Altair Unveils Software Licensing Model for solidThinking

Altair introduces the solidThinking Units (sTUs) software licensing model.

If you’re a user of the solidThinking suite of CAD/CAE products who is tired of shelling out bucks for subscriptions and long-term licensing, then Altair has got some great news for you.

Altair has recently announced a new software licensing model that allows users to pay for their software usage by means of credits, which the company refers to as solidThinking Units (sTUs).

Inspire 2018, which can be paid for with units! (Image courtesy of solidThinking.)

Inspire 2018, which can be paid for with units! (Image courtesy of solidThinking.)

This new payment structure aims to eliminate traditional licensing hurdles, such as cost, limited software access and multiple licensing mechanisms, and will replace them with a flexible, scalable and affordable means of accessing Altair/solidThinking products.

Previously, users of solidThinking products would have had to pay for individual product licenses, regardless of how much (or how little) they actually used those products. Now, with this new licensing model, users with sufficient sTUs will be able to access the entire solidThinking suite of products at will. For example, customers with a single seat of Altair Inspire will now have access to nine different software applications currently available through solidThinking. That’s good news indeed!

The move is aimed largely at SMUs that may not have the resources to purchase a full enterprise-wide software deployment.

“We believe the frictionless access to our entire solidThinking suite and cloud resources through this single licensing model is a market first and compelling offering for SMB and some enterprise customers,” said James R. Scapa, founder, chairman and CEO of Altair. “The new licensing provides tremendous value and flexibility to organizations that are just beginning with simulation, have limited simulation resources, or require a comprehensive simulation solution that cost-effectively scales with growth.”

The benefits for users adopting the new sTU licensing model include:

  • Full Suite Access

sTUs provide access to all of solidThinking’s tools for concept and generative design, model-based development, and manufacturing simulation.

  • Shareability

sTUs can be instantly checked out and shared with anyone within an organization. When the user is finished using solidThinking units, they can be returned to the pool for someone else to use. The units are recyclable.

  • Scalability

The model reduces financial risk, including the ability to increase or decrease the quantity of units within a pool as team software needs or size changes.

  • On-Premise or Cloud Access

The cloud-enabled software from solidThinking enables always-on access on multiple devices, meaning that users can access and work on their simulations and designs from anywhere, at any time.

If you want to make the switch to the sTU licensing model, then you will be happy to learn that the sTU model is available to all customers. If you wish to convert your licensing model, then just contact your solidThinking representative and they will guide you through the process.

You can read more about the new sTU licensing model over at this link.