News

Software licensing

March 06, 2008 06 Mar'08
How to negotiate virtualisation licensing

IT managers negotiating the price of virtualisation licences with software suppliers such as Microsoft, SAP and Oracle could get cheaper deals if they audit software use beforehand.
January 28, 2008 28 Jan'08
Firms weary about software licensing models, report says

Firms continue to find the software licensing models of their suppliers a source of headaches, according to a report published by analyst Forrester.
November 23, 2007 23 Nov'07
Free Software Foundation develops open licence to cover SaaS

The Free Software Foundation has developed an open licence to cover on-demand software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications.
November 16, 2007 16 Nov'07
Software to become a buyer’s market, says Gartner

Competitive forces are converging to reduce software licence fees, says Gartner

October 12, 2007 12 Oct'07
Shadow promises mainframe saving

Mainframe middleware firm DataDirect Technologies has developed technology to enable businesses running IBM z/OS mainframes to save on software licensing costs by offloading applications on to dedicated mainframe processors.
September 24, 2007 24 Sep'07
E-tailer cuts licensing costs with Linux server

An online retailer has saved more than £56,000 in software licensing costs after moving its IT platform from Microsoft Windows to Linux.
July 30, 2007 30 Jul'07
DVLA reduces costs by 30% with online service

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) expects to save £50m over the next eight years, as it begins to reap the benefits of technology to enable customers to pay their car tax online.
July 19, 2007 19 Jul'07
Gartner: MS subscription licence may become ‘mandatory’

Microsoft is likely to make changes to the way its products are licensed that could, in effect, make its Software Assurance subscription licensing programme mandatory by 2009, analyst firm Gartner has predicted.
July 15, 2007 15 Jul'07
Microsoft Software Assurance deals questioned by IT chiefs

One in four companies that bought into Microsoft’s Software Assurance licensing programme in 2004 are being deterred from renewing the three-year deal because they perceive it to be poor value, a study by Forrester Research has revealed.
July 10, 2007 10 Jul'07
Microsoft Software Assurance renewals in doubt

Users are still seeing little value in Microsoft's Software Assurance (SA) subscription licence programme, a new report from Forrester Research suggests.

July 01, 2007 01 Jul'07
Users slam lack of virtual apps support

Users of virtualisation software say they are unable to get support for applications. As reported last week, IT workers have objected to the cost of software licences for virtual applications.
June 28, 2007 28 Jun'07
Users seek support on virtualisation

Users of virtualisation software have complained that the combination of costly licensing agreements and a lack of support from suppliers is eroding the cost advantages offered by the technology.
June 28, 2007 28 Jun'07
Government failing to take advantage of cheap licensing deals, says PAC

Nearly half of all central government bodies are losing money because they are failing to take advantage of cheap licences for software and telecommunications, according to a report from the Commons public accounts committee.
June 25, 2007 25 Jun'07
IT chiefs press for cut in virtual licence costs

IT user groups are to meet with leading software suppliers to tackle the costs of server virtualisation software licensing, which is a growing concern among IT departments.
June 13, 2007 13 Jun'07
Microsoft outlines Windows Server virtualisation costs

Microsoft has released a white paper to help clarify how its licensing works with virtualised Windows Server environments.
May 17, 2007 17 May'07
DVLA speeds registrations with BancTec scanning system

The Driver & Vehicle Licence Agency (DVLA) has installed a new scanning system to improve processing times for vehicle registration certificates.
March 20, 2007 20 Mar'07
Symantec says fixing licensing portal top priority

Company officials say help is on the way as fallout continues from the merger of Symantec and Veritas ordering systems last November.
February 05, 2007 05 Feb'07
Licences could hinder grids

Current software licensing models could hinder the adoption of grid technologies that use virtualisation software to run applications over several machines, a grid user group has warned.
January 18, 2007 18 Jan'07
Your shout: Train to check churn, the licensing cosh

Have your say at computerweekly.com
November 20, 2006 20 Nov'06
Sun opens door to Java source code

