I was recently asked for my opinion, in regards to software subscriptions,  and I don’t know in what regard a software subscription would actually work well.

I understand the concept of anti-virus software and having subscriptions to make sure they’re maintained. You get the latest updates/patches for viruses, but it’s hard to say a substitution model would work for something that static like an office package or a software package that manages your monthly budget.

And with anti-virus software your still left with a base product and functionality you had before ending your subscription. There’s a purchase and a maintenance cost.

I can even understand giving away a ‘shoot’em up’ game for free and then charging a subscription fee each month to play it online. It’s an online game, your on the Internet, your playing the game; if you don’t play the game you don’t pay. Games and utilities are completely different beasts.

The reason I think that a subscription service wouldn’t work is because those are types of things people are expecting to simply purchase and be able to use for very long time. I can see in any situation where a company/person would pay for its subscription to use a piece of software and then they decide not to continue paying the subscription they might be unable to continue their business or have access to their information taken away.

It’s an unsettling idea.

Microsoft was actually kicking around the idea of using a subscription model for Microsoft Office, but I don’t think this is ever really going to solidify. And by the very mention of a subscription model Microsoft drew great criticism. I mean if you really want to create some bad publicity, start talking about subscription models for software.

The last thing a customer wants to see is a reminder to pay his bill for software package, that he’s using right now, that he’s using to create an important proposal or presentation, and if he doesn’t pay his description fee is about to have some difficulties. No one wants to be nagged on in a ‘crunch time’ situation.

I really don’t think you’re ever going to convince the general population that a software subscription model is s good thing because the customer will never own the software they’re using or used to create their information.

Thanks AT&T and the other cable companies, and pointing out the fact that they’re getting sued for cable boxes they use, customers have clearly stated that having to pay a subscription fee/monthly fee to use a cable box is not acceptable. I use this in comparison, it’s not acceptable because if you’re paying five dollars a month to use a cable box, and the cable box is only worth $90, and you’ve been using that cable box the last 10 years; you could have paid for that cable box almost 8 times. Upon realizing this, as a customer, you’re going to be upset.

What about a subscription model with smartphones? I don’t know that people with iPhones [smart phones] would appreciate being gigged every month for the applications they get from the app store; regardless the amount of the charge.

Customers don’t appreciate getting ripped off. Software subscription models resonate with the customer base as a rip-off scam or a position of greed with the presenting company.

So my position [for all software] is going to be to avoid software subscription models, but there’s going to be exceptions, and those exceptions really need to accentuate the services that are being offered.

Tell me what you think?

Thanks for reading!

Enjoy.

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