It's user-based and there are two licensing programs: User Connect Licensing (UCL) or Unified Workspace Licensing (UWL). They are roughly analogous to buying Microsoft Word vs. Microsoft Office in that UCL is a separate license per-application (CUCM, CXN, etc) and UWL is one license for multiple apps.
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/voicesw/ps6882/ps9156/product_solution_overview0900aecd806cc7a4.html
Here are a few examples:
- User A has a Cisco 7945, Jabber softphone, Mobile Connect and a voice mailbox
- UCL: You would need a CUCM Enhanced user license and a CXN Enhanced mailbox license
- UWL: You would need a Standard user license
- User B has two Cisco 7945 (one at home office and work), Jabber softphone, Mobile Connect, and a voice mailbox
- UCL: You would need a CUCM Enhanced Plus user license and a CXN Enhanced mailbox license
- UWL: You would need a Standard user license
- There is a lobby phone not owned by any specific user
- UCL: You would still need a CUCM Enhanced user license. There is no longer a distinction for public space devices.
Essentially as soon as you add a device it consumes the minimum user license that device requires. In most cases this is a UCL Enhanced license. When you tag a device as owned by a user (Owner User ID parameter on the phone) it and everything else configured for the user get rolled together consuming one (possibly higher-end) license. Again, this is a user-based licensing model.
Lastly, the product can borrow licenses from higher tiers. For example, you could own 500 UCL Enhanced and 500 UWL Standard seats but have actually configured 600 UCL Enhanced users and only 400 UWL Standard. In this case it will automatically borrow 100 UWL Licenses to remain compliant. This happens dynamically.
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