Whereas packaged applications and SaaS offer two licensing options, a company called AspenTech brings in a third, and it’s closer to the prepaid phone card model. “IT buyers of enterprise software, it sounds like an advantage that, although intangible, will probably produce the most benefit of all,” Ephraim Schwartz writes in Prepaid software: More than a token solution to licensing woes. Aspen, a maker of software for oil refineries, takes an uncommon approach, Schwartz explains, but one that makes sense for customer and vendor alike. “The way the company allows its customers to purchase its smorgasbord of software applications is unique — so much so that you may want to consider putting a little pressure on your vendors to consider the same.” Related: Dialing down software support costs. Software Development