great, great, great! Best wishes, Julian!
Hi to all, thank you for the nice words about us and our products. We are really trying hard to make good products, and provide good support. to Julian: I thought the hierarchy of PAX / PAP / PAN is easy to understand, but maybe I should explain it better. You all know PAP (Post Affiliate Pro). It is affiliate software for running affiliate program. Post Affiliate Xpress is generally the lighter version of PAP, without support for more advanced features, like recurring comissions, etc. PAN (Post Affiliate Network) is something different, it will allow you to run affiliate network, similar to CJ or Linkshare. Affilaite network means that it accepts applications from both merchants and affiliates. For merchant the functionality will look almost the same as if he has his own installation of PAP. The added feature of network is that affiliates sign up for the network, not for only one merchant. So there will be one big pool of affiliates, shared by all merchants. Affiliates will be able to choose from all merchants and their campaigns, which campaigns they'll promote. As for membership functionality of PMP - we will maybe add it there later, with the new plug-in architecture it should be possible to make a membership system plugin for PAP4. We plan to move all our products, including LiveAgent and SupportCenter to the new engine, and especially these two can be (optionally) integrated together more closely. to weilies: splitting data from one installation to multiple accounts of network version would be little difficult, but it will be possible. We'll surely help you with that.
Hi Mark, this is great. When you have all in the same Engine, all is includet the right way. Just imagine me as a customer: I have to decide, what I need, before I use the software. Especially in the case of PMP and PAP this is very difficult. The other example is LiveAgent and SupportCenter. I love the SC. It is one of the best developed Ticket-Systems I found. Sure, there are some bigger systems, but none of it in this pricing has this advaned and easy usability. An easy thought: If somebody has a need of the SC, he nearly automatically has also a need for LiveAgent. So settings like Agents, Queues and so on are exactly the same needs. It seems ridiculous to me,t hat I have to set it up in bouth systems. So moving all products togehter for my opinion is the most imporant and really the best next stept. And I am very happy that this is also what you are doing. ;-) Best wishes, Julian!
Hi Mark, Hope this time you won't disappoint me no more :D I cant wait for another few months for PAN to run a network. My plan is, to use PAX to start a small affiliate network. Well, i will convince those merchants that to use one merchant account first. Hope you are rite! ;p ________________________________________ splitting data from one installation to multiple accounts of network version would be little difficult, but it will be possible. We’ll surely help you with that. ________________________________________
This may help a little to the one who dont quite understand what QU are building. PAP Post Affiliate Pro is ONLY an affiliate software program. in my eyes the best on the market. (((You))) have your own merchant login. You are the only merchant and you have an army of affiliates that sell and promote your products. its really that simple.. What us big marketers are waiting for now!! like yesterday is for PAN, Post Affiliate Network. This is where you can be a merchant, and so and 1000 other people. each one of these 1000 merchants have there own product EVERY product from every merchant is shared in what is called a shared marketplace. EVERY merchant that is a member promotes there products Every affiliate that is a member of the site can promote any merchant item service or product. i hope that helps a lot of people. one thing that id like answered is from support is, with the express version is the fuctionality of muti merchant available? with the pro version is muti merchant available? or is it just PAN that muti merchant is available if it is only PAN then PAN is what mopst people are waiting for.. i would forget about the lite version as PAP most people are happy with Focas on the grand daddy - thats what we are all waiting for... please include me in as a long supportive member sinse 2005 for beta testing if you want to see a good example of a PAN script just goa
opps cut off the end.. if you want to see a good example of a PAN script just go to commission junction
Yaya, i know bout how affiliate network working. Coz it "maybe" possible that i can play as "dedicated advertising media" for those merchants, advertisers. They wont care bout(not even) login to the system. I am the one who responsible for monitor the stats for them. They pay me advertising fee, i pay for my affiliate. And when PAN come out, i can show the new advertisers prove of statistic, that i really serving those big players. At the same time, i will distribute the statistics to their own merchant accounts
Hi, please explain this better: ... 2. ALL our PAP customers will be able to upgrade to Post Affiliate Pro 4 for free. As a promotion for the new version release, we will not apply the limited 1 year upgrades policy. ... I do not understand the 1 year upgrade policy. This should definately not include old customers because when we purchased the software there was agreement between seller and buyer about lifetime free upgrades. If you plan on doing yearly updates for free, this should only be done to new customers from now on. I understand that you cannot give software for free but you should consider that many people bought your software basing their decision on lifetime upgrades too. Thanks
Hi mark, Can you clarify us that the feature of PAN4? Is these feats included for the first version of PAN? - Geo Targeting (both GeoIP+GeoCity) - Able to display how many impression/channel generated each day - A google adsense like (where affiliate are no longer need to put in any banner code, and they just share the same ad code with different publisher id) Thanks!
Hello Eric, you are right, this upgrade policy does not include old customers, you have lifetime upgrades. to weilies: - Geo Tragetting - yes, we plan to make it as a plugin to all editions, so it wil be available also in PAX4 / PAP4 / PAN4 - impressions/channel - yes, and we'll try to improve the reports over time - google adsense like code - yes
One critical question Mark, It would be very appreciate that you can give us a predict date for PAN4 :D Can we have it in another 2 months?
Will PAN have the ability to track affiliate site member ids, similiar to Linkshare Signature? Most major networks have the ability to add (&mid=1234 or &sid=1234, etc.) so the affiliate network can be used by affiliates with member rewards.
I wanted to check in about PAP4, and see if you are still expecting to release on the 15th of October? Thanks for the update. My best, Kristin
Please give us a info if you can hold the Date of 15th october. Thank you in advanced!
Hi Mark, I use Joomla 1.5.7 and virtuemart 1.1.2 and would like this use with PAP4. Is this possible? thanks Guenther
Hi Please can you provide an update re: the date that PAP4 will be made available - is 1t still 15th October? Thanks Phil
Hello, I just made a new post about Pro version. You can find it here: http://blog.qualityunit.com/affiliate-marketing/post-affiliate-pro-4-news/ mark
plaarhqibzehqgdnwell, hi admin adn people nice forum indeed. how's life? hope it's introduce branch ;)
Can i please have some info on when PAN will be released. expected date? is it in production?
PS is there a testing version nearing completion?
happy new year! to the team :) any update on my above posts?
Please can you post an update re the development of PAN as you can see from my last post that was 5 months ago! We are hanging out for PAN
Yes .... still waiting ..anxiously - rather than purchase PAP 4 - waiting for PAN ... Please give some update on timing ?? Thx