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Free, but for how long? |
wizard
Joined: Mar 18, 2002
Posts: 16
From: Norway
PM |
Hell yes, dont make this another pay-site.. The only thing that will do, is I or somebody else will create a page just as great, for free.. That was not a joke.. I would also be interested in working for this site as a designer/programmer, if you need people.. As long as it stays free.. Free software forever!  |
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johanch
Joined: Jan 02, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: Oslo, Norway
PM |
This is what Laffen told me the 5th of March in a private message (In Norwegian):
" Pr. i dag tjener jeg ikke fem flate øre på dette. Jeg har en avtale med SE-Norge om at det skal sende meg alle nye modeller som kommer på markedet, men man blir jo ikke rik av det. Jeg må nok gå til det skritt å legge ut annonsering i en eller annen form senere. Har snakket med en del aktører i SMS-/logomarkedet i Norge, og alle lurer på hvorfor jeg gjør dette gratis.
Hvis det går ann å lage en MMS tjeneste som gir inntekt, vil jeg vurdere det. Problemet med salg av logoer og ringetoner er at man kun kan ta betalt for skandinaviske/UK/Spania hvor SMS- og WAP billing er teknisk gjennomførbart.
Selv foretrekker jeg tjenester som betales av annonsører, og ikke av brukeren direkte. Vi får se hva som skjer.. "
In English:
"Today I'm not making a cent on my site. I have a deal with SE-Norway that they will send me all their newest phones, but I'm not getting rich because of that... I'll have to put on some ads here on the site in the near feauture. I have talked with some SMS and logo-companies here in Norway, and they are all wondering about why I give you all these services for free... If it is possible to make an MMS-service that I can make som money on, I will do that. The problem is selling logos and ringtones, where it is only techincally possible to charge users from Scandinavia/UK/Spain... I personally prefer services that are paid and sponsered by advertisers. I have not made up my mind yet... You'll have to wait and see"
I think Laffen is really a good webmaster 
Keep up the good work!!!
Johan |
laffen
Joined: Aug 07, 2001
Posts: > 500
From: Oslo, Norway
PM |
The thing is that the Esato site is very expensive to run. If I don't start to make some revenues soon, the site will die. It's as simple as that. It's better for me to have a few paying users than millions of non-paying users. Money talks..
The forum will always be free, but I do consider charging for some of the added logo features in the future. The new image-to-logo tool is such a service. People have been paying for Nokia logos for years even if you could download LogoManager and make your own logo.
If you know about anyone that's willing to sponsor (read: advertising banners) the site, please let me know.
[ This Message was edited by: laffen on 2002-03-18 17:16 ] |
xmob
Joined: Jan 16, 2002
Posts: 59
From: xMob
PM, WWW
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Just as a matter of interest, which sites charge for access? They must be barmy! |
Linkinpark17UK
Joined: Jan 27, 2002
Posts: 372
PM |
I suppose if the worse happens i.e. this site shuts down we could always run different aspects of this site from places such as geocities.
If u wanna keep this site free you could apply to places such as jungle.com and Amazon, they offer banners to put on ur site and if they get a sale u get money. You could always sell our details to certain companies i.e mobile phone shops that have accerories etc for our particular phones.
Although some people might not be too happy that ur selling their details to people. |
john74
Joined: Dec 21, 2001
Posts: > 500
From: GREECE/AUSTRALIA
PM, WWW
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well i hope things will not change to much,i am happy with what we already have here thats what makes this forum the best |
eznug
Joined: Jan 22, 2002
Posts: 11
PM, WWW
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Well i think this site is the best here we all can read about and discuss the phones from SE
i hope we can find some advertisor for laffen so it wont cost him to much to run this site
good work laffen
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fizzbitt
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 28
From: Bradford (UK)
PM |
To be honest, I'm new to this site and amazed that it's servics are free, and i for 1 would not mind clicking on a few banners to keep the site free. And i think that Laffen has a valid point about charging for new services and add-on's..
I'm a regular at a site called www.supercars.net which is a free site with pics and info for the latest cars and it has a very similar forum to this. They have now got a premium membership offer which give those member extras that the free users dont get. At the same time, the non-paying users are not loosing anything they had before.
Just a thought, Let me know what you think mate... |
mhorton
Joined: Jan 13, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: UK
PM |
What ever Laffen decides to do with the site I will support you. I think most of us would as well
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Posted: 2002-03-18 15:50
