Comments on: Open source business models 2007 http://brianbreslin.com/open-source-business-models-2007/ Brian Breslin on social media strategy Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:48:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Brian http://brianbreslin.com/open-source-business-models-2007/#comment-450 Brian Wed, 31 Jan 2007 16:59:21 +0000 http://webpl.us/open-source-business-models-2007/#comment-450 Ilija, I am glad to see you reading my blog. You were one of the inspirations for this post. I think there is a difference between a 30 day free account and a free for life hosted account. 30 days you can write off as a customer acquisition cost. Use it in your marketing budget as a marketing cost. Maybe open source is a better move with a widespread group? But not for individual pieces of software that aren't going to get the critical mass needed to get the development behind it? Ilija,
I am glad to see you reading my blog. You were one of the inspirations for this post.

I think there is a difference between a 30 day free account and a free for life hosted account. 30 days you can write off as a customer acquisition cost. Use it in your marketing budget as a marketing cost. Maybe open source is a better move with a widespread group? But not for individual pieces of software that aren’t going to get the critical mass needed to get the development behind it?

]]> By: Ilija Studen http://brianbreslin.com/open-source-business-models-2007/#comment-454 Ilija Studen Wed, 31 Jan 2007 08:13:55 +0000 http://webpl.us/open-source-business-models-2007/#comment-454 I personally don't think that opening source is a smart move from security perspective. It is much better to hire a security expert to check the system inside out than to expect that community will fix your bugs. Also, I agree with Adam. Even though you provide an open source version you'll need to provide a free account for users to play and see if system fits their needs. IMO, providing full service for 30 days trial accounts (full service for free) is much better than going open source. I personally don’t think that opening source is a smart move from security perspective. It is much better to hire a security expert to check the system inside out than to expect that community will fix your bugs.

Also, I agree with Adam. Even though you provide an open source version you’ll need to provide a free account for users to play and see if system fits their needs. IMO, providing full service for 30 days trial accounts (full service for free) is much better than going open source.

]]> By: Brian http://brianbreslin.com/open-source-business-models-2007/#comment-453 Brian Tue, 30 Jan 2007 12:37:56 +0000 http://webpl.us/open-source-business-models-2007/#comment-453 I have yet to see anything tangible come out of cambrian house, and until I see anything even in production I will withhold my judgement. I don't like their point allocation too much though. I have yet to see anything tangible come out of cambrian house, and until I see anything even in production I will withhold my judgement. I don’t like their point allocation too much though.

]]> By: noah kagan http://brianbreslin.com/open-source-business-models-2007/#comment-452 noah kagan Tue, 30 Jan 2007 11:27:08 +0000 http://webpl.us/open-source-business-models-2007/#comment-452 What do you think about cambrianhouse.com? What do you think about cambrianhouse.com?

]]> By: Texas Startup Blog: Web 2.0 and Social Media » Blog Archive » Big in Japan Source Code Release http://brianbreslin.com/open-source-business-models-2007/#comment-449 Texas Startup Blog: Web 2.0 and Social Media » Blog Archive » Big in Japan Source Code Release Tue, 30 Jan 2007 04:41:30 +0000 http://webpl.us/open-source-business-models-2007/#comment-449 [...] taking our idea and running with it in their own business.  Today I was reading a post on the WebPl.US blog: So the question is, where is the business model going, and how will it affect my business? Well [...] [...] taking our idea and running with it in their own business.  Today I was reading a post on the WebPl.US blog: So the question is, where is the business model going, and how will it affect my business? Well [...]

]]> By: AdamD http://brianbreslin.com/open-source-business-models-2007/#comment-451 AdamD Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:44:51 +0000 http://webpl.us/open-source-business-models-2007/#comment-451 I don't think offering a product Open Source doesn't mean you can get rid of the free hosted version. Not everybody will be able to install software to "get a taste." It's like the Chinese place at the mall food court only offering a sample if you can use chopsticks. They put the sample on a toothpick because they want as many people as possible to taste their food. Some people are making a business out of offering a hosted version of someone else's Open Source package. I don’t think offering a product Open Source doesn’t mean you can get rid of the free hosted version. Not everybody will be able to install software to “get a taste.” It’s like the Chinese place at the mall food court only offering a sample if you can use chopsticks. They put the sample on a toothpick because they want as many people as possible to taste their food.

Some people are making a business out of offering a hosted version of someone else’s Open Source package.

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