OEM support vs third-party maintenance
How OEM contracts and third-party maintenance differ on price, SLA, parts sourcing, and firmware access, and where each one fits.
What you are actually buying
An OEM contract bundles hardware replacement, software updates, and engineering escalation. Third-party maintenance (TPM) covers hardware replacement and engineering support, usually without new firmware releases.
That single difference drives most of the decision. If a platform is stable and feature-complete, you are often paying OEM prices for updates you will never install.
Price shape
OEM support cost typically steps up after end of sale and again after the last software maintenance date. TPM pricing normally lands 50 to 70 percent below the post-EOS OEM renewal for the same install base.
Where OEM still wins
Keep OEM where you need current firmware for security or interoperability, where a feature roadmap matters, or where a vendor-specific support entitlement gates a software license you depend on.
Working out what a renewal should cost? The calculator gives you a range in about a minute.
Open the TPM savings calculator