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It’s 2009: A Year of Change and Opportunity
A Letter from Mark Bishof
Dear Friends,
We’re only a few months into 2009, but it’s already clear that it won’t be an ordinary year. Around the world, businesses and citizens are grappling with the most challenging economic conditions most of us have seen in our lifetime. Within our company, we clearly recognize that Flexera Software’s success in a lean global economy will be the result of our delivering the products and services that will enable you to drive more revenue and/or reduce operational costs while providing a quick return on investment.
We are confident that Flexera Software can continue to be an integral partner in helping software producers and high-tech device manufacturers deliver innovative entitlement management and compliance products and maximize customer satisfaction. Last year was a busy one for Flexera Software, starting with the launch of Flexera Software as a stand-alone software company on April 1, 2008. We have since worked hard to enhance our solution portfolio to meet changing market needs. Key milestones include:
- The acquisition of Intraware, a provider of digital delivery and entitlement management services that brings key software as a service (SaaS) solution entitlement management and delivery platform to Flexera Software.
- The release of FlexNet Embedded, part of the new FlexNet Suite for High-Tech Device Manufacturers, which provides makers of small-footprint devices new agility to differentiate their products via licensing. This in turn speeds time to market and reduces operational costs by allowing device manufacturers to standardize on fewer physical device models.
- The new Flexera Software License Manager for SAP Business Suite, which gives enterprises an easier way to analyze license usage and optimize investments in the SAP ERP systems that are essential to today’s business.
- The success of our sixth annual SoftSummit conference, the industry’s premier executive conference that brings together software producers and device manufacturers executives and their enterprise customers. Hosted by Flexera Software, the energy level, networking and idea exchange at this October event were outstanding.
In my many conversations with customers since coming on board as CEO, you shared some great examples of how Flexera Software solutions are integral to your success: our solutions are helping your company to increase revenues, drive down costs, and present an exceptional user experience to your customers. Recently two Flexera Software customers have spoken with us at length about how our solutions are driving success in their businesses. Foray Technologies is using Flexera Software to drive remarkable efficiencies in its software business, while Siemens Building Technologies was able to leverage Flexera Software Entitlement Management to dramatically streamline its manufacturing and carrying costs, while boosting efficiencies and customer satisfaction. If those challenges sound familiar, please take a moment to read the customer spotlight article found in this newsletter or by visiting our web site at www.flexerasoftware.com.
As for 2009, no one is sure of the health of the U.S. and global economy, and what kind of opportunities the year will hold. We have many things to continue to improve on, but as we begin this year I am very excited about the products and the commitment from the people here at Flexera Software to catalyze your success in 2009. All of us are dedicated to helping you get the most business benefit from the industry’s premier Entitlement and Compliance Management software and services.
Let me know how Flexera Software can help improve your business. If you’d like to drop me a personal note, please feel free to email me at mbishof@flexerasoftware.com or call me at
1-847-466-4100.
Sincerely,
Mark Bishof
President and CEO
Flexera Software
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Flexera Software Acquires Intraware – Broadening SaaS Delivery Model
Flexera Software has been “powering the business of software” for software producers and high-tech device manufacturers for over two decades now. The industry’s top software producers and high-tech device manufactures rely on FlexNet Suite because it provides a comprehensive end-to-end solution that lets you:
- Flexibly package your products and solutions
- Manage your entitlements
- Provide electronic marketing campaigns push
- Gather demographic data on your end-users
- Electronically distribute your software and updates
FlexNet Suite has been available via an on-premise and on-demand delivery models for several years. Now, with the January 2009 acquisition of Intraware, we are broadening our FlexNet Suite SaaS capabilities with this industry leader’s technology and infrastructure.
Our latest SaaS offering is called FlexNet Suite “OnDemand”. With FlexNet Suite OnDemand, software producers and high-tech device manufacturers can implement Flexera Software’s entitlement management and electronic software distribution capabilities either on premise, OnDemand or through a combination of both. To find out more about our delivery platforms, please visit us at www.flexerasoftware.com or call
1-800-809-5659.
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Application Spotlight: Operational Efficiencies Make a Big Difference in a Challenging Economy
Siemens Building Technologies Streamlines Inventory and Reduces Cycle Times with Flexera Software FlexNet Suite for High-Tech Device Manufacturers.
Today’s high-tech buildings comprise a plethora of sophisticated systems to control everything from heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) to security and fire protection. And just as every building is different, so are the systems that orchestrate these functions. For Siemens Building Technologies, Inc., this inescapable fact created enormous complexity in manufacturing and inventory management, which had a negative ripple effect across numerous other aspects of its business.
Siemens was looking for innovative ways to:
- Reduce the number of physical device models from hundreds of SKUs to just a few
- Cut the cycle times from weeks to days
- Flexibly customized systems in the fiel.