Sun Microsystems has made the Java source code available to the open source community under the GNU General Public Licence.
October 30, 2006 30 Oct'06
Users to question Oracle on Fusion

UK users will meet Oracle next month to voice their concerns about the company’s Fusion middleware strategy, licensing and ongoing support.
October 09, 2006 09 Oct'06
Microsoft offers users unlimited virtualisation

Microsoft has changed the licensing of its Windows Server Datacenter, allowing users buying new servers licensed with the operating system to run an unlimited number of virtualised instances of Windows Server.
October 04, 2006 04 Oct'06
Microsoft changes Window Server Datacentre licensing

Microsoft has changed the licensing of its Windows Server Datacentre operating system, allowing users buying new servers licensed with the OS to run an unlimited number of virtualised Windows Server instances.
August 22, 2006 22 Aug'06
Open Source Initiative sets out plan to curb proliferation of open source licenses

The Open Source Initiative has published a draft plan aimed at reducing the proliferation of different open source licences.
August 08, 2006 08 Aug'06
Insist on a flexible deal, users urged

IT directors should look to negotiate more nuanced software licensing contracts that allow them to accumulate desktop user licences in stages rather than paying for them all up-front.
August 02, 2006 02 Aug'06
Microsoft launches system to tackle licensing problem

Microsoft has launched its software asset management system in the UK, which is designed to make it easier for firms to manage their software licences.
July 26, 2006 26 Jul'06
Big Blue turns to performance based licensing

IBM has unveiled plans to charge for its software based on how fast it runs on customer systems.
July 25, 2006 25 Jul'06
CIOs slam increasing licence complexity

IT chiefs are struggling with the complexity of software licensing contracts, and they see little evidence of suppliers becoming more accommodating, or licences offering better value than three years ago.
July 25, 2006 25 Jul'06
Tool helps users sidestep virtual licensing breach

A virtualisation supplier has developed a product it claims will solve the software licensing issues that arise when users run multiple instances of an operating system or application in violation of their licensing agreements.
June 07, 2006 07 Jun'06
DVLA links with passport system to help ease licence applications

Drivers can now apply for a driving licence without having to send in their passport, if it is one of the new digital type.
May 09, 2006 09 May'06
Merger boom leads to software licensing headache for IT directors

The boom in mergers and acquisitions (M&As) has left IT directors grappling with software licensing deals that are inflexible and lack transparency, according to leading industry figures.
May 05, 2006 05 May'06
Sun offers Linux easier Java licensing terms

Sun Microsystems is to alter its licensing arrangements to make it easier to bundle the Java Runtime Environment with Linux, to promote the use of Java applications in open source environments.
April 28, 2006 28 Apr'06
Government saves £45m on Oracle deal

The government has renegotiated its bulk software licensing deal with Oracle to save the public sector £45m.
April 11, 2006 11 Apr'06
Telco reuses MS licences

Vodafone reseller Yes Telecom has become one of the first UK companies to take advantage of second-hand Microsoft licences.
March 21, 2006 21 Mar'06
Sun makes new chip design open-source

Sun is releasing the design of its new UltraSparc T1 "Niagara" processor under an open-source licence, to encourage further development of the high-productivity chip design in the developer community.
March 21, 2006 21 Mar'06
Oracle posts 42% profit increase

Oracle has posted a 42% increase in net profits for the third quarter, on the back of improved software licensing revenue.
March 21, 2006 21 Mar'06
Next phase of MS Software Assurance launched

Microsoft has unveiled the next generation of its Software Assurance licensing programme, bringing a range of features to simplify Windows software support.
March 14, 2006 14 Mar'06
New business model justifies cost of Epos replacement at Threshers

Off licence chain Threshers is replacing its electronic point of sale systems following a change in business strategy at the beginning of the year saw it begin to transfer stores to a franchise model.
February 06, 2006 06 Feb'06
MS licensing changes get a mixed response

