I've been thinking about some software licensing and revenue models, and come up with a small twist that I'd like to hear your thoughts on. (I don't want to get sidetracked with discussions about free -- I want to stick to licensing and revenue.)
To start,
Freemiumw. So you get the basic software free, with the opportunity to purchase additional functionality/features.
So, for example, the product has features A, B, C... X, Y, Z. Or whatever. Let's not get caught up in the number of features as it's largely irrelevant.
Features A~D are free.
Next, additional features can be purchased, with possibly varying price points. e.g.
E = $1.00
F = $0.50
G = $2.00
H = $1.50
or
E = $1.00
F = $1.00
G = $1.00
H = $1.00
Whatever. Something like that. And so on down the feature list. In order to make a transaction viable, have a minimum purchase of say 3 features or $3.00 or something. (Again, let's not get caught up with the details there but stick to the big picture.)
Then, possibly packages. e.g.
Features E~I for $5.00
Features E~M for $8.00
Features E~Z for $12.00
So, the complete set for everything is $12.00.
Next, upgrading from features/sets to more features/sets -- price it at the difference +50% (or 20% or whatever), so...
Upgrade from E~I to E~M for $4.50 ($3 * 1.5)
Upgrade from E~I to E~Z for $10.50
Upgrade from E~M to E~Z for $6.00
Yes... It looks complex.
THE POINTHowever, the point isn't to actually get people to upgrade from E~I to E~Z or to purchase individual features, but to be able to say, "buy the full package for $12.00 and save 80%" or "buy the full package for $12.00 and save $10.00".
And, at the same time, allow for emerging markets to see that they can get some of the functionality that they want for a very low price, and that they then have the option later on to purchase additional functionality for a low price. e.g.
Buy EFG for $3.00 now, and later on, but HIJ for $3.00, for 2 easy, low payments that are manageable RIGHT NOW. ---- Remember... in some places in the world $1~3 will buy you a meal at a restaurant, with a drink, and $5 will get you a meal at an relatively upscale restaurant.
I've not seen this done before other than the typical lite, standard, and pro type of licensing systems.
At the same time, I'm still thinking that the system needs to use the typical shareware model of "try before you buy" with something like a 30-day or 45-day trial period for the full functionality.
So... Thoughts? Please keep in mind the point there -- to drive home the idea of savings for people in developed economies and get them to purchase the full package, or at least spend some money, while still making portions accessible to people in emerging economies (or those caught in the crises of the developed economies).
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