But is adding this subscription a sign that their previous subscription and other revenue efforts are insufficient, and therefore they are flailing for a viable

But is adding this subscription a sign that their previous subscription and other revenue efforts are insufficient, and therefore they are flailing for a viable business model and going under in N months unless this really takes off? Or is it a sign that they are being conservative and responsible and taking the long view on their finances? You simply cannot tell from the simple fact that they are adding a subscription option. Edit: If Google or Facebook added a paid subscription model, would you say: "Paid subscriptions are a really good reason to start using [google/facebook] because it promises that they'll be around in the long run."? Would you interpret that to mean they were likely to be better off in a couple of months? Profitability is the critical factor, not revenue. The Pets.com CEO /bragged/ about $45 million in revenue - with a loss of $150 million...