sadly another long lasting friend is about to be buried in the wet, cold data void that holds past programs (... and AOL CDs).

The Essbase Excel Add In is about to be de-continued (see  Doc ID 1466700.1) in January '13.

The (already out) version 11.1.2.2.x of the Excel Add In must be considered the last release of this particular program
(Unless the guys from Applied OLAP bring out their own version next to the openOffice Add In that they already sport).

As expected, SmartView achieved parity in functionality with Release 11.1.2.1.102 and ever since then it was just a question of time when our old buddy would get the shoe.

For all users out there like me that have known and worked with the Excel Add In for the last decade(s) this is a loss.

SmartView may have functionality parity, and may altogether be the stronger, open technology - capable of Planning forms, connection to HFM etc. .
But (from my personal point of view) it will not give the end user the same direct access to his databases, with nothing between him and his Essbase Server. Of course it was to be expected that only one of the two could survive and it was obvious that this would be SmartView, so this does not come as a surprise.
Still.
A minute for an old friend . . .

. . .

Thank you, and let us look forward!
Unless you had other plans for the upcoming season, why not spend it investigating SmartView for your Essbase interaction needs.
We hear that the days between Christmas and new year hold unlimited potential to test out new things.
Or take it as a new year resolution: "I will switch to SmartView at the earliest possible moment".