What is Software Metering?

If you have developed a piece of software, then you might have wondered if there is a way to control how much this software is used even after it has been installed on remote computers. This can allow you to limit how much people use your software, and it can allow you to prevent people who have unauthorized versions of your software from using it. This type of control is known as software metering. Here are a few things that software metering can allow you to do. 

1. Track and Maintain Licenses

If you have sold 100 licenses of your software, then you might want to be able to make sure that only 100 instances of your software are in use at any given time. You will be able to detect any unauthorized use of your software so that you can disable it and prevent thieves from using your software for free. 

2. Control the Time

Perhaps you only want people to use your software between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm. With software metering, you can prevent people from using your software during off hours. Typically, you can have this done automatically. 

3. Limit Usage

Perhaps you only want each user of your software to be able to use your software for a certain amount of time each day. If you only want people to use your software for 2 hours per day, then you can have their software temporarily disabled when they have reached their limit. 

4. Per Use Charging

Another way you can use software metering is to charge users every time they use your software. Rather than a subscription service, maybe you’d like to charge your users $2.99 every time they fire up your software. With software metering, you can easily keep track of this and charge each user the appropriate amount.

5. Statistics

Another way you might want to use software metering is to collect a vast database of how and when your software is used. You can track the habits of your users so that you can make adjustments and improvements in future versions. 

Software metering can provide many benefits to anyone who has just developed a new piece of software. Most of the top businesses utilize it. If you are looking for a way to exercise more control over and to keep detailed statistics of your software, then this is definitely something you should look into.