IT directors groups have hailed Microsoft's revamped Software Assurance licensing scheme as a step in the right direction, but they gave a mixed response to some parts of the package, which will be launched next month.
January 31, 2006 31 Jan'06
Novell offers users more licence choice

Netware supplier Novell is changing its main channel corporate licensing model to provide additional options for users of its software.
January 23, 2006 23 Jan'06
Novell changes software licensing model

Novell is changing its main channel corporate licensing model to give customers a different buying option.
January 23, 2006 23 Jan'06
Microsoft bolsters Software Assurance scheme

Microsoft will soon be implementing a number of improvements in its Software Assurance scheme for businesses, to enable them to get more value out of the licensing package.
January 10, 2006 10 Jan'06
Oracle cuts licensing costs for multicore systems but draws flak over complexity

Oracle has changed the way it licenses its software on multicore systems. Many multicore users will now pay less but analyst group Ovum warned that it further complicates Oracle's licensing scheme.
December 16, 2005 16 Dec'05
Oracle profits slump but new licences up

Oracle has posted a drop in its second quarter net profits but it says new licence revenues are up.
November 28, 2005 28 Nov'05
Windows Server 2003 R2 boosts back-up

Microsoft will next week bring out the first interim release of its Windows Server operating system, a product which aims to improve the value of its Software Assurance licence scheme.
November 25, 2005 25 Nov'05
BASF offers SAP HR as a service

BASF IT Services has signed a five-year partnership deal with SAP that will allow it to offer SAP software licences as part of a complete human resources services package.
November 15, 2005 15 Nov'05
Microsoft unveils pricing tool for volume licensing

Microsoft has released the Microsoft Product Licensing Advisor to help users get the best deals through its volume license programmes.
November 14, 2005 14 Nov'05
Don't rush in to usage licensing, users warned

Users should not rush into adopting the utility-based computing model being proposed by suppliers, delegates at last week's Gartner Symposium were warned by analyst Rakesh Kumar.
November 11, 2005 11 Nov'05
Reseller sells second-hand Microsoft licences

A software dealer is re-selling cut-price Microsoft software licences from insolvent companies or from firms that don’t need the licences anymore at up to half the price of new software.
October 31, 2005 31 Oct'05
Jini goes open source

Sun Microsystems is releasing its Jini developer toolkit under an Apache open source licence.
October 18, 2005 18 Oct'05
Firms to test open source Flash tools

Macromedia has released an early version of one of its next-generation development tools for building applications based on its latest Flash Player 8.5 software and launched a tiered licensing scheme.
October 18, 2005 18 Oct'05
Get ready for new Microsoft licensing models

Microsoft is making radical changes to its software pricing that aims to cut costs for customers and force other vendors to dump their own licensing models.
October 17, 2005 17 Oct'05
Microsoft simplifies licensing

Microsoft is simplifying its Windows Server System licensing in a move it said would make it cheaper for users to adopt Windows virtualisation on their networks.
October 11, 2005 11 Oct'05
Microsoft delivers cheaper server virtualisation

Microsoft is simplifying its Windows Server System licensing to make it cheaper for customers to adopt Windows virtualisation on their network.
September 23, 2005 23 Sep'05
Oracle share price falls as new licence sales flatline

Oracle has reported that new licence revenues for its key database and middleware products were almost flat in the last quarter – and immediately suffered a 5% slump in its share price yesterday.
September 19, 2005 19 Sep'05
Users angered by Microsoft push for Software Assurance take-up

Windows Vista Enterprise exclusive to users who sign up to subscription licence model
September 16, 2005 16 Sep'05
Windows Vista Enterprise only available through Software Assurance

Businesses that want the enterprise edition of Microsoft’s forthcoming Windows Vista operating system will have to sign up to the company’s Software Assurance (SA) licensing programme.
September 13, 2005 13 Sep'05
Simplify licensing, IT leaders tell Microsoft

Microsoft should reduce the costs of software licensing, simplify the licensing process and lead the whole industry into a "conflict-free licensing zone", according to the Corporate IT Forum, whose members include senior IT managers in 150 FTSE ...
September 13, 2005 13 Sep'05
Integrity licence tweak for capacity on demand