- Offer faster velocity and greater flexibility to create a strong competitive advantage
FlexNet Suite allowed Siemens Building Technologies to address all of these challenges, and more. “… FlexNet Suite has dramatically reduced the number of SKUs we have to manufacture and manage… Simply put, I love Flexera Software’s FlexNet Suite for High-Tech Device Manufacturers. Our License Manager system (FlexNet Operations) couldn’t make the entitlement management process any simpler for the field organization.”
Duane Keenan
Manager, Integrated Solution
Siemens Building Technologies
 To read more on this success story – please click here.
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What’s New: Flexera Software Product News and Updates
FlexNet Embedded
Launched in November of 2008 and part of the FlexNet Suite for High-Tech Device Manufacturers, FlexNet Embedded gives high-tech device manufacturers the power to unlock revenue with tailored licensing, pricing, and packaging models for your embedded software. FlexNet Embedded will help you reduce manufacturing costs and streamline supply chains by reducing the number of unique physical devices while increasing their usable life.
If you are a device manufacturer looking to:
- Maximize revenue from new and existing markets
- Prevent grey market abuse
- Use embedded software to differentiate capabilities and manage capacity on small foot print devices
- Offer trial versions of your embedded software to maximize upgrade sales
- Cut manufacturing costs by minimizing device models
- Prevent unauthorized use of capabilities without impacting usability
FlexNet Embedded can be an ideal solution for you. To find out more about FlexNet Embedded, the newest component of the Flexera Software FlexNet Suite, click here or contact us at info@flexerasoftware.com.
FlexNet Publisher
FlexNet Publisher continues to provide simultaneous product releases! In December 2008, Flexera Software released FlexNet Publisher versions 11.6.1 and 10.8.8. As previously mentioned, FlexNet Publisher adopted a platform support tier approach – to find out more about the latest product version, platform support and to download the latest binaries, please visit www.globes.com.
What’s coming up in FlexNet Publisher
In the highly anticipated July 2009 release, FlexNet Publisher will include numerous important capability upgrades and enhancements, including the ability to detect the presence of specific virtualization platforms. This capability will allow software producers to establish business rules around virtualization, such as determining whether or not to issue a license in the presence of specific virtual platforms. This value added feature will be an option to the FlexNet Publisher portfolio and will be made available for FlexNet Publisher v11.7 customers to purchase after the GA date. To find out more about the upcoming release of FlexNet Publisher, please contact your account manager.
New platform support in the July 2009 release will include:
- Java SE 1.6 will be supported but SE 1.5 will be discontinued
- Linux Standard Base v3.0 (LSB)
In July 09 some operating systems will be retired:
- Solaris 8
- Windows .NET Enterprise Server
- Windows NT v4.0 SP6a (client)
- RHEL
- SuSE
- HP-UX 11i v1
Please note that the FlexNet Publisher July 09 release will not include Red Hat and SUSE platform kits. These Linux platforms will be supported through Linux Standard Base (LSB). Importantly, all FlexNet Publisher customers utilizing v10.x should be aware that with the December 2009 release, no new builds will be provided for 10.x versions. Flexera Software will continue to support FlexNet Publisher 10.x. However, we will no longer be providing product updates and enhancements. We encourage you to find out more about FlexNet Publisher v11.x and how it can benefit you today. At FlexNet Publisher v11, or by contacting us at info@flexerasoftware.com.
FlexNet Operations
The latest version of FlexNet Operations V12.0.0.1 was made generally available in December 2008. This builds upon the summer release of FlexNet Operations, 12.0 which was focused on the 3 key themes of improved support for multiple license key generators, building organizational hierarchies and the integration of a business intelligence reporting tool. The 12.0.0.1 release introduced 4 new web services that increase the efficiency of queries to retrieve entitlements and fulfillments, resulting in significantly better performance when the database size is very large. To download the latest FlexNet Operations release, please visit www.globes.com. Or contact us at info@flexerasoftware.com.
FlexNet Operations Upcoming Release: Beta Partners invited!
The next release of FlexNet Operations will focus on enhancing the flexibility of product configurations and packaging, support for bulk upgrades and renewals and integration with FlexNet Embedded.
Flexera Software is currently seeking Beta partners that would like to test features and provide feedback. We will provide full support through the Beta program. If you are interested in being a Beta partner, please send an email to PriyaR@flexerasoftware.com with the following information:
- FlexNet Operations version, platform and database deployed
- Your name and phone number
FlexNet Connect
FlexNet Connect v11.5 was made generally available in November 2008. The latest release of FlexNet Connect allows software producers and high-tech device manufacturers to:
- Simplify and centralize reporting: Self hosted customers with multiple FLEX products can now eliminate the need for multiple Cognos instances. The upgrade to Cognos v8.3 provides the ability to centralize data retrieval.
- Improved agent performance: Windows agents have performance and management enhancements which reduce agent traffic and increases server performance.
