From Avid themselves: Buy or upgrade to Pro Tools 11 now—or purchase an upgrade and support plan if you're already current—and you'll automatically get Pro Tools 12 for free, plus one year of future updates, upgrades, and support.
 
There is also now the option to 

Subscribe to Pro Tools software: Access the software through a low-cost monthly or annual subscription, purchase and own the software (perpetual license), or purchase it as part of a Pro Tools | Duet, Pro Tools | Quartet, Pro Tools | Mbox, or Pro Tools | Eleven Rack bundle; 

 
I wonder if this was just coincidence or if Avid copied Cakewalk or vice-versa.

I think pro tools started subcription model before Cakewalk but it matters not. So far Cakewalk's subscription model ( and in some ways it is unfair to describe it as such) is better than most in that there is more flexibility and there is always the option to stay pat and keep what you have paid for rwther than all or nothing.

Avid released their new subscription model months before Sonar.

Avid released this in Oct/2014. Maybe such plan are the future of professional software marketing.
 

I can think of dozens of functionality items that Avon copied in Partial Tools from Sonar … Clip Gain, In Project Clip Fades, 64 Bit Mix Engine, Track Freezing - oh my Partial Tools doesn't have Freezing yet, Offline Bounce, Automatic Delay Compensation, …. should I go on?  
 
-D

We will see. I'm sure all vendors love it, but it remains to be seen whether consumers do. I find that, at least with Adobe, it is mixed with the tone that if any reasonably priced product that was as good could be had without  this model, they would clean up. I think Sonar's approach is smart in that it is not so draconian that people will leave in droves. Many will at least give it a try before jumping to software they most likely liked less than Sonar to begin with.

The software delivery model is very old. Sonar/Avid did not invent it. They only jumped on the bandwagon because it's a better way to do development and the customer base has grown savvy enough to cope.

Yeah, I'm a bit miffed at the Avid boys.  So far the features of PT 12 seem to be tools to help you collaborate in the cloud with other musicians.  (Something that a lot of us have been doing via FTP for years.)  That, and a built in front end for their online store where you can easily buy their over priced plugins and never leave your Pro Tools session.
 
That's a mighty weak feature set for $30.00 a month.

Mod Bod
Yeah, I'm a bit miffed at the Avid boys.  So far the features of PT 12 seem to be tools to help you collaborate in the cloud with other musicians. 
That's a mighty weak feature set for $30.00 a month.

M:
I think the online feature is great so that all the Partial Tools users can commiserate over the dropping Avon stock, count the layoffs, and dream about track freeze.  Of course they also can fantasize about how they invented offline bounce ….  The forum over there is not as Ducky as it used to be.
 
-D
 

Mod Bod
Yeah, I'm a bit miffed at the Avid boys.  So far the features of PT 12 seem to be tools to help you collaborate in the cloud with other musicians.  (Something that a lot of us have been doing via FTP for years.)  That, and a built in front end for their online store where you can easily buy their over priced plugins and never leave your Pro Tools session.
 
That's a mighty weak feature set for $30.00 a month.

I don't know why they insist on calling it 12. Avid certainly jump up versions a lot quicker than they used to. I remember PT 5 received I don't know how many revisions over the course of 4 years, some including much more significant improvements like Beat Detective and Surround (PT 5.1).
 
Not that I care much aout the numbering, since I get all free updates until March 2016, whether their point release or full-fledged upgrades. And so far, I haven't got a use for all the cloud stuff.
 
I'm quite happy with 11 and I just don't see what 12 brings that deserves to be considered a major upgrade.