Autodesk Phone call - Free software

[timbo343]

I have just had the most weirdest phone call from Autodesk and they have just told me about their software been free for 3 years for educational institutes. Very out the blue.

 

Design the Future - UK | Autodesk

 

Just wondering if anyone else has had a phone call and just warning those just incase you get a phone call.

[mdench]

We've had their software under this and have since moved away as we just couldn't get it to work reliably

[synaesthesia]

We were already aware of this, as most of Edugeek were, and we got a phone call a fortnight ago. Without sounding racist, we were immediately believing it was a scam call, indian accented chap in a large callcenter (although directed through somewhere in the UK) and the site he directed us too was flagging up many dodgy SSL certificates and errors. It was definitely the right site though oddly enough!

Said we'd look into it another time as we were rather too busy at the time, so we could investigate further. Of course we'd not need any phone call to do it!

[fiza]

I have just had the most weirdest phone call from Autodesk and they have just told me about their software been free for 3 years for educational institutes. Very out the blue.

 

Design the Future - UK | Autodesk

 

Just wondering if anyone else has had a phone call and just warning those just incase you get a phone call.

 

I had that phone call on Friday. Autodesk software is free. I told her I had already passed the details onto our CDT Subject Leader for a decision. She didn't quite understand why it required a decision "but its free - why wouldn't you want it?". I told her it would be a few weeks before I got a decision from CDT. She rang again this morning but this time saying the offer was "time limited" but then couldn't tell me when it would expire "a month or 2"!!!!!

Weirdest conversation I have had in a while!!

[fiza]

We were already aware of this, as most of Edugeek were, and we got a phone call a fortnight ago. Without sounding racist, we were immediately believing it was a scam call, indian accented chap in a large callcenter (although directed through somewhere in the UK) and the site he directed us too was flagging up many dodgy SSL certificates and errors. It was definitely the right site though oddly enough!

Said we'd look into it another time as we were rather too busy at the time, so we could investigate further. Of course we'd not need any phone call to do it!

 

Same for us - but a heavily (indian) accented lady.

[localzuk]

I signed up for it, and passed details over to our DT dept. Their response was "far too advanced for anything we'd do here". So that's about that.

[creese]

AutoCAD is great, I used to use it daily. I don't know what the education version is like... but who is going to teach it?

 

I use DraftSite now if I need some plans.

[localzuk]

AutoCAD is great, I used to use it daily. I don't know what the education version is like... but who is going to teach it?

 

I use DraftSite now if I need some plans.

 

The versions available for education are the full commercial versions in this scheme.

[creese]

The versions available for education are the full commercial versions in this scheme.

 

Maybe a little too advanced for most. It can be customised to a degree though.

[abillybob]

Haha can't even access the website it just says Advert Blocked Sounds dodge to me...

[fiza]

AutoCAD is great, I used to use it daily. I don't know what the education version is like... but who is going to teach it?

 

 

This is the problem. it is good software but who would teach it? If the Teachers have never used it before it would be difficult to sell it even as a free option.

[36Degrees]

I think our Head of D&T went on a course to learn how to use it that was free on the proviso that we hosted a training session and the certification exam here for so many people.

[creese]

To think I gave up working as a CAD operator to work in a school 15 years ago.

[RjMaJay]

Downloaded and installed on my machine atm, first render on 3ds max

 

[synaesthesia]

Nice? Excuse the ignorance, is that a round Lego piece?

[RjMaJay]

Pokeball

[lisaansley]

Didn't get a call like that. But it sure sounds suspicious. Did you get the caller's phone number? Please share it so I can add it to my block list. Edited May 15, 2014 by lisaansley

[lisaansley]

By the way, I Googled the phone scam and 416-827-3883 - James , Toronto, ON came up along with several complaints from those who received the call. It looks like the scam has been happening for a while now.

[LosOjos]

Didn't get a call like that. But it sure sounds like a scam. Did you get the scammer's phone number? Please share it so I can add it to my block list.

 

By the way, I Googled the phone scam and 416-827-3883 - James , Toronto, ON came up along with several complaints from those who received the call. It looks like the scam has been happening for a while now.

 

It's not a scam, as has been established...

 

EDIT: sorry if that sounded harsh, always suspicious of folk who sign up and post random responses and links... your response wasn't totally random but you obviously haven't read the thread. Apologies if you were trying to help!

Edited May 15, 2014 by LosOjos

[creese]

Autodesk will release an open source 3D printer — Tech News and Analysis

[lisaansley]

It's not a scam, as has been established...

 

EDIT: sorry if that sounded harsh, always suspicious of folk who sign up and post random responses and links... your response wasn't totally random but you obviously haven't read the thread. Apologies if you were trying to help!

 

I did read the thread but I guess I assumed it was a scam right away. With all the scams around, I can't help but be suspicious. Besides, synaesthesia , was inclined to believe it was a scam, too. Not to mention the thread of complaints I found at Callercenter.

[LosOjos]

I did read the thread but I guess I assumed it was a scam right away. With all the scams around, I can't help but be suspicious. Besides, synaesthesia , was inclined to believe it was a scam, too. Not to mention the thread of complaints I found at Callercenter.

 

Sorry for the frosty reception - we've had a lot of spammers around lately so first/second posts with links ring alarm bells!

 

to EduGeek - we're friendly really

[synaesthesia]

I did read the thread but I guess I assumed it was a scam right away. With all the scams around, I can't help but be suspicious. Besides, synaesthesia , was inclined to believe it was a scam, too. Not to mention the thread of complaints I found at Callercenter.

 

I did mention it felt like a scam but as I said, whilst my boss was on the phone I was checking it out, and it did check out although they still need to fix the SSL on their site. The phone number was a UK one.

[lisaansley]

It's not a scam, as has been established...

 

EDIT: sorry if that sounded harsh, always suspicious of folk who sign up and post random responses and links... your response wasn't totally random but you obviously haven't read the thread. Apologies if you were trying to help!

 

P.S. This link 416-827-3883 - James , Toronto, ON I got through Google may not be connected whatsoever to the call you got. I shared it here to prove that the scammers were also using Autodesk to trick people into disclosing bank details. So it's a must that everyone remains vigilant against suspicious calls.

[BJG]

I only just found out about this. Here's the email response I just had from Autodesk after querying them about it.

 

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You are correct, Autodesk provides Secondary, and Further Education institutions, teachers and students with Free access to over thirty 2D and 3D design & visualization software offerings and also makes available free training, teaching and learning resources for personal use.

 

To apply to download free software for your institution please visit the Autodesk Academic Resource Center by going to Overview and select the option to receive software for use in the classroom via the blue ACCESS TODAY button.

 

Students and teachers wishing to download free licenses of the software for use at home can access the software from Autodesk Student Community | Free Software & Resources for Education

 

Autodesk has partnered with the UK Design & Technology Association to support science, technology, engineering, art and maths (STEAM) education for Secondary schools, through the provision of free software and projects. To access UK specific resources and learning content please visit Overview and look under the curriculum tab.

 

We have additional STEAM curriculum resources available at Autodesk Digital STEAM Workshop

 

If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

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Autodesk 3DS Max and Maya are amazing industry-standard products usually costing thousands of pounds per license, so it would be crazy not to give students access and alert them to free home use IMHO. I'm working to sneak some CGI into A-level Media Studies.

Edited June 3, 2014 by BJG