Adobe Systems Incorporated announced the launch of the Adobe Creative Cloud in India, giving creative professionals their first chance to experience a radical new way of accessing Adobe’s iconic tools and services. Creative Cloud is a membership-based service that provides users with unlimited access to download and install all creative suite desktop applications, photoshop lightroom, Adobe Muse, Adobe Edge tools and services; game developer tools and integration with photoshop touch apps.
Creative Cloud members will get access to Adobe’s latest products, services, features, and workflows as soon as they are available and will no longer have to wait months for the latest innovations. This model enables members to automatically receive updates as and when they become available in the release cycle.
At the launch, the company announced promotional pricing that works out to be approximately Rs 2,885 per month for its Creative Cloud for Teams (CCT) offering targeted at teams and SMB customer base. The regular pricing for CCT would be Rs 4,040 per month once the promotions end on April 30, 2013. Additionally, the members also get cloud storage of 100GB (per CCT user) along with the ability to sync to any device enabling them to access files anywhere anytime.
The company also announced its plan to launch the Creative Cloud for individuals (CCI) offering in India in the near future through its online store. CCI users will be able to avail monthly/annual membership and get 20 GB of cloud storage along with all the major features of Creative Cloud.
Speaking at the launch, Umang Bedi, Managing Director–South Asia, Adobe said that since its release in the USA in April 2012, the creative sector has responded enthusiastically. “We’ve seen an incredible uptake, with more than one million individuals in the US and globally joining Adobe Creative Cloud. Our goal is to now make Creative Cloud the ultimate hub for creative professionals in India, where they can access the world’s best tools; store and collaborate across their workplace and ultimately showcase their creations. We are excited by the immense potential this holds for a country like India.”
“With the easy availability of our products through the Creative Cloud and the attractive price points we do see a significant impact on the piracy rate of our products,” he further added.
Available immediately Adobe Creative Cloud for Teams is tailored for small and medium businesses. It offers all the features in Creative Cloud, plus administrative tools, increased storage capacity, and expert services. It includes tools for easy management of virtual workgroups, expert support services, centralized administration for quick and easy deployment of new seats, centralised billing and efficient license management.
Commenting on the launch Sanchit Vir Gogia, Principal Analyst, IDC India said, “Adobe’s Creative Cloud brings with it great promises for the Indian market, where the product has traditionally been positioned as a premium offering. With its subscription-based pricing model, Creative Cloud brings down the total cost of ownership for creative professionals and organizations substantially. It also takes away the headache from organizations who want to stay updated to current versions of creative tools and leverage product innovation as and when they are introduced. Both these factors will likely change the dynamics in favor of Adobe India in the time to come as it positions the offering for a mass adoption.”
Creative Cloud also includes new Internet-based services and enables the delivery of high-impact content experiences such as interactive websites and stunning digital magazines. By offering connectivity with Adobe Touch Apps, headlined by Adobe Photoshop Touch, Creative Cloud enables a mobile workflow, from ideation to publishing, to bring the power of Adobe innovation to iPad devices and Android™ tablets. It gives users the freedom to create, offering immediate and ongoing access to great tools and technologies, to serve a vibrant worldwide community of creative talent. When launched, through Creative Cloud for Individuals, consumers will also have the flexibility of choosing for a single-app membership that gives them ongoing access to one Creative Suite application for a low monthly price.
Adobe Creative Cloud for teams is available at approximately Rs 48,480 per user for a one-year plan through Adobe’s network of resellers. Customers can also buy at the special introductory price of Rs 34,620 per user for a one-year plan till April 30th, 2013.