4 ms·
The reason sparrow had to sell is because they didn't have a recurring revenue model. This is what limits all "pay once" desktop (and mobile) software: either t
by carsongross 14y ago
The reason sparrow had to sell is because they didn't have a recurring revenue model. This is what limits all "pay once" desktop (and mobile) software: either they have to charge prohibitively high amounts or they have to get you to upgrade frequently. The former limits adoption and the latter is tricky and encourages feature bloat.
I now want to pay for the desktop software I like as a subscription: it keeps the developer fed and on call, and doesn't put undue pressure on them to add features, while still keeping their revenue from me contingent on the continued usefulness of their product.
- rogerchucker 14y agoNobody outside the developer community will ever pay for any software on a recurring basis, especially if free alternatives are available.
- kenjackson 14y agoSlySoft does a good of this.
- awicklander 14y agoThis is false. Non-developers pay a recurring fee for software all the time.
- keithpeter 14y agoEastgate systems publish Storyspace and Tinderbox. Tinderbox is sold with 'a year of free upgrades', and after that there is an upgrade fee. Sort of subscription based.
- gwillen 14y agohttp://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/buying-guide-subscriptions.html http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/buying-guide-subscri...
- ams6110 14y agoPretty much every software product sold to business is on a "initial purchase + maintenance agreement" basis, i.e. you pay up front and they you pay monthly or annually to keep your license and/or support current.
- MisterBastahrd 14y agoEver heard of a small company called Adobe? How about Autodesk? Or how about every antivirus company on the planet? They might all not have an explicitly recurring revenue stream, but the updates to the software damned near mandate the purchase of a new license to prevent problems with incompatibility.