Altair Engineering unveiled its new software business model to enable the first on-demand computing software environment that tackles the challenges of multi-core processor licensing. In response to industry changes, Altair's innovative and patented software licensing model for PBS Professional allows users to only pay for what they use, thus powering a pure on-demand computing environment.

Over the past several years, designers of microprocessors have begun building two or more processors into a single package, introducing multi-core technology -- and a challenge to software companies worldwide. Software vendors have continued to implement outdated and inflexible licensing models, limiting customer value and the adoption of grid and on-demand computing. In response to industry and customer demands, Altair has developed its innovative software licensing model that allows customers to enable their entire enterprise infrastructure to be shared globally while only paying for actual usage of software licenses.

This industry-changing licensing model is released in conjunction with PBS Professional 9.0, a workload management software platform essential in powering grid and on-demand computing environments. PBS is the most widely implemented software environment for grid, on-demand and cluster computing worldwide.

"Multi-core technology like the forthcoming Quad-Core AMD Opteron processor code-named 'Barcelona' will deliver significant value to customers in the form of superior performance-per-watt and virtualization capabilities. But, unfortunately, some software vendors have not yet optimized their applications for multi-core processors and many struggle with how to license their products," said David Rich, director of high-performance computing at AMD. "Altair's new licensing model allows customers to immediately realize maximum value from their AMD multi-core processors and plays a catalyst role in moving the industry towards greater adoption of innovative technologies like grid, utility and on-demand computing."

The PBS Professional licensing system enables a single on-demand computing environment that includes the following key benefits:

• Users only pay for what they use where customers can enable their entire infrastructure but only pay for concurrent usage of licenses.

• Flexible software licenses that can dynamically float across enterprise computing resources, even geographically separate systems to meet changing needs of users.

• A single on-demand computing environment that intelligently schedules applications onto multi-core based infrastructures, maximizing return on computing capital investments.

• New simplified pricing offered at $13.50 per concurrent license (North American pricing), or about one-quarter the cost of previous pricing, delivers significantly greater value to customers.

"Altair is excited to serve as an industry leader in providing customers what they have been demanding, and in enabling a true on-demand computing environment," said Altair President and CEO James R. Scapa. "This is a preview to our vision of how PBS Professional will be the key enabling technology for the future of on-demand computing."

Altair partners and resellers will benefit from the new licensing model by being able to deliver greater application value to their customers. PBS Professional 9.0 is available immediately with the new licensing model. For more information, visit www.altair.com/pbs9.

About Altair Engineering

Altair Engineering Inc. powers on-demand computing and innovation for customers worldwide. The company's products and services strengthen client innovation and decision-making through technology that optimizes the analysis, management and visualization of business and engineering information. Privately held with more than 1,200 employees, Altair has offices throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia/Pacific. With a 20-year-plus track record for product design, advanced engineering software and on-demand computing technologies, Altair consistently delivers a competitive advantage to customers in a broad range of industries. To learn more, visit www.altair.com.