Comments on: Time to bury BitPass http://gigaom.com/2007/01/19/time-to-bury-bitpass/ Trusted Insights and Conversations on the Next Wave of Technology Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:26:30 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Diego Mortillaro http://gigaom.com/2007/01/19/time-to-bury-bitpass/#comment-82492 Diego Mortillaro Wed, 21 Mar 2007 15:45:20 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/01/19/time-to-bury-bitpass/#comment-82492 <p>If somebody is really interested in online micropayments and wants to get the most out of it please visit:</p> <ul> <li>www.onebip.com</li> <li>www.onebip.com/merchant</li> </ul> <p>OneBip is a mobile phone based payment solution to handle online transactions. With OneBip customers get debited on their phone bill or pre-paid card with no need for a credit card or a bank account.</p> <p>OneBip perfect to handle online micro-payments and is complementary to other billing solution, attracting customers that don't have or don't want to use their credit card to pay online.</p> <p>OneBip is secure and easy to integrate. Using the online registration, merchants can go live and start accepting mobile phone payments in less than 5 minutes with no fixed costs.</p> <p>Diego</p> If somebody is really interested in online micropayments and wants to get the most out of it please visit:

OneBip is a mobile phone based payment solution to handle online transactions. With OneBip customers get debited on their phone bill or pre-paid card with no need for a credit card or a bank account.

OneBip perfect to handle online micro-payments and is complementary to other billing solution, attracting customers that don’t have or don’t want to use their credit card to pay online.

OneBip is secure and easy to integrate. Using the online registration, merchants can go live and start accepting mobile phone payments in less than 5 minutes with no fixed costs.

Diego

]]> By: Robert Martindale http://gigaom.com/2007/01/19/time-to-bury-bitpass/#comment-82491 Robert Martindale Mon, 29 Jan 2007 19:33:52 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/01/19/time-to-bury-bitpass/#comment-82491 <p>It is always sad to see a company disappear in this way, and even worse for their customers to be left hanging (let alone be charged unknown fees as described above).</p> <p>Our company is trying to avoid the pitfalls often seen with Web 2.0 Companies.</p> <p>We work directly in the space of helping companies of all sizes (from self-published to large digital content providers) monetize their content.</p> <p>We focus on tagging the content. When a customer wants to access the tagged content he has to obtain a valid certificate. To do this usually requires a payment (we utilize the advantages of PayPal Micro-Transactions for payment).</p> <p>Once payment is made - the user is granted access to the tagged content - usually for a time limited period.</p> <p>For the Publisher this offers: - Security - No Account/Subscription Management - Ease of use (both setup and admin) - Less risk (they are using an existing highly successful method of receiving payment)</p> <p>For the customer this offers: - No complex account setup - No wallets or pre-funded accounts, coins or whatever - A simple transaction leading to time-limited access to the content - Security</p> <p>We hope that our technology protects the Publisher from future failures of Web2.0 Companies.</p> <p>For more information please come to our website: http://www.encryptanet.com</p> <p>Robert</p> It is always sad to see a company disappear in this way, and even worse for their customers to be left hanging (let alone be charged unknown fees as described above).

Our company is trying to avoid the pitfalls often seen with Web 2.0 Companies.

We work directly in the space of helping companies of all sizes (from self-published to large digital content providers) monetize their content.

We focus on tagging the content. When a customer wants to access the tagged content he has to obtain a valid certificate. To do this usually requires a payment (we utilize the advantages of PayPal Micro-Transactions for payment).

Once payment is made – the user is granted access to the tagged content – usually for a time limited period.

For the Publisher this offers: - Security - No Account/Subscription Management - Ease of use (both setup and admin) - Less risk (they are using an existing highly successful method of receiving payment)

For the customer this offers: - No complex account setup - No wallets or pre-funded accounts, coins or whatever - A simple transaction leading to time-limited access to the content - Security

We hope that our technology protects the Publisher from future failures of Web2.0 Companies.

For more information please come to our website: http://www.encryptanet.com

Robert

]]> By: Ossip http://gigaom.com/2007/01/19/time-to-bury-bitpass/#comment-82488 Ossip Wed, 24 Jan 2007 05:06:44 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/01/19/time-to-bury-bitpass/#comment-82488 <p>In that case, check out ClickandBuy www.clickandbuy.com</p> <p>they're not minor league anymore, offer all the features you're looking for -- and more</p> In that case, check out ClickandBuy http://www.clickandbuy.com

they’re not minor league anymore, offer all the features you’re looking for — and more

]]> By: Artashes http://gigaom.com/2007/01/19/time-to-bury-bitpass/#comment-82490 Artashes Mon, 22 Jan 2007 15:00:36 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/01/19/time-to-bury-bitpass/#comment-82490 <p>Peter, nothing personal, but your website needs major updating. The design is really 1995.</p> <p>Best, Artashes</p> Peter, nothing personal, but your website needs major updating. The design is really 1995.

