SmartCache is one of OpenDNS’s many significant innovations. We invented SmartCache — the technology that automatically locates and tries the last known good IP address for Web sites that are having authoritative DNS outages and are completely unreachable on the Internet as a result. SmartCache works to make those Web sites load for OpenDNS users who have SmartCache enabled, while they’re unreachable for everyone else. It’s this kind of innovation that we’re known for, and probably one of the reasons you choose our service.
When we introduced OpenDNS Deluxe and OpenDNS Enterprise last week, we put SmartCache in the “only available to subscribers” bucket of features. Any Basic (or free) users who had SmartCache enabled would keep there ability to manage the feature, but going forward it would only appear available to new paying subscribers. Many of you wrote in to express your concern about our decision: You made the case that SmartCache is core to our DNS service, and something that makes switching from your ISP’s DNS to OpenDNS very compelling.
So, starting about 10 minutes ago, users of all versions of OpenDNS get SmartCache for free. And I hope you turn it on, as it’s quite awesome.
Finally, it’s the only feature that was removed from the Basic, free service. We can now accurately say that nothing was removed from the Basic service when we launched our paid services and we won’t be ignoring the free service going forward either; we know a lot of you try the free version first and so you can bet that we will make sure it continues to be a world-class service.
Ko Bros
Thanks for that!
After a brief tryout of UltraDNS (with a real fast server in Amsterdam) I returned to the OpenDNS servers. Some urls were simply not avaialble any longer — until I put the OpenDNS servers back into my router.
Ko
posted on October 27th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
David Ulevitch, Founder
Awesome!
posted on October 27th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Aditya Sengupta
You might want to update your comparison page: http://www.opendns.com/start/
posted on October 27th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Allison Rhodes
Coming in a few minutes.
posted on October 27th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Mike T
Kudos to you all for this. It is refreshing to see a company that actually listens to the customer and puts them first once in a while.
Great job and very commendable.
posted on October 27th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Rich
Now that’s what i’m talking about. OpenDNS although has a paying option still looks after the little guys. OpenDNS, you are just awesome! Cheers guys
posted on October 28th, 2009 at 10:00 am
Fu
Congratulations!
Most sensible decision in a smoke+mirrors industry.
OpenDNS team: stay cool, stay original
posted on October 30th, 2009 at 5:17 am
Abid Famasya
yeah.. keep this service better and better
posted on November 1st, 2009 at 11:23 pm
LeiseSchwarzeGottin
Now that’s what we would call ‘taking good care of the customers’… BRAVO! *clap clap clap*
Yay!
posted on November 4th, 2009 at 3:56 am
Rafael Minuesa
You are making the right decision, even from a commercial point of view.
These are the kind of decisions that, for example, make Google a winner and Yahoo a looser.
Thank you
posted on November 5th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Harlan
How do I turn on smartcache
posted on November 7th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Allison Rhodes
@Harlan - you should see the option in your account dashboard.
posted on November 11th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Billy Rowe
This is great! Woot!
I was so depressed when I saw that smartcache wasn’t for free users.
The option to allow specific computers and users to access blocked sites, should be free as well. Just a suggestion.
I think the enterprise package should have everything that an enterprise network should have.
The option I just stated above, should be in the free package.
I would love that option to be available.
It makes the new customers say “Wow, OpenDNS really must care about their customers! Let’s buy enterprise package!”
It would be neat if that feature can also be added to free package.
Go opendns!
posted on November 30th, 2009 at 9:28 pm