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Revenue Recognition
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Revenue Recognition [Abstract]  
REVENUE RECOGNITION
REVENUE RECOGNITION
The Company derives its revenue from (i) product revenues, which typically include perpetual software licenses and hardware, (ii) service revenues, which include software license updates and product support, installation, consulting and education and (iii) hosting and managed services revenues, which include subscription fees for access to and use of our on-demand applications. Revenues from products and services have been derived from sales to end users through the Company's direct sales force, distributors and resellers.
The Company recognizes revenue from the sale of software licenses and hardware (the “Product”) when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the Product has been delivered, the fee is fixed or determinable and collection of the resulting receivable is probable. Revenue recognition for software licenses with multiple-element arrangements generally requires recognition of revenue using the residual method. Under the residual method, the portion of the total arrangement fee attributable to undelivered elements is deferred based upon its vendor-specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) of fair value, or the stated amount if higher, and subsequently recognized as the service is delivered. The difference between the total arrangement fee and the amount deferred for the undelivered elements is recognized as revenue related to the delivered elements, which is generally Product.
Certain of the Company's multiple-element arrangements include software and hardware components that function together to deliver the product's essential functionality. When these software and non-software elements are sold together, the Company believes the arrangements meet the scope exception in Accounting Standards Codification 985-605, Software Revenue Recognition, (“ASC 985-605") because of (i) the infrequency of the tangible product's sale without a software element, (ii) the degree of integration between the tangible product and the software element, which is considered significant and (iii) the non-software element of the tangible product's substantive contributions to the tangible product's essential functionality. For these multiple-element arrangements, the Company allocates the total arrangement fee to all deliverables based on a selling price hierarchy. The selling price for a deliverable is based on VSOE, if available, third party evidence (“TPE"), if VSOE is not available, or estimated selling price (“ESP”), if neither VSOE nor TPE is available. The Company generally expects that it will not be able to establish TPE due to the nature of the products sold and the markets in which it competes, and therefore relies upon VSOE or ESP in allocating the arrangement's fee. Once the arrangement fee has been allocated to each deliverable, revenue is recognized as each item is delivered.
VSOE generally exists only when the Company sells the deliverable separately and is the price actually charged by the Company for that deliverable. The Company has established VSOE for support and maintenance services, certain professional services, and education services.
ESP reflects the Company's best estimate of what the selling prices of elements would be if they were sold regularly on a standalone basis. ESP is based upon all reasonably available information including both market data and conditions and entity-specific factors. These factors include market trends and competitive conditions, product maturity, differences related to geography, distribution channel, deal size, and cumulative customer purchases. The Company has established ESP for software licenses, hardware and subscriptions and reviews them annually or more frequently when a significant change in the Company's business or selling practices occurs.
Delivery generally occurs when the Product is delivered to a common carrier at the Company's loading dock unless title and risk of loss transfers upon delivery to the customer. In sales transactions through a distributor or reseller, the Company generally recognizes revenues upon shipment to the distributor, reseller or identified end user, as applicable.
At the time of the Product sale, the Company assesses whether the fee associated with the revenue transaction is fixed or determinable and whether collection is probable. The assessment of whether the fee is fixed or determinable is based in part on the payment terms associated with the transaction. If any portion of a fee is due beyond the Company's normal payment terms, the Company evaluates the specific facts and circumstances to determine if the fee is fixed or determinable. If it is determined that the fee is not fixed or determinable, the Company recognizes revenue as the fees become due. If the Company determines that collection of a fee is not probable, then the Company will defer the entire fee and recognize revenue upon receipt of cash.
Product revenue for software licenses sold on a perpetual basis, along with hardware, is recognized at the inception of the arrangement, presuming all other relevant revenue recognition criteria are met. Product revenue for software sold on a non-perpetual basis (Rental or Term) is recognized ratably over the license term.
In connection with the sale of its software licenses, the Company sells support and maintenance services, which are recognized ratably over the term of the arrangement, typically one year. Under support and maintenance services, customers receive unspecified software product upgrades, maintenance and patch releases during the term, as well as internet and telephone access to technical support personnel.

Many of the Company's software arrangements also include professional services for consulting and implementation sold under separate agreements. Professional services revenue from these arrangements is generally accounted for separately from the software license because the services qualify as a separate element under ASC 985-605. The more significant factors considered in determining whether professional services revenue should be accounted for separately include (i) the nature of the services and whether they are essential to the functionality of the licensed product, (ii) the degree of risk, (iii) the availability of services from other vendors, (iv) the timing of payments and (v) the impact of milestones or acceptance criteria on the realizability of the software license fee. Professional services revenue under these arrangements, as well as when sold on a standalone basis, is generally recognized as the services are performed.
The Company recognizes revenue associated with education as these services are performed.
Hosting and managed services revenue reflects subscription and other recurring revenues which includes fees for access rights to software solutions offered under a subscription-based delivery model where the users do not take possession of the software. Under this model, the software applications are hosted by us or by a third party and the customer accesses and uses the software on an as-needed basis over the internet or via a dedicated line. The underlying arrangements typically (i) include a single fee for the service that is billed monthly, quarterly or annually, (ii) cover a period from 12 to 36 months and (iii) do not provide the customer with an option to take delivery of the software at any time during or after the subscription term. Hosting revenues are recognized ratably over the subscription term beginning on the commencement dates of each contract, which is the date the Company's hosting and managed services are made available to the customer. Professional services revenue for consulting or training services, when sold with hosted offerings, are accounted for separately if they have standalone value to the customer. The Company believes its professional services have standalone value because those services are sold separately by us and similar services are sold by other vendors. In addition, the Company’s hosted offerings have standalone value as such offerings are often sold separately. The deferred revenue balance on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheet does not represent the total contract value of annual or multi-year, non-cancelable hosting agreements. Unbilled deferred revenue represents future billings under hosting agreements that have not been invoiced and, accordingly, are not recorded in deferred revenue. Typical contract length is between 12 and 36 months for the Company's hosting and managed services subscriptions.
Deferred revenues primarily represent payments received from customers for software licenses and updates, hardware, product support, installation services, educational services and hosting prior to satisfying the revenue recognition criteria related to those payments.The deferred revenue balance does not represent the total contract value of annual or multi-year, non-cancelable hosting and managed services agreements. Deferred revenue that will be recognized during the succeeding twelve month period is recorded as current deferred revenue and the remaining portion is recorded as noncurrent.
The Company records its estimate for customer returns or other customer allowances as a reduction in revenues. In determining the Company’s revenue reserve estimate, and in accordance with internal policy, the Company relies on historical data and known returned goods in transit. These factors, and unanticipated changes in the economic and industry environment, could cause the Company’s return estimates to differ from actual results.