Is The SolidWorks V6 Cloud Based CAD Still Alive?

In my last post talking about the new V6 based SolidWorks conceptual design product I wondered whether it was a product that would lead the way for the V6 cloud based replacement of the Parasolid based SolidWorks of today or whether the cloud based V6 product was finally reduced to a conceptual design product. I decided to try and get it straight from the horse’s mouth and sent SolidWorks this pointed question.

“Is SolidWorks still working towards developing the cloud based CAD system that was shown on stage at SolidWorks World 2010?”

I got this reply from Matt West, social media manager of SolidWorks.

“All I can tell you is that the first release of our next generation products is coming next year. It will be complementary to what we do today, and will focus on conceptual mechanical design.”

I believe mine was a pretty simple and straightforward question basically asking whether the company was still working on something that they said they were working on. If they were then I see no harm in saying yes. After all it was their own CEO who stood up on stage three years ago and showed the crowd what the future of the company’s flagship product looked like.

My simple question has three possible answers – “yes”, “no” and “won’t say”. SolidWorks has opted for “won’t say”. It seems to me that the company is pretty happy with all the confusion surrounding SolidWorks V6. And for reasons beyond my comprehension it seems like the company wants the confusion to continue.

However, I did find it interesting to note that Matt used the words “next generation products” (plural), which seems to suggest that apart from the V6 based conceptual design product, there are more V6 based products to come. If one of them is the Parasolid based SolidWorks replacement I’m not sure why the company is feeling shy to say so.