Best, Artashes

]]> By: Journalista - the news weblog of The Comics Journal » Blog Archive » Jan. 22, 2007: Little Sister don’t you http://gigaom.com/2007/01/19/time-to-bury-bitpass/#comment-82489 Journalista - the news weblog of The Comics Journal » Blog Archive » Jan. 22, 2007: Little Sister don’t you Mon, 22 Jan 2007 13:59:30 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/01/19/time-to-bury-bitpass/#comment-82489 <p>[…] Om Malik reports that pioneering micropayments company Bitpass has decided to discontinue operations. The company was championed by Scott McCloud as a means of making online comics payments profitable for cartoonists while keeping them affordable for websurfing readers. As I noted three years ago, something like this could work, at least in theory. Alas, the prospect of putting five bucks down now in order to spend it in tiny increments later was always too many steps to be workable for a great number of potential customers, and BitPass simply never attracted enough of a clientbase on the vendors’ side to make the service look worthwhile. Related: T Campbell offers commentary. (Links via Xaviar Xerxes.) […]</p> […] Om Malik reports that pioneering micropayments company Bitpass has decided to discontinue operations. The company was championed by Scott McCloud as a means of making online comics payments profitable for cartoonists while keeping them affordable for websurfing readers. As I noted three years ago, something like this could work, at least in theory. Alas, the prospect of putting five bucks down now in order to spend it in tiny increments later was always too many steps to be workable for a great number of potential customers, and BitPass simply never attracted enough of a clientbase on the vendors’ side to make the service look worthwhile. Related: T Campbell offers commentary. (Links via Xaviar Xerxes.) […]

]]> By: Peter http://gigaom.com/2007/01/19/time-to-bury-bitpass/#comment-82487 Peter Mon, 22 Jan 2007 01:51:21 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/01/19/time-to-bury-bitpass/#comment-82487 <p>Alton,</p> <p>I invite you to come try Payso.com we've been in business since 2002, slightly longer than Bitpass. At Payso.com we've focused on providing trusted reliable processing. We have never taken Venture Capital funding as that would compromise our financial stability which is important to maintaining long term reliable online payment services. </p> <p>We only charge a 15% per transaction fee. There is no setup fee to use Payso and no monthly fees. You can sell your content for as low as 1 cent and up to $100. We mail checks every 7 to 10 business days. There are no fees for checks requested over $200. With our service both US Dollar and Canadian Dollar can be used. </p> <p>Payso is easy to integrate with your site and we have scripts available for use on your site so that there is little or no programming for you.</p> <p>At Payso we are very flexible to our merchants' needs and often provide custom solutions if you have a unique need.</p> <p>We are already starting to see former Bitpass merchants signing up for Payso and I welcome you to become one of them.</p> <p>For more information visit our website at http://www.payso.com</p> <p>Kind Regards, Peter</p> Alton,

I invite you to come try Payso.com we’ve been in business since 2002, slightly longer than Bitpass. At Payso.com we’ve focused on providing trusted reliable processing. We have never taken Venture Capital funding as that would compromise our financial stability which is important to maintaining long term reliable online payment services.

We only charge a 15% per transaction fee. There is no setup fee to use Payso and no monthly fees. You can sell your content for as low as 1 cent and up to $100. We mail checks every 7 to 10 business days. There are no fees for checks requested over $200. With our service both US Dollar and Canadian Dollar can be used.

Payso is easy to integrate with your site and we have scripts available for use on your site so that there is little or no programming for you.

At Payso we are very flexible to our merchants’ needs and often provide custom solutions if you have a unique need.

We are already starting to see former Bitpass merchants signing up for Payso and I welcome you to become one of them.

For more information visit our website at http://www.payso.com

Kind Regards, Peter

]]> By: Evil Genius Chronicles » Bitpass Shutting the Doors http://gigaom.com/2007/01/19/time-to-bury-bitpass/#comment-82485 Evil Genius Chronicles » Bitpass Shutting the Doors Sun, 21 Jan 2007 01:33:21 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/01/19/time-to-bury-bitpass/#comment-82485 <p>[…] Here’s another startup in the act of biting dust. Micropayment company Bitpass is shutting the doors. The only thing that ever gave me the slightest reason to want to use them is that Scott McCloud’s online comics and Telltale Weekly both used them. In fact, McCloud was involved in the company as an advisor. I guess the closing of Bitpass kind of cuts the legs out from under this argument. […]</p> […] Here’s another startup in the act of biting dust. Micropayment company Bitpass is shutting the doors. The only thing that ever gave me the slightest reason to want to use them is that Scott McCloud’s online comics and Telltale Weekly both used them. In fact, McCloud was involved in the company as an advisor. I guess the closing of Bitpass kind of cuts the legs out from under this argument. […]

]]> By: Ellen Spertus http://gigaom.com/2007/01/19/time-to-bury-bitpass/#comment-82486 Ellen Spertus Sat, 20 Jan 2007 23:34:20 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/01/19/time-to-bury-bitpass/#comment-82486 <p>I got the BitPass email and immediately checked my account. I was surprised to see that it had been emptied. I discovered that BitPass began charging monthly $5 maintenance fees in December. While this new fee structure was listed on their website, it was not emailed to customers. (I even checked my spam folder.)</p> <p>I consider that fraudulent and, because of it, am glad that they're out of business.</p> I got the BitPass email and immediately checked my account. I was surprised to see that it had been emptied. I discovered that BitPass began charging monthly $5 maintenance fees in December. While this new fee structure was listed on their website, it was not emailed to customers. (I even checked my spam folder.)

