04-05-2005, 09:00 AM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Rant Time: Subscription-Based Software for Mobile Devices
"The functionality in the software is great, and the software is completely, 100% subscription based. But not all functionality seems to be working ok. And the one failing right now is the one that manages the subscription."
Mauricio, over at Geekzone, recently had a bit of trouble with WorldMate for Smartphones, and funnily enough, the problem was with the portion of the program which manages the subscription. As a result, he posted on his thoughts, and I had a bit of a chuckle reading it, because I largely agree with what he says.
In my world, I also use subscription-based software (namely, Epocrates Essentials for my medical work - and subscription doesn't come cheap either)! Although I've not really had a problem with the subscription side of things, I'm not a huge advocate of it, nor am I a rebel to the cause. There's a time and place for everything, and as Mauricio has stated, subscriptions should be "done in an easy way for both the user and the distributor", yet unfortunately, this principle does not always exist. If I had my way, I'd love to be able to just pay once and not have to worry about renewing my subscription every year. But we all know that this will never be the case for every single software title out there. So I'll cut the ranting and let you decide. Although Mauricio's problem was with the Smartphone edition of WorldMate, such problems can also exist on the Pocket PC, which is why I decided to post on the issue here at Pocket PC Thoughts to see where the community stands on the issue. I've set up a poll, so if you care to provide a bit of input, please choose the most appropriate poll option, and feel free to leave a comment.
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04-05-2005, 01:05 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 52
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I think the poll is missing an "depends on the case" option.
I don't like subscriptions generally. For most everyday applications, they are just annoying and expensive.
But imho, there are two cases in which they make sense:
1. The program depends on a regulary updated database (phone books, news, current stock levels, virus signatures, ...). Data maintenance isn't cheap, and the data must be transferred to the user. Thus, paying for it is OK.
2. Seldom used programs. E.g., a navigation system only during holidays, getting a phone number every now and then, etc. In this cases, a "pay per use" or "short time subscription" (e.g. navigation system or map for one or two weeks holiday) is a better and cheper solution than buying or doing without (because it isn't worthwhile).
An "in between" case are programs with lots of updates. I think, a selectable licensing model would be best, but is hard to manage. The problem with thos applications is: Nobody likes to pay for every update, but it's still work most authors like to have paid. Additionally, not everybody needs the update, and thus doesn't like to pay for it.
So, the most fair solution would be to offer a subscription for "regular updaters" and a "buy once" option without included updates (except bugfixes) for "never touch a running system" people.
Most vendors solved this problem with free "minor updates" and different update fees for "major updates". That's a nice compromise, but sometimes leads to the trouble of defining the difference between "major" and "minor"...
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04-05-2005, 01:35 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 15
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I think that your poll is missing another important case. I will not purchase subscription based software. PERIOD. 
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04-05-2005, 02:54 PM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by tjy
I think that your poll is missing another important case. I will not purchase subscription based software. PERIOD. |
I opted for simplification in this poll. When I was posting it, I actually had about 7 or 8 poll options lined up, but thought it'd be too complex, so I decided to keep things to a simple, "Yes, I prefer it", and "No, I don't". I think the second option best fits your stance on the issue. 
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04-05-2005, 09:29 PM
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Oracle
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 899
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We could also segue into related topics such as how the software industry (Microsoft et al) seems largely to want to move everything to a subscription-based model in the future, to provide better/more reliable revenue streams perhaps. Isn't that also the whole crux for so-called "application service providers"? Though I think these ideas go that one step further to actually run the software itself remotely from their server or whatnot...
Or talk about other related news, like how Motorola's new iTunes-playing cellphones were supposedly being opposed by the cell carriers as that would drive consumers to just copy the music they already have on their PC to their phone, instead of buying a new copy of the songs directly from the carriers to use on their phone (I'd also heard there was some consideration for a Napster-like flat-rate music subscription model?)...
http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/tech.../10212889.html
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04-05-2005, 09:39 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 267
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When I think of subscription, I think of STEAM and they screwed up HAlfLife 2 :evil:
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04-05-2005, 10:16 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 652
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It would have been nice to have a "I don't like subscription based software" choice. It would have still been simple and you'd get better results. Oh well, can't have everything. I say no to subscriptions.
__________________
Making use of mobile tech like no other.
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04-05-2005, 10:45 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 87
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I prefer to pay once for my software. 
Then, every 8 to 12 months they offer a major upgrade and I end up paying the upgrade fee :cry:
But hey, at least I am not subscribing to a regular outgoing :mrgreen:
Hmmmmm
Giles
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04-05-2005, 11:42 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 10
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by WyattEarp
It would have been nice to have a "I don't like subscription based software" choice. It would have still been simple and you'd get better results. Oh well, can't have everything. I say no to subscriptions.
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Huh? Isn't that the same as the second option? :? :|
You make me confused. :mrgreen:
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04-06-2005, 01:11 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 486
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The problem with subscriptions on a Pocket PC for most apps is that its not much different from upgrades and upgrade fees - except its a lot more work on the user and just more frustrating period.
For apps that get feeds of data and need constant updates to handle changing scenarios I think subscriptions work, but its got to be a monthly thing for it to be worthwhile.
I believe that on the Pocket PC VERY few apps are worthy of subscriptions. I know I've considered it as an option for our apps, but in the end felt it just didn't really do anything that upgrades didn't already do.
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