How many people buy mobile software?

[StuBear]

Being a linux based mobile device user, I only have 2 applications that I purchased.
One of them is an audio player that I first purchased because it was the only product that played ogg files and had a GUI. The application is great and I would happily buy more software from the company - except the support from the company (and the president in particular) for bugs and requests is abysmal.

The second application is a Japanese input method, Effy from http://www.timespace21.com/eng/, I got a discount for helping beat test the app for Zaurus, but after using the app I would have bought it anyway. Their support was excellent and app is too.

The rest of the apps that I run on a regular basis are all GPL apps and therefore are available for free (usually in both Free Beer and Free Speech meanings of "free"). Several of the programmers have ways to make donations, but some of them just do it for the love

Most of the open-source software that I've used on the Zaurus are better than the software that Sharp packaged with the device and any commercial versions available.

Stu

[Laurens]

I don't have many third-party apps installed to begin with. Most of the built-in apps are sufficient for my needs. For instance, I don't see the need for a dedicated image viewer. The Media app on the Zire and HP Image Zone on the iPAQ are good enough for me. The only apps I've bought are Bonsai and Pocket Tunes Deluxe, MSDict and, recently, CHM eBook Reader.

[Laurens]

Originally Posted by hacker

If writing software for the purpose of selling it only results in a 1% return on investment, then what is the point? Its probably better to turn to becoming a plumber or some other manual labor vocation with a better turnaround.

You shouldn't expect to become the next BillG with a micro ISV. Most developers do it for the satisfaction and freedom of being able to run their own business and not having to follow orders from a boss. The bulk of your income will still come from a (part-time) job or freelancing.

I suspect one of the reasons that PalmGear and Handango charge such a high commission (40%) is because of the relatively low price of handheld software. There's not much money to be made for them either, hence they have to keep raising their cut to grow their business. Sooner or later this bubble is going to burst.

[johnsoax]

On my TT3
The purchased - PalmaryClock (promotion givaway), MyBible, Pocket Quicken, 12 games (10 were promotion give aways), Life Balance, Noah Pro, Mapopolis maps, Jackflash, BackupMan.

The freeware - 5 games, DESJournal, Eat Watch, eReader, FileZ, HandyShoper, pFuel, Plucker, Prayer Log, Yaps, Cetus GPS, ChemTable, MediaMan, YAUC, ToDo Transfer

Shareware haven't registered yet - ScreenShot

Purchased software I no longer use - QuickOffice (Replaced with DTG), Documents to Go upgrade for Sony Clie (replaced with built in version on TT3), MDTitler (stopped using my MD deck, I should sell that thing ), Embark (doesn't support full screen on the TT3, waiting for update - 2+ years).

On my x50
Purchased - 1 game (promotion givaway)
Freeware - Magic Button, Weather to Go (if I could get it to work consistently).

You see prices going up becuase of the ESD sites. They take up to 55% of each and every sale. They also can, without the developer's permission sell it at a discount. The developer's take is from the reduced sale price. Although, I won't retire on what I make, I use to make a good $100-$200 a month, now I am lucky to make $100 every 3 months. It also amazes me that people will do anything to get a free registration code for a $10 product.

[derekweb]

I personally purchase software, if there is a price tag on it. However, I also "shop" around and go for the GPL / Freeware alternative when possible. However, for some things, the GPL and Freeware just aren't as good at, though bless them, they do try hard !!!

I am considering this question for involving both of my handhelds, my Palm T3 and my iPaq hx2755. (Since they're different platforms you KNOW I'm not cross sharing applications! LOL.)

On the palm, most of the stuff I ran was Freeware, with some of the aplications being purchased. The Astronomy software was purchased, the Documents to Go was purchased, ThinkDB 2.6 was purchased, though I refused to upgrade. The updated software wasn't worth the price, ... just not enough features to justify their insanely high upgrade price, let alone their standalone new purchase price.

My iPaq isn't as fortunate on the freeware front, as the available memroy per application is quite a bit lower than my T3. I just can't fit the same ratio of applications into memory. But also because the quality on the freeware of aplications that I need/want just isnt' there as much. To be honest, I feel that Freeware / GPL on a windows platform is still quite in it's infancy, so to speak. It'll get there, but there is still much work ahead of it.

But no, I don't run cracked software. Don't need to. Don't want to. I'd rather pay for it.

Point to note: Someone above mentioned that only about 1% of the downloads actually PAY for the software. they mentioned it was depressing. Well, has anyone considered that someone (like me) might have downloaded it once, paid for it, and was eventually forced to reinstall the software due to some hard reset and that I lost the original install code? Therefore I'd have to re-download the software. Considering that I can load or reload my device off of three different computers and that alone can also increase your download count and lower your purchase / download ratio.

[Colin Dunstan]

I think the price tag is a very important aspect for handheld software. I did a poll once asking you how much you were willing to pay for Laurens' forthcoming e-book/offline Sunrise reader. Concluding from this poll, I argue that most of mobile software priced at or above $20 is generally considered "expensive", whereas a price between $10 and $14.95 is more attractive to most buyers. Most of the software on my devices is priced within this range. For other commercial products that exceed my price range I try to find alternatives in the freeware section.

[monkpalmer]

Approx 1/3 each:

Bought = software I really must have I buy (eg. Hi-Launcher, the Duden-Oxford Grosswoerterbuch).

Cracked = programs I could easily do without, that it's just nice to have (eg Datebk, Palmary clock).

Freeware: some programs are freeware and also IMHO the best: eg Palmfiction, CardTXT editor, Filez.

All of software i use is cracked.

There is no way i could buy any software, when i earn 300$ a month.

[johnsoax]

Originally Posted by easternEuropean

All of software i use is cracked.

There is no way i could buy any software, when i earn 300$ a month.

Then how do you own a handheld?

[doctorow]

Jim from PPC Mag has an update of recommended freeware apps for Pocket PC. As usual, highly recommended!

That said, I try to get everything I need as a freeware version. I've bought only a handful of apps or so (including iSilo).

Then how do you own a handheld?

John, perhaps he "cracked" it too?

[vesselin nerdef]

I ussualy buy some of the applications i use on my pocket pc, but before buying i always check Freeware Pocket PC