5 replies to this topic

[duke_Qa]

So, looking into the business methods of selling an app product. Right now I'm more in favor of selling an account stored in a self-owned server, and letting the software roam free and be used on whatever platform the user has access to(compiling to different OS's is an option). But the question then becomes; how can you combine such a account-system with online markets like Apple App Stores, Android Market and the likes?

As I read it, you can release a free version of your app for people to use, but that can't be used to encourage sales in a different system than the app stores. So if I release a free version, that free version would be locked to demo/commercial mode forever and no logging in with a valid user would be possible in that one. And there's no rules telling you that you can't sell files outside the market, but you probably lose a lot of potential free commercial by not being there.

So I guess the question would be: If you are creating a multi-platform app, should you sell it through the app-stores because its more visible... Or should you find a self-made custom solution that costs less but has less visibility?

[Pasidon]

First, what the crap type of application you tryin' to market? Some applications are free for good reason, and if your application doesn't beat the free guys then there is obviously issue. There are various platforms with various applications, like Chrome and those silly Smart Phone things and they have their own stores, which I'm sure you're aware of, so competing against these stores will be pretty useless without developing your own unique platform to run these applications on in my opinion. Any good success stories of independent application developers out there you can learn from?

[duke_Qa]

No the other way around, I don't have any market I want to sell from, I want to know what choice would be best when developing an app. I want to avoid selling from the market if the consequences aren't too negative

[Pasidon]

Ew. That may require research by surprise.

[duke_Qa]

Research by surprise? don't have a clue what that means

[Pasidon]

Let's say I was sarcastically surprised that I knew research was going to play a role in finding your answer, but I originally refused to acknowledge it due to laziness.