SOFTWARE LICENSING

FlexNet Licensing Software Now Supports Java, .NET

By Patrick Lambert, TMCnet Contributing Writer

With the recent move from disk based software towards downloadable software, the need of publishers to have robust licensing solutions is ever increasing, which is now offered by  FlexNet Producer Suite by Flexera.

Like most licensing software out there, this suite allows developers and publishers to use all sorts of licensing solutions, such as node-based licenses or floating licenses, allowing them to sell their software to people and ensure that the product isn't being used on unauthorized systems. The software can also be extended to embedded systems, and this is where FlexNet Embedded, part of FlexNet Producer Suite, comes in. With the latest version of this product, FlexNet Embedded now supports Java and .NET (News - Alert) as well.

Traditionally, embedded software didn't need much in the realm of digital rights management (DRM) since they were using fairly basic operating systems, where their features and capabilities were limited. But now, many embedded systems run powerful software on Windows CE or Embedded Linux, and the need for more graduate control of who can run these products, and what features are available, become a reality for software makers. FlexNet Embedded now supports more programming languages than ever, and offers more graduate control as well, including the ability for software vendors to sell a single SKU.

Java and the .NET framework have an over 90 percent market penetration, and as such it's important for licensing tools to support these platforms. As embedded systems become commoditized the way standard computers have been, software vendors need new ways to monetize their products, and as such powerful, compact and effective licensing software like FlexNet are needed.

With this new release, FlexNet Embedded now supports 32 & 64-bit Java for Windows, Oracle (News - Alert) Solaris and Linux, as well as 32 & 64-bit .NET for Windows. This new release is critical to supporting next generation software creations, and allowing developers to sell their products to a wide array of customers.

FlexNet software provides licensing capabilities, along with entitlement and compliance management, from the installation to the deployment of these products.