- Enhance Web Services: FlexNet Connect v11.5 allows the management, addition and change to objects, products, versions, updates & messages through web services.
Additional enhancements found in FlexNet Connect v11.5:
- Interrupted silent updates resume automatically rather than restart Non-silent updates prompt user-action to resume or restart.
- Support for SQL Server 2008 for reporting & operational databases.
- Creating & sending messages no longer require an additional HTML page!
To find out more about the latest version of FlexNet Connect – visit us at www.flexerasoftware.com/FNC.
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Entitlement and Compliance Thought-Leadership Webinar Series – On Demand Viewing Available Now!
Check out our thought-leadership Webinar series for solutions to today’s tough challenges…
- Growing market share in a tough economic climate
- Getting products to market faster
- Figuring out if my customers are in compliance
- Making it easier for customers to buy and use more of my software
- Cutting software operations and delivery costs
Strategies for Innovating Products Faster While Simplifying Manufacturing Complexities – hear how Duane Keenan from Siemens Building Technologies utilized licensing and entitlement management to reduce manufacturing complexities.
View Webinar Now
New Strategies for Increasing Revenue and Enhancing Customer Relations – learn from licensing and entitlement experts on innovative license and business models that will make it easy for your customers to do business with you. View this Webinar to gain insight into how one Flexera Software customer utilized the FlexNet Suite to implement universal licensing, automated trials, license activation and license management.
View Webinar Now
Enable Customer Compliance and Recoup Lost Revenue – many software producers do not fully understand their enterprise customers' software usage, leading to unintentional software overuse by their customers and lost revenue for the software producer.
View Webinar Now
Delivering Software and Revenue at the 'Speed of E' – the software industry is undergoing a shift from physical to electronic distribution. Many software producers have failed to realize the benefits of Electronic Delivery Management.
View Webinar Now
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RAPIDstart - Think Big. Start Small. Deliver Quickly!
Flexera Software Professional Services is pleased to offer RAPIDstart programs to help you leverage your investment quickly and efficiently. With RAPIDstart, weeks of time can be saved, and you can maximize business results by ensuring a successful deployment that meets your requirements, in your environment. RAPIDstart programs are intended for environments where design requirements are in place and the goal is a fast, effective deployment.
To find out more on the RAPIDstart program, please contact your account manager or by emailing us at: consulting@flexerasoftware.com.
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Tips and Tricks
Compiler News: FlexNet Publisher v11.6.1 can now only be compiled using Microsoft® Visual Studio 2005 Service Pack 1 on Windows platforms, except Microsoft Windows 64-bit on Intel Itanium. This is the only version of Visual Studio currently supported.
There is an additional compiler flag in FNP v11.6.1, _USE_32BIT_TIME_T, which is required when building any application that runs on a 32-bit platform and uses the licensing toolkit libraries:
- FLEX-enabled application
- Application activation utility
- Server activation utility
The following error message is output when this flag is not used:
Incompatible size of time_t detected, on 32 bit platforms time_t must be 32 bits in length. See _USE_32BIT_TIME_T.
Version Support and New Installer: Please note that Flexera Software supports FLEXlm v9.2 and above. There is a new installer for lmadmin in FNP v11.6.1; additional platforms have been added for this release. The installer provides the following functions:
- Installation of lmadmin and all additional components required for its operation
- Some initial configuration of lmadmin: the license server manager interface port, and the license server port
- Installation of lmadmin as a Windows service
- Upgrading from a previous installation of lmadmin: importing existing configuration including license files and vendor daemons, and retaining log files from previous installation
- Starting the license server, so you can check that it is installed and operating correctly.
Please also note that SSL has been removed from lmadmin to allow software publishers to obtain an export control license for this software more easily. Publishers that require an SSL version of lmadmin, please contact Flexera Software Technical Support.
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End of Life Announcement
To continuously provide you with the highest quality solutions, Flexera Software periodically retires older software so we can focus our resources and development efforts on enhancing current versions to meet new market demands, and supporting the latest technological innovations.
Flexera Software announced on January 30th, 2009 that we are moving all versions of SafeCast to “end-of-life” program. As part of this end-of-life status, you will have 12 months to migrate your applications to FlexNet Publisher. As of January 30th, 2010, all versions of SafeCast will no longer be supported.
We encourage you to upgrade to FlexNet Publisher, which can help you quickly create new pricing models and versatile product configurations that meet your customers’ needs.
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Globes – Password Change Policy
Please note that Flexera Software is now changing on a quarterly basis user names and passwords for the product download site www.globes.com. In mid-March, you will receive an email containing updated user names and passwords for selected FlexNet products. Please use these on any subsequent visits to the site. As always, if you should need something from that site and don't recall your user name or password, please send an email to orders@flexerasoftware.com, and we will reply promptly with the information needed.
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