I consider that fraudulent and, because of it, am glad that they’re out of business.

]]> By: PayLoadz http://gigaom.com/2007/01/19/time-to-bury-bitpass/#comment-82483 PayLoadz Sat, 20 Jan 2007 21:05:06 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/01/19/time-to-bury-bitpass/#comment-82483 <p>BitPass has been a long time competitor of ours. In the early years, they generated a ton of buzz around the "micropayments" payment sector. I was a bit reluctant to sell our entire business model to that strategy since the payment industry itself had so many barriers to creating a true micropayment solution at the time. The pre-funding account requirement was their fatal flaw. </p> <p>I felt they should have taken a basic content delivery strategy from the get go and evolve into micropayments as the issues with the fees were addressed. PayPal actually even has a micropayment account now that may have helped their cause. </p> <p>I wish their team the best of luck, Shannon PayLoadz.com</p> BitPass has been a long time competitor of ours. In the early years, they generated a ton of buzz around the “micropayments” payment sector. I was a bit reluctant to sell our entire business model to that strategy since the payment industry itself had so many barriers to creating a true micropayment solution at the time. The pre-funding account requirement was their fatal flaw.

I felt they should have taken a basic content delivery strategy from the get go and evolve into micropayments as the issues with the fees were addressed. PayPal actually even has a micropayment account now that may have helped their cause.

I wish their team the best of luck, Shannon PayLoadz.com

]]> By: Randy Smythe http://gigaom.com/2007/01/19/time-to-bury-bitpass/#comment-82484 Randy Smythe Sat, 20 Jan 2007 17:50:05 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/01/19/time-to-bury-bitpass/#comment-82484 <p>Sad to see them go. Unfortunately the odds are stacked against many of the Web 2.0 startups. It’s odd that more established companies like eBay, Google, Yahoo and Microsoft don't see these startups as kind of a Minor League (pardon the baseball analogy) that they can develop. </p> <p>Why would they not affiliate themselves with startups that fit their business model or could potentially open doors to new business rather than develop everything themselves. They can provide management and technical support and when the startup is ready they can call them up to the Majors (M&A) at a much-reduced price over the hotshot independent startups (YouTube) that did it on their own.</p> <p>Just as minor league baseball players want a shot and are willing to work for less as they develop so these Web 2.0 companies would be willing to give away a little of the upside for the shot to make it to the bigs. VC’s could hedge their bets and they certainly have the contacts to facilitate these arrangements.</p> <p>I was in the same position as Bitpass with my company had I aligned myself with a fish that was bigger I would still be growing my business. The key is to make these deals at the early stage rather than when it is necessary to survive.</p> Sad to see them go. Unfortunately the odds are stacked against many of the Web 2.0 startups. It’s odd that more established companies like eBay, Google, Yahoo and Microsoft don’t see these startups as kind of a Minor League (pardon the baseball analogy) that they can develop.

Why would they not affiliate themselves with startups that fit their business model or could potentially open doors to new business rather than develop everything themselves. They can provide management and technical support and when the startup is ready they can call them up to the Majors (M&A) at a much-reduced price over the hotshot independent startups (YouTube) that did it on their own.

Just as minor league baseball players want a shot and are willing to work for less as they develop so these Web 2.0 companies would be willing to give away a little of the upside for the shot to make it to the bigs. VC’s could hedge their bets and they certainly have the contacts to facilitate these arrangements.

I was in the same position as Bitpass with my company had I aligned myself with a fish that was bigger I would still be growing my business. The key is to make these deals at the early stage rather than when it is necessary to survive.

]]> By: Artashes http://gigaom.com/2007/01/19/time-to-bury-bitpass/#comment-82481 Artashes Sat, 20 Jan 2007 02:52:45 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/01/19/time-to-bury-bitpass/#comment-82481 <p>You are too quick, Om. I was about to send a tip.</p> You are too quick, Om. I was about to send a tip.

]]> By: Alton http://gigaom.com/2007/01/19/time-to-bury-bitpass/#comment-82482 Alton Sat, 20 Jan 2007 01:59:07 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/01/19/time-to-bury-bitpass/#comment-82482 <p>… and I just monetized a significant part of our content using BitPass. It was nice while it lasted… only a few days. Actually, I thought these guys were great I had been using them on various projects for awhile. I just added another two days ago. The service was incredibly easy to set up and rev share seemed quite fair - which, of course, may have been the problem - not greedy enough!</p> <p>WANTED: New content monetization service. Please leave suggestions here!</p> … and I just monetized a significant part of our content using BitPass. It was nice while it lasted… only a few days. Actually, I thought these guys were great I had been using them on various projects for awhile. I just added another two days ago. The service was incredibly easy to set up and rev share seemed quite fair – which, of course, may have been the problem – not greedy enough!

WANTED: New content monetization service. Please leave suggestions here!

]]>