DEC’s plans to charge usage fees for its software has raised user hackles and the company will now offer a choice of licensing options. According to Computer Systems News, the various options will be based on sites, usage and VAXclusters, and software developers will be able to buy a cheaper version of VMS that offers less functionality. DEC acknowledges that some customers have made it clear they won’t tolerate usage fees, but the company’s U-turn has left many feeling disgruntled still. Some users say that DEC is following the IBM path and unbundling software to garner more revenue. But in order to make a DEC system work, users will have to bear the added financial burden of a shopping list. DEC admits that software prices will increase, but denies that is the only motive for changing, and claims that it is trying to make its software more attractive in order to gain market share. Users are divided over DEC’s motives, but they agree that altering software licences won’t be an easy task. Although other companies have charged usage fees, DEC is the first to do so in the largest accounts, and most manufacturers offer site licences. DEC also faces a licensing problem in local area network accounts where it is virtually impossible to say how many customers are using a particular software package.
