A number of emerging technologies, including virtualization software and multithreading, could help organizations create an IT infrastructure that would see computing resources activated only when needed. That form of resource allocation — variously called utility, on-demand or organic computing
— has been aggressively marketed over the past two years. But some manufacturers feel the lack of a model for a satisfactory software licensing scheme is standing in the way.
It’s easy to create a data centre, says Vadim Rosenberg, director of technical marketing at BEA. “”Things get expensive when you start paying for a licence.””
The ideal, Rosenberg said, would be for software vendors to take a lesson from cellular carriers, who demand a flat fee for basic services as well as per-use fees for specific additional services.
“”If we could offer that kind of pricing, that would be great,”” Rosenberg said.