OpenVision Inc, the Pleasanton, California systems management start-up, has announced its pricing structure for its distributed systems management offerings, and has picked its way through the minefield of machine-class versus user-based pricing – the bane of enterprise users by adopting a pricing structure that is system-independent, meaning that users pay the same price for a server system whether they have a Sparcstation or the largest Sequent Computer Systems Inc machine. Evidently users love the idea, since it means no more software taxes as they upgrade their hardware. OpenVision has also packaged its products directly for the client-server market, offering modular server and agent software packages that users can flexibly deploy based on their specific environment needs. By contrast, competitors require customers to place full applications functionality on every node to be managed in the network, an expensive proposition in large enterprise environments. OpenVision is also introducing a Value-Trade Agreement, another new twist. Customers that sign the agreement will be able to trade in any OpenVision product they buy for any other stuff from OpenVision and get a full price rebate on the trade-in.
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