Pay Per IM
from the wanna-see-AOL-get-angry? dept
Rumor has it that Cerulean Studios is getting ready to launch Trillian Pro, which will be an upgraded pay-for version of their IM software. It will be targeted at corporate clients, but I could see this causing problems. If you haven't heard about Trillian, it's a meta-IM platform that lets you access various instant messaging services through one single interface. It's great. The problem (for the companies that make IM products) is that it takes away the needs for people to download and use each companies IM products (and be bombarded by their ads). AOL spent a lot of time and effort trying to block Trillian, but has recently stopped those efforts. However, if Trillian starts making money on its users, I would expect AOL to start blocking them again - thereby lowering the value to anyone actually paying to use Trillian. It's a bit of a catch-22. If they charge, it's likely the software will become much less valuable.
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No Subject Given by Anonymous Coward on Jul 25th, 2002 @ 2:18pm
What a bunch of greedy BULLSHIT. This company makes a name for itself by portraying itself as a David vs AOL's Goliath, and now they're trying to start charging like a bunch of greedy little weasels. This makes me SICK.
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AOL should block them by Anonymous Coward on Jul 25th, 2002 @ 3:30pm
This ranks right up there with Amazon patenting one-click. Glad I never used Trillian's 'innovation'.
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Whoa there.... by isaacg on Jul 25th, 2002 @ 8:32pm
I don't see what patenting has to with anything, and people have to make a living somehow, you expect them to make an awesome new version every few months for free? Would you rather it stayed free and was almost never updated or improved and eventually faded away like so many free programs have done? Donations only go so far. Personally I don't mind paying for a product that's worth it, and Trillian is one of the few programs I'd pay for. I've already donated!
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Pro for pay ? by Cory on Jul 25th, 2002 @ 9:45pm
I dont read anywhere where they say that will start charging for Trillian itself. It appears to just be the Trillian pro that they are going to charge for. Doesnt seem so bad because only 2 guys do all this work.
And I bet AOL is staying out of it, because Microsoft helps feed Trillian updates and news to help keep them able to share the MSN IM Network and AOL doesnt want to seem less friendly the Microsoft in this respect especially since people are watching this as conditions of their merger with TW.
Also I bet once Trillian reaches a certain point, AOL will try to buy them, since they cant seem to get any interoperability done themselves in AIM and this will probably fill some loophole that will allow them to run AIM without making it function with other IM clients.
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Re: Whoa there.... by Zed on Sep 3rd, 2002 @ 9:28pm
Awesome new version? Have you ever actually *used* Trillian? It's barely tolerable, unstable, hard to use, and overly complex.
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Re: No Subject Given by Jon on Sep 10th, 2002 @ 2:54pm
Must be nice to have people drop bags of money off at your door. The rest of us have to earn a living which means we need to get paid for what we do.
These 2 guys (with no venture backing) have written a great program that you want. And you're choked because they don't give it away for free?
I'd like a new car by the way so I'm glad you won't mind sending me yours. Sheesh...
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Re: No Subject Given by [Mr. Burrito] on Sep 10th, 2002 @ 8:06pm
You are a complete and utter wanker, my friend. I was looking for information to read up on this new application, and I found some little cocksucker like yourself, thinking that they understand the complications of software development.
Greedy little weasels? They have written a new version of Trillian nearly every month which has been entirely free for us to download, and all they ask, is that if you want to support them, send them a donation. Do you know anyone who has sent them a donation, or have you sent them a donation yourself?
NO! I fucking -know- that you haven't, because you are a greedy little weasel yourself. You make me unbelieveably sick that you could even think of writting such repulsive crap for the world to see. Your attitude will probably get you in a lot of shit one day...
Yours Sincerely,
Mathew Mirabito
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Re: Whoa there.... by [Mr. Burrito] on Sep 10th, 2002 @ 8:18pm
This, is because you do not know how to use any application other than what has come pre-installed with your machine.
Do not trash talented software developers, because you are jealous of the fact that they are not idiots like yourself...
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