Marimba has upgraded an application-tracking tool that
can measure how often end users run the programs installed on their
PCs. The upgrade to the tool is designed to help IT managers reduce
costs by weeding out unneeded software licences.
The Software Usage Solution 6.0 release extends the tool's
capabilities for tracking application inventories to automated
collection of usage details, such as the last time an application
was opened and how frequently it gets used, said Kelly Wagman, a
senior product marketing manager at Marimba.
IT managers can use the data to decide whether to buy more
software licences, harvest unused applications for other end users
or cancel unneeded licences.
The application-tracking tool also can be used with Marimba's
software-distribution technology to remove unused programs from PCs
automatically. The upgraded software starts at $30,000 and is due
to ship next month.
Tim Wilson, an analyst at Enterprise Management Associates, said
many other suppliers offer similar products, including heavyweights
such as Computer Associates and IBM's Tivoli Software unit.
Wilson added that Marimba's usage-metering capability and the
integration of the company's tracking tool and its software
distribution and automatic uninstall functions differentiate its
technology from rival products.
But Fred Broussard, an analyst at IDC, disagreed, saying that
Marimba is "running with the pack" of competitors in offering such
capabilities.
Matt Hamblen writes for Computerworld