Yesterday while assisting a client by phone in adding her new notebook to her LogMeIn account, she mentioned LogMeIn Free Access ending. I didn't think much about it at the time and told her to ignore and continue. After lunch I received a call from another client stating that LogMeIn's Free Client support ended today, 01/20/14. I told him I had not heard about it and surely they were halting new installs of the Free LogMeIn client but would grandfather the rest of us in. Not so, all free remote access via LogMeIn will end January 28, 2014. It's been a great ride, longer that 5 years and I suppose we should have seen it coming. WebEx started the same way and it's free remote client ended after Cisco purchased the company. The declaration is stated at the top of the page with a list of your computers that will be affected, in my case all.
The company is offering a subscription for 2 computers at $49/year (50% off regular price).
*Introductory prices apply only to the first year of your subscription.
The free service has been very helpful and has allowed Driving Force to meed client needs quickly and provide assistance promptly when onsite presence was required. Therefore it is advisable for Driving Force business clients who have a network to purchase the subscription and install it on their server computer. If I have access to the server I can reach workstations via Remote Desktop. The only drawback to Remote Desktop is the client cannot see the screen while I work and we lose joint collaboration while working on an issue.
LogMeIn has a service called "Join Me" that allows access to your computer when needed by entering a code provided by Driving Force at the JoinMe website that allows access to your screen, (this is how it works, Driving Force has not subscribed to the service yet). I will be investigating this service as well as alternatives and will advise in the near future via a new post.
If Driving Force purchases an Enterprise license it will be necessary to pass along the increase in costs via a subscription or possible increase in hourly fee to offset the added expense.
When support ends 01/28/2014 I advised all those with LogMeIn to uninstall the program from your computer to release resources that are tied up by it's services.
Free Alternatives,
I am also exploring other options for free access. I have found 2 options thus far;
CrossLoop and TeamViewer
If anyone knows other alternative please feel free to post a reply.
Optional Paid Remote Access Services
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