Comments on: Are the Free Lunch Days Over for Web Apps? http://gigaom.com/2009/06/22/are-the-free-lunch-days-over-for-web-services/ Tue, 21 May 2013 19:37:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: How to Evaluate New Applications and Services http://gigaom.com/2009/06/22/are-the-free-lunch-days-over-for-web-services/#comment-84105 Sat, 01 Aug 2009 13:01:27 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=14539#comment-84105 [...] as Paisano wrote recently, current conditions won’t last forever. Many sites will eventually become fee-based; others will shut down when their funding runs out, or [...]

]]> By: For Some Web Startups, Freemium Is the Way Forward http://gigaom.com/2009/06/22/are-the-free-lunch-days-over-for-web-services/#comment-84104 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:00:26 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=14539#comment-84104 [...] While web-based companies like Facebook and Twitter have yet to operate on earned income, a string of others have adopted the freemium business model, which involves offering a paid premium service in [...]

]]> By: kateofficelivecares http://gigaom.com/2009/06/22/are-the-free-lunch-days-over-for-web-services/#comment-84103 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:31:19 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=14539#comment-84103 It will certainly be interesting to see how everyone fares. In the meantime however, lots of apps are still totally free. Microsoft Office Live Workspace offers you the ability to create, save, access, and share documents and files online for free (5GB of space!). There is even a plug-in for MS Office that lets you save your files to your online Workspace directly from whichever Office program you are using. That way, it automatically backs up your files online, and you can simply access them from any other computer with internet access.
Cheers,
Kate
MSFT Office Live Outreach Team
http://www.facebook.com/office_live
http://www.workspace.officelive.com

]]> By: Tim http://gigaom.com/2009/06/22/are-the-free-lunch-days-over-for-web-services/#comment-84102 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:40:58 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=14539#comment-84102 I have been struggling with how to make some income off the 2 stock market sites I write. I have a small but dedicated readership, not big enough to make advertising pay. I am working to make some of the content subscription based and keep some free. The challenge is how much free and how to attract subscriptions. Advertising is not a factor for a small online publisher/writer that wants to earn something from their content.

]]> By: Abounding http://gigaom.com/2009/06/22/are-the-free-lunch-days-over-for-web-services/#comment-84101 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:53:00 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=14539#comment-84101 You could have included SmugMug in the success stories as well. They have a very solid and profitable business model. People don’t mind paying for a service that is really stellar. Most of these fit that thought very well. Good hypothesis, solid article.

]]> By: Doriano "Paisano" Carta http://gigaom.com/2009/06/22/are-the-free-lunch-days-over-for-web-services/#comment-84100 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:02:02 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=14539#comment-84100 TripIt just announced a Pro version which makes a great deal of sense. They offer a valuable service for travelers who are more than willing to pay a little something extra for some special new features.
Another great example of how to do it right. Offer a needed service in an easy to use interface for free to prove what you can do then release a pro version with extra perks.

]]> By: Steve http://gigaom.com/2009/06/22/are-the-free-lunch-days-over-for-web-services/#comment-84099 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:22:01 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=14539#comment-84099 I would gladly pay for an online hub that gave me a personalized site that did everything I need – think e-mail, storage, connections, writing, RSS, “tweets”, etc. It’s what Google’s building and they won’t be the only one. Eventually, there will be a handful of big providers that will integrate nicely but have specific traits, benefits and styles. Can’t wait.

]]> By: Slimmer en productiever - 23 juni 2009 « Arjan Zuidhof http://gigaom.com/2009/06/22/are-the-free-lunch-days-over-for-web-services/#comment-84098 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:08:01 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=14539#comment-84098 [...] Are the Free Lunch Days Over for Web Apps? – Doriano Carta Interessante vraag natuurlijk: betalen we straks een (klein) bedrag voor web services die nu als vanzelfsprekend nog gratis zijn. Lastig te voorspellen. Persoonlijk denk ik dat de grote meerderheid van het aanbod gratis zal blijven, al dan niet voorzien van de nodige reclame. Gebruikers zijn zo gewend niets te hoeven betalen, dat ze dat ook niet snel meer van plan zijn alsnog te doen denk ik. Of gewoon op zoek gaan naar iets anders. Uit eigen ervaring kan ik melden dat sinds Last.FM niet meer gratis is, ik naar volle tevredenheid overgestapt ben naar Grooveshark.com [...]

]]> By: Sim http://gigaom.com/2009/06/22/are-the-free-lunch-days-over-for-web-services/#comment-84097 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:47:58 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=14539#comment-84097 I have thought of this question recently at
Can ads continue to fund the boom of Web 2.0?

I see the trend where people will use the basic service for free and have to pay for the premium value-added services.

In order for web apps to collect payment, 2 things are essential.

1) There is something to anchor people to the service (e.g their friends, or the data) such that they don’t find it worthwhile to migrate to another free service

2) Micropayments need to be convenient. I see Apple iTunes Store as a successful model for this.

]]> By: Adam Teece http://gigaom.com/2009/06/22/are-the-free-lunch-days-over-for-web-services/#comment-84096 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:42:27 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=14539#comment-84096 I mostly use free services but I do pay for some. If they are very useful and I really need the premium services they offer I will pay. The main services I pay for right now though are flickr and OtherInbox.

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