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by Marc Logemann.
Original Post: Java License Managers
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I am on the way creating a little desktop app with the option to sell it to more customers than one. Even knowing that thinking about a license manager product is way to soon and perhaps totally obsolete because of not getting enough customers, i checked the market for such a product. To be honest, i am quite dissapointed of the results.
I can see two kinds of product segments, the first one is the "very cheap" segement with products from websina and alphase. Cheap means about 50$. But these product are quite limited in terms of security, but all in all not so bad for 50 bucks.
The others are more in the 300$+ area with some exceptions that start higher and have restrictions like "per project" or "costs per issued license". I cant see a way that when you sell a cheap application for about 40$, how you can afford to buy a license manager software that costs 500$. This would mean that you have to sell your software about 13 times, just to play in your costs for that particular tool. If you think you can sell thousands of copies for a non-breathtaking software, you should read: First Report from My Micro-ISV from Eric Sink. This together with the Product Pricing Primer and my personal favourite Camels and Rubber Duckies are definitely must reads in the area of software selling businesses.
If you know other Java License Manager alternatives, feel free to submit them to me.
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