The other day we noted the launch of Mentor’s Veloce2. There’s one other angle to their release that sidestepped the main announcement. And that is that they will make available a cloud version of Veloce2.

We’ve looked at the different models used for tools in the cloud, including Synopsys and Cadence, Altium, Nimbic, Tabula, IPextreme, and Vector Fabrics. Some, like Synopsys, are cherry-picking apps for burst demand – simulation in particular. Others, like Tabula and Vector Fabrics have tools as their exclusive delivery mechanism.

Mentor’s angle will be to make emulation services available for smaller companies that can’t afford the large capital outlay required for owning your own emulator. Such companies might not even use one enough for an outright purchase to make sense even if they found a big ol’ pile o’ cash on the doorstep to buy it with.

While this is still in the works, you can add it to the list of companies dipping their toes (or whole bodies) into the cloud. (OK… honestly? Not sure that metaphor works…) Even if Jim thinks it might be silly. (For some rather reasonable reasons.)