The Internet Free-Trial Ending?
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Speaking to a friend on the evolution of the Internet, he noted that the free-trial of the Internet is ending. It was amazing because I never looked at the Internet so far as being a 'trial version' to the actual product. But it made complete sense. Because ever since it's worldwide adoption in the third quarter of the 90s the Internet became the number one source of free versions of everything that had to be bought with money before that.
Information became free. Song words and new articles that previously required magazine and library subscriptions was available for everyone to access with a simple hit of the Search button. Copyrighted material became free. Songs, video and computer games, movies, and TV series that previously needed money were free - albeit not through proper channels.
Internet services were given out for free. E-mails, blogging platforms, website makers and hosters, social media services, photo managing and editing facilities, RSS feed compilers. These companies were practically begging consumers to use their products and services.
But as we edge towards complete global adoption of the Internet, products and services are beginning to think of ways to fill their own pockets. Here's a look at why it's only happening now.
Maturity of Product Adoption
As I briefly noted just up there, the Internet has finally reached close to global adoption phase. This means almost everyone who can afford to use the Internet already have access to them, and in some parts of the world the Internet served as priority infrastructure development over roads.
The connectivity to the Internet has gone from massive super computers to pocket-size smart phones. There are now close to 10 different range of devices that can keep users online 24/7.
Based on this understanding the product has gone pass the introductory and early adoption stage, and has transformed from a luxury item to a commodity. It only makes sense for companies previously giving freebies out to begin making back their money.
Death Of Piracy
Like a plague piracy swarmed the entire world, killing tens of thousands of businesses and crippling everyone else. In the beginning consumers felt that they have finally won the price battle with an option of completely no cost at all. As the piracy habit progresses consumers began realizing their importance in the product and service market. The music and movies they loved so much began fading away as producers and artists found no value in those industries because nobody buys their stuff anyway.
Some went on to leverage on their status by starting out their own designer clothing line (piracy of clothes generate less satisfaction as they do digital media, and they still need to be bought using currency), selling expensive merchandises and holding concert tours. Other smaller-time and often better music makers hung their shoes and went on to something else. Game makers also start developing games for the masses, resulting in the reduction from epic Final Fantasy games to crappy-ass Angry Birds.
It was then when consumers decided that it was time to pay for media again. Be it through the purchase of digital formats or buying hard copies as long as they are paying for content again. Most importantly through the Internet consumers and content creators get to bypass the hoard of middle-people, That way consumers pay less and creators get paid more.
Advertisements and Lost of Privacy
With everyone moving their consumption pattern off traditional media formats to the net so will the advertisers. Advertisers are only concern with getting the right messages through to as many relevant people as possible, and how it is done is not that important. Previously clean and simple website layout began pilling up flashy sky scrapers and expanding advertisements selling things you don't usually care about.
Later on when advertisers find it inefficient to simply blast their messages to everyone indiscriminately, they began demanding consumers' information from technology companies for a huge sum. A sum these companies cannot refuse, mainly because most if not all their users do not pay for their services anyway. So they began mining and selling user information to whoever interested and willing to pay.
So if you keep getting advertisements asking you to buy the Viber 3000 it's probably because you bought something similar in the past.
Paid Services
So consumers started complaining that their information should not be sold to media firms as they are a breach of privacy. Then these tech service providers began introducing options for paid subscriptions without unwanted sales of the users' information. They go on to say " Hey, somebody's got to pay my staff. And nothing in this world is free, dude."
Paid version essentially became normal version while free versions got most of their capabilities locked.
Where Will This Lead To
Like everything in the world, nothing should be free just because it's available via the Internet. People must understand that the Internet is just a vehicle of information movement and the people running everything behind still work for money. Give me a call if you disagree, I got a job opening for you.