What is OEM Software?
OEM is an acronym that stands for “Original Equipment Manufacturer”. It is a term used in several different industries, including the automotive industry. In this article, I will briefly discuss the term’s use in regard to software.
OEM is not a well-known or understood term. In a general sense, OEM is used to refer to products that are primarily bought and sold in the Business-to-Business marketplace. A good example of this is auto body parts that are manufactured for the automotive industry by a third party. These parts are referred to as OEM because the original equipment manufacturer, in this case a car company such as Ford, is the recipient, and the consumer market for these parts is very small in comparison.
In regard to software, OEM has a slightly different connotation. Many of the major software publishers, such as Microsoft, produce OEM versions of the same software that they offer on the retail market to the general population. This OEM software is similar in many respect to its retail counterpart. Some key differences do exist though.
OEM software generally has a lower price than its retail counterpart, because it is often sold in bulk. OEM software often does not include any free technical support from the manufacturer, while the retail version of the same title does have free tech support. The reasoning for this is that OEM software is primarily sold to computer manufacturers and resellers, such as Dell, who bundles the software with their own products before selling the entire package to the end user. In some cases, the reseller will install and set up the OEM software beforehand as well, in order that the end product is ready-to-go out of the box. Many resellers also offer their own technical support, negating the need for the software publisher to provide this feature to the end user.
I am a web developer for DirectDeals.com, and I enjoy writing articles online about the OEM software market and good places to find cheap software online.
Author: Leonard Short
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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