As part of its virtualisation drive this week, HP is tweaking the licensing of processors on its Integrity server range to allow users to have extra processing capacity as and when they need it.
September 09, 2005 09 Sep'05
On-demand CRM is on the up

Hosted customer relationship management (CRM) is competing with traditional licensing as the most popular delivery method for applications.
September 06, 2005 06 Sep'05
House of Fraser drops Software Assurance for old licensing deal

House of Fraser has dropped Microsoft's Software Assurance programme, which offers software upgrades and discounts on training in return for an annual fee, claiming it is poor value for money.
September 06, 2005 06 Sep'05
UK user groups believe Microsoft has listened

Several major IT user groups have expressed confidence that Microsoft's updated Software Assurance volume licensing model, due to be unveiled on 15 September, will mark a real step forward for corporate users hoping for improved terms and ...
August 10, 2005 10 Aug'05
Open source debate hots up at Linuxworld conference

The debate over the future of open source came to the fore yesterday at the Linuxworld conference in San Francisco, with one Hewlett-Packard executive calling on IBM and Sun Microsystems to abandon their own licences and back the GNU general public ...
August 08, 2005 08 Aug'05
Firms using 'barely half' of their ERP licences

Businesses that have enterprise resource planning applications are using barely half the licences they have paid for, according to analyst group AMR Research.
August 08, 2005 08 Aug'05
Cut Software Assurance costs, users tell Microsoft

Microsoft could face a backlash from users if changes to its Software Assurance licensing scheme, due to be announced next month, do not address cost and value concerns.
August 02, 2005 02 Aug'05
Microsoft cracks down on pirates

People running Windows software will now need to provide a licence key before they can download any free Microsoft software.
July 28, 2005 28 Jul'05
Microsoft signs 100,000 desktop deal with government departments

Microsoft signs 100,000 desktop deal with government departments Microsoft has signed two major licensing agreements with government departments.
July 18, 2005 18 Jul'05
Oracle eases multi-core licensing

Oracle has changed its software licensing policy on multi-core processors to address criticism its existing scheme is too expensive.
July 15, 2005 15 Jul'05
Oracle bends under pressure on software licensing

Oracle has finally changed its software licensing policy on multi-core processors, to address criticism that its existing scheme was too costly.
July 11, 2005 11 Jul'05
Mobile kit complicates licensing

The proliferation of mobile devices is making it harder for companies to stop employees using illegal or counterfeit software, according to a survey of 500 business managers.
July 04, 2005 04 Jul'05
CIOs fail to see benefit of using open source

CIOs fail to see benefit of using open source Open source software was not popular with the IT leaders surveyed by CIOConnect. Despite publicity about lower licensing costs and improved reliability, less than 10% thought the technology was of ...
May 26, 2005 26 May'05
Novell’s losses grow

Novell has posted bigger losses for the second quarter as it saw licence revenues for its software fall.
April 15, 2005 15 Apr'05
AMD ignites licensing touch paper

AMD’s much anticipated launch of its first dual-core Opteron server processor on 21 April has fuelled the debate among software...
April 11, 2005 11 Apr'05
OSI sets new open source licence rules

The Open Source Initiative (OSI) has launched a programme to reduce the growing number of different open source licences in...
April 01, 2005 01 Apr'05
RedHat rises on back of enterprise sales

A big jump in enterprise Linux licences helped increase Red Hat's sales by more than half in the fourth quarter.
February 28, 2005 28 Feb'05
Gartner warns on IBM licence changes

Analyst Gartner has warned users to act in response to changes IBM has made to some of its software licensing and maintenance...
February 17, 2005 17 Feb'05
Tarantella hands out free licences to sysadmins

Tarantella has announced free single-user licences for its Linux-based Secure Global Desktop Enterprise Edition 4, which gives...
November 29, 2004 29 Nov'04
Licence costs could double by 2006

