Re: UKNM: Subscriptions

[azeem azhar, lists]

>> Yes, there's lots of free content out there.

>>

>> But how much is worth the bytes it's written in?

>

>Enough to have destroyed almost every for-fee information provider out

>there. Net distribution affects everybody - 1998 was the last year the

>Encyclopedia Brittanica published a paper edition, and they're still

>having trouble on the net. They may in the end become one of the few

>for-fee services out there, alongside theStreet, the Wall Street

>Journal, and a handful of others, but the vast majority of business

>models built on the idea that people will happily pay for content will

>fail.


although, to be fair EB was effectively destroyed by the Encarta CD. At the

time, Encarta wasn't even a particularly rich or well-featured product, but

being two orders of magnitude cheaper (and usable, EB CD wasn't great

then), it swept EB aside.


But let's add some more thoughts:


1. Microcharging is rearing its head again (Qpass, etc): this time

microcharging may well be brought in at a network/infrastructure level

alongside a public key infrastructure and solid IP controls, so may be

we'll actually start to consume some things piece meal.


2. Moreover.com: what a brilliant idea.



>Lets make it a bet - I will bet that by Christmas 1999, there is a

>smaller proportion of for-fee information on the net than there is

>now. Lets call it dinner anywhere in London, with the proportion is to

>be adjudicated by the list.


Almost certainly, on the basis that there are far more monkeys putting up

Geocities sites than there are content specialists!


a


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