Pretty cool demo. 3G speed, hardware accelerated 2D/3D graphics, touch screen, and open API. They don’t talk about it in this video, but I’ve also read that the GPS functionality is open and accessible from the API, which I believe will be a first for mobile phones.
Archive for the ‘open source’ Category
New Radiohead “In Rainbows” to be released using new business model
October 1, 2007Radiohead announced last night on their blog that the new album is finished and will be release in just 10 days. Of course, I went and pre-ordered the ultimate disc box set right away, but news reports today indicate they are trying a new and different approach with the download version of the album. Unencumbered by a traditional record contract, they’ve decided to make the disc box available at a high price with extra goodies for their fans who will have no problem paying for it, then make the downloads available at little to no cost. It looks like the downloads will require users to register with personal details which can then be used for future marketing.
Earlier, they had announced that the album would not be made available on iTunes, so it looks now like this decision was related to giving them maximum control over the downloads and not having to split (or ensure) any profits.
Not having to share profits with a record company, having very low distribution costs, and having an established brand and fans who will support value-added products and tours all add up and give them the luxury to try a different approach. It strikes me that this is very similar to an open source software model: use low distribution costs to get a software tool in front of as many people as possible, then sell value-adds such as support, maintenance, enhancements, and indemnification, then use the established brand to come up with other products and services to sell the user base.
Is the new Radiohead album the first “open source” album? Or is it just a big train wreck waiting to happen?
On the relationship between open source software and real estate business models
September 3, 2007
I had originally titled this “Installing Ruby on Rails on Mac OSX”, but as I typed, it gradually became about this other, more general, topic.
I saw this a little too late, but next time, I’m going to try RM-Install from Five Runs. Looks like it installs a very comprehensive Ruby on Rails stack from one place in minutes.
This is also an interesting look at an open source business model. Notice that they are offering you the free Ruby on Rails stack that you need, in a value added package, in exchange for lead information. You must enter an accurate e-mail address because they are delivering the actual download link to your inbox. To be clear, everything they are giving you is open source and freely available from different sites, but they are combining it into a single package so that the customer can save time and increase compatibility.
Five Runs also currently offers a Rails management solution called RM-Manage (very cool, watch the demo video) for which they charge a monthly subscription fee. From the looks of it, these two offerings are just two pieces in a much larger suite of services they are building out to ride the wave of Ruby on Rails as it washes into the enterprise space.
This model relates to real estate in so many ways:
- What can you package up and offer potential customers, at low cost to you and free to them, that are still valuable enough for them to give you valid contact information?
- What are you doing to ensure you contact that lead ASAP to find out further needs, establish a real relationship, and move them on to your other offerings that will generate real revenue?
- Traditionally for real estate agents, that real income is in the form of commissions, but what can you learn from an open source based software company about generating revenue from suites of related products? Maybe on a subscription or per use basis?
- Note how simple and professional, both the site in general and the lead form in particular, are. They make it very clear, in a subtle yet direct way, that “mickey@mouse.com” will not cut it here. If you want the value, we want the real you.
How long do you think it took me to get an e-mail from Five Runs? Yep, about thirty seconds. Of course it was automated, but if I now proceed with the download and the install goes smooth, I receive true value and I now have a positive relationship established with this company.
How long do you think it will take before someone actually calls me on the phone? I’d bet this week I’ll hear from someone.
