The SoftwareKey Licensing System is an extremely powerful, flexible, and expandable software licensing system containing tools ranging from client components that are used in your distributed application to server components that run on your Internet web server. This suite is designed specifically for software developers and publishers to implement software licensing compatible with distribution through CD-ROM or the Internet. In addition to reliable security, remote activation, Electronic Software Delivery (ESD), automated licensing, and unlimited distribution features, the customized suite of components provide access to instant e-commerce and offers cutting edge Electronic License Activation™ (ELA) and Electronic License Management™ (ELM) technology.
PROTECTION PLUS™ - Powerful, Flexible Licensing Toolkit
Protection PLUS™ – The Professional Licensing and Unlocking System is the foundation of SoftwareKey and works alone or integrates with SoftwareKey SOLO. It has evolved from the industry-acclaimed Protection Plus Professional (PPP) advanced software licensing toolkit that has been around since 1991. This powerful, flexible software licensing toolkit protects your applications and allows remote software license activation. Unlock demos into retail versions, protect single and multi-user applications, rent/lease software, implement pay-per-use licenses, enable modules, and more! PLUS is licensed in three forms – Professional Edition, Enterprise Edition, and Internet Edition.
This keystone component/toolkit offers developers unlimited opportunities to securely accomplish countless licensing functions. The beauty of Protection PLUS is that it works as a stand-alone product and as the cornerstone of the SoftwareKey Licensing System offering the opportunity to integrate with our SOLO product line to expand automated e-commerce licensing capabilities for your application.
Furthermore, a key feature of Protection PLUS is Instant PLUS, which allows you add software licensing and activation to your application with little to no source code modifications! (Please refer to the Instant PLUS chapter for more details.) Instant PLUS is the fastest and easiest means of getting started with licensing, and integrates with Instant SOLO and SOLO Server to make purchasing and activating online a breeze for you and your customers.
Automation Client – Works in conjunction with PLUS to automate many of the software licensing tasks performed by a software publisher. It enables your application to directly communicate with your web server to exchange licensing information without the use of an Internet browser. It allows automated software feature purchase and activation, remote license updating and disabling, pay-per-use counter tracking, and much more. This client is included in the Internet Edition of PLUS and requires a SOLO Server or special programming on a properly equipped web server.
SOFTWAREKEY SOLO - Integrated License Automation and E-Commerce
Once Protection PLUS is installed in your product, Concept Software offers you opportunities to SELL even more of your protected software using e-commerce and Electronic License Management™ technology.
Instant SOLO(SM) - Designed to allow you to start selling on the Internet today, Instant SOLO(SM) is a hands-free service which gives you the freedom to make money 24 hours a day whether you are in your office or not. Instant Secure Online License Ordering (SOLO) is the only Internet activation service that lets your customers buy your software and instantly receive a Protection PLUS unique security activation code directly over the Internet! Not only can you sell activation codes to your software, you can sell and activate product upgrades, additional features/modules/options, and additional network user seats, etc. You can automate all of the following actions:
Unlock your demo into the retail or registered version
Sell an upgrade from a "lite" version to a professional version
Convert single-user version to multi-user version
Increase number of allowed simultaneous users with price breaks
And much more…
SOLO Server™ - For those who want complete control over the entire process, the Secure Online License Ordering (SOLO) server extend your BackOffice and communicate with the client components to provide a complete, secure, automated method to license and activate all of your company’s software. All of the necessary components and scripting are provided to run on your own in-house server.
Summary
Once you are ready to start selling your software, you can use Protection PLUS to control and activate customers via phone, fax, e-mail, etc. Refer to the Protection PLUS Overview and Protection PLUS Benefits sections.
As your business grows, you can fully automate the sale and tracking of your software licenses using SoftwareKey SOLO. SOLO extends your BackOffice and works with the Automation Client to provide a complete method to license all of your company’s software. Refer to SoftwareKey SOLO Overview section.