Users planning to purchase servers next year should start negotiating with suppliers now or risk paying increased software...
November 17, 2004 17 Nov'04
Solaris steals Linux's clothes

Sun plans to counter the growing popularity of Linux by releasing Solaris under an open-source licence and adopting a software...
November 15, 2004 15 Nov'04
BPM workflow helps DVLA manage licences

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is deploying Tibco's business process management software to automate the handling of...
November 03, 2004 03 Nov'04
NHS deal with Microsoft to save health service up to £330m

The NHS has announced a new software licensing deal with Microsoft that promises substantial savings and the development of...
October 29, 2004 29 Oct'04
i2 reports third quarter profit

Despite shrinking revenue during the past quarter, growing software licence sales and rising earnings have supply chain...
October 19, 2004 19 Oct'04
Software suppliers and users at odds over licensing

Software publishers are moving to subscription-based pricing, but enterprises prefer perpetual licensing, which has been the...
September 30, 2004 30 Sep'04
Seminars aim to clarify licence issues

IT managers can get a free refresher course in the complexities of software licensing next month.
September 15, 2004 15 Sep'04
Oracle's numbers up

Oracle has reported revenue and earnings growth in its first quarter, with its revenue from new software licences rising 7%, to...
August 20, 2004 20 Aug'04
NetSuite targets Intuit customers

Two months after ending a licensing deal with Oracle, mid-market business applications supplier NetSuite is using its entry-level...
August 02, 2004 02 Aug'04
Rotherham squeezes more out of Microsoft to enable e-gov upgrade

Rotherham Council has taken advantage of a 2002 Microsoft licensing agreement to roll out a range of collaborative software for a...
July 12, 2004 12 Jul'04
French licence will improve access to open source software

Researchers at three French government funded research organisations have introduced a new licence which is compatible with the...
June 25, 2004 25 Jun'04
PeopleSoft migration management angers former JD Edwards users

PeopleSoft's effort to migrate former JD Edwards customers to a new licence and maintenance pricing model has some users angry,...
June 22, 2004 22 Jun'04
Oracle and NetSuite terminate licensing deal

Oracle and hosted ERP software supplier NetSuite have ended a licensing agreement which allowed NetSuite to use Oracle's name to...
February 23, 2004 23 Feb'04
Licence renewal gives UK firms a chance to strike better MS deals

UK users who directly approach Microsoft will have the opportunity to negotiate on software licensing deals, according to...
February 02, 2004 02 Feb'04
Newham sets a precedent

Microsoft could face pressure from local authorities to match software licensing discounts it has offered Newham Council,...
January 22, 2004 22 Jan'04
Microsoft sets out protocol licensing changes

Microsoft is to announce changes to a licensing program for software communications protocols it created as part of its landmark...
December 04, 2003 04 Dec'03
Microsoft unveils intellectual property policy to expand access

Microsoft says its latest licensing policy signals its commitment to working with other suppliers in the industry on intellectual...
November 10, 2003 10 Nov'03
Insurer saves up to 90% on licences by using software tracking tool

In a bid to reduce licence costs, property insurer St Paul International Insurance has deployed Tivoli Licence Manager, a tool...
November 04, 2003 04 Nov'03
Sun seeks partners in per-user licensing model

At its SunNetwork user conference in Berlin next month, Sun Microsystems plans to announce the first independent software vendors...
October 07, 2003 07 Oct'03
Software licensing must evolve, executives warn

Two major software companies have demanded that software licensing practices must change to accommodate economic and technology...
September 17, 2003 17 Sep'03
Oracle sets up pricing workshops

Oracle held its first quarterly workshops to help customers understand the intricacies of its pricing and licensing practices.
September 15, 2003 15 Sep'03
Oracle proposes flat-rate licensing

How Oracle's grid computing and licensing will affect the industry and users.
September 10, 2003 10 Sep'03
Licensing issues cloud Oracle's grid drive

Oracle has hailed grid computing as the future of IT, but its success depends on devising a model of software licensing which...