Excel Software (www.excelsoftware.com) has announced LicenseCard 1.0 for Mac and Windows developers that create applications, plug-ins, protected documents or other types of commercial software.  

A custom image is delivered to the customer by email or web page during the purchase process. That image can be dropped onto the protected application to activate it.

According to the folks at Excel, LicenseCard provides developers and customers with a very simple, non-intrusive way to instantly activate purchased software. It supports two license types: a Simple License and a Computer Unique License.  During the purchase process, a LicenseCard image file is generated. That image includes customer specific data like name, phone number, email address and Serial Number that uniquely identifies that customer and license.

For a Simple License, the LicenseCard can activate the protected application on any number of computers. A customer will, in theory, be reluctant to distribute their LicenseCard containing personal information to other users, and this can reduce the risk of piracy.

For a Computer Unique License, the LicenseCard instantly activates the protected application on a fixed number of computers using the Internet accessible Safe Activation server. Computers without Internet access are detected and the customer is presented with a manual activation process that can be completed in minutes.

LicenseCard includes a runtime library used by the protected software. The protected software calls the runtime with an activation or validation command.  Commands in the runtime library can be called from virtually any programming language as illustrated by examples in C, C++, C#, Objective-C, Java, Delphi, RealBasic and Visual Basic.

LicenseCard can be used independently or together with other tools and services including AppProtect, DocProtect, AddLicense, QuickLicense, QLRT Xcode and Safe Activation. It's typically used with the Safe Activation server to automate a secure activation process.

The server controls how many computers the protected application can be activated on. Each activation creates a customer record in the vendor's account. The vendor can adjust the allowed activation count for each customer Serial Number  A customized LicenseCard image is typically generated during the purchase process.  A shopping cart calls a command in Safe Activation to either email the LicenseCard or present it on a web page.

LicenseCard can be used with AppProtect for applications or DocProtect for documents to apply drag and drop activation. This process requires no programming and supports either a Simple or Computer Unique license.

LicenseCard can be used with QuickLicense to enable a wide range of license types including time-limited Trial, Product, Subscription, Floating or Try/Buy licenses. A license is applied with either the programming API [application programming interface] or AddLicense application wrapping approach.  LicenseCard also works with QLRT Xcode, a static library that gives an Xcode developer full access to the QuickLicense feature set compiled into their application.

A Single User License for LicenseCard 1.0 is US$395 for either Mac or Windows computers or $690 for both platforms. The product includes royalty-free runtime distribution rights for any number of protected products or licenses.  Excel Software offers a free online video library to learn more about software protection, licensing and automated order processing.