When we decided to go live with the dot42 technology preview, we were still figuring out how to create a simple license model. We didn't want to over complicate things. We wanted to offer a free version (for non commercial use) but also offer a license for those that did want to use the product commercially. We could say that the license model was thought out thoroughly and based on extensive research…. but for the large part it was gut feeling and a bit of guessing.
Since the launch we have received numerours feedback, not just about the product itself but also about the license model. Based on this feedback we made some decisions that are effective immediately.
Since the launch we have received numerours feedback, not just about the product itself but also about the license model. Based on this feedback we made some decisions that are effective immediately.
Community License
Initially, the Community License did not allow you to publish your application on a public market place such as (but not limited to) Google Play or SlideME. This changes: The Community License now allows publishing free apps on a public market place.
As a technical note: To publish your app on Google Play, it must be signed with a certificated that has a lifetime of 30 years or more. To do this using the Community License, you will have to request an API key from dot42. We will update the docs and the software in the next days and post about it.
What remains unchanged is that the Community License continues does not permit any form of commercial use.
Professional License
Initially, we set the price of the Professional License to 649 USD. We decided to lower it to 399 USD.
The idea of charging that much money for something when 90% of paid apps on the android market are $0.99 is absolutely ludicrous.
ReplyDeleteBuy Visual Studio: $1,199.00
Buy dot42: $399
$1598 to sell apps for $0.99 at a time.. Give me a break.
Thanks for your thoughts. You may use dot42 with SharpDevelop (free). Visual Studio is not a requirement.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you guys made this important change to the community license. I expect you to see a sharp increase in usage from this change.
ReplyDeleteHowever your pro license price still seems way too high. Considering we can develop in Java for free and there isn't a particularly large learning curve to switch from C# to Java, the price should be considerably lower. I would definitely buy this for 50$, maybe 80$. Any higher and I'm willing to work in Java.
If for you C# has no advantage over Java, then I see no reason why you would buy a license instead of working in Java for free.
ReplyDelete