Firstly, you say, "We trusted Cydoor as our partner, and we should not have done so." Yet you continue to include Cydoor as a non-optional install in the free limewire.
Secondly, this post is not about how to keep limewire afloat. That's not my job.
However, I will outline limewire's situation:
1. Gnutella client software is opensource.
2. There are several filesharing softwares out there.
3. If you stop offering free limewire, users will use other software.
4. Filesharing is a controversial issue.
The question limewire must ask itself is, "What do we offer that the other file-sharing systems don't?"
The big issues here are:
a. Ease of use.
b. Number and diversity of files shared.
c. Ability to find these files quickly.
d. Ability to download these files quickly.
e. Stability both in terms of the software, and the file-sharing institution.
If you are focusing on other issues, I suggest you reexamine your priorities (chat facility, mp3 player).
If limewire is the best in these areas, people will pay a "shareware" fee for your software. If not, they won't.
As to creating revenue:
I assume you know how many users you have daily, monthy, yearly, based on how many people access your router.
Hire someone to investigate advertisers. I'm sure there are a few big companies that don't mind being associated with filesharing that will endorse limewire. By endorse, I mean pay a yearly fee to have their logos permanently on your software. |