With the release of WMS v8.1, EMS-I will be switching to a maintenance model for this and future versions of WMS. A maintenance model helps you better plan and budget for software upgrade costs and helps us ensure continued development enhancements and improved technical support. You will no longer have to pay upgrade fees for each new version; rather, you will automatically receive future versions through your annual maintenance fee for each WMS license, in addition to intermediate updates and technical support.

What does this change mean to you?

Here is how the new maintenance model will affect you:

• If you currently have WMS v8.0 licenses, you only need to pay the 15% annual maintenance fee to upgrade to version 8.1


• If you currently have older versions of WMS, you will have to upgrade your license to WMS v8.0 at current upgrade fees and then pay the 15% annual maintenance fee. As a convenience, current WMS v8.0 users will receive invoices for the annual maintenance fee.


• Any new WMS v8.1 licenses purchased will include the first year’s maintenance fees. Any new license of WMS v8.0 purchased in the last year will be considered to have their maintenance current for one year after their initial purchase.

Each licensee has the option of paying the maintenance to go to the new version and continue to receive technical support. Of course, you can continue to use your current version of WMS even if you choose not to pay maintenance. All those activating their maintenance will receive a serial number for their license. The serial number for the license will be required in order to receive technical support for WMS v8.1 after January 1, 2009.

With the release of version 8.1, a new password will be required or if you have hardware locks, they will have to be reprogrammed. Your WMS v8.1 license will have the same modules you have in your existing license. If you wish to add modules or interfaces, additional license fees will apply. Please contact us for specific pricing details.

An interface for the EPA-SWMM and XP-SWMM models has been added to WMS v8.1. With WMS 8.1, you can delineate a watershed and then export the delineated watershed boundaries and the WMS-computed watershed data to EPA-SWMM or XP-SWMM

Major improvements to the US Army Corps of Engineers HEC-HMS lumped parameter model and the GSSHA two-dimensional distributed modeling interfaces are included in v8.1.

WMS also supports many models for hydrologic modeling, 1D hydraulic modeling, floodplain delineation and 2D distributed hydrology. Contact sales by calling 801 302-1400 or emailing sales@ems-i.com to discover and purchase useful additions to your existing WMS license. If you would like to try any of the new modules, simply contact us for a temporary password at: www.ems-i.com/Password_Requests/password_requests

EMS-I provides several training courses to help you use WMS more effectively. Visit www.ems-i.com/Training/training to find a training course that meets your needs or call 801 302-1400 to learn about scheduling a custom training course or request consulting help on your project. Additionally, we have online help at www.xmswiki.com and our technical support staff (http://www.ems-i.com/Support/support.html) to assist you.

I hope you will enjoy using the new version of WMS. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Cordially,
Royd Nelson
President
EMS-I/Scientific Software Group
royd@ems-i.com
801 302-1400