The growth of the Internet and the huge number of people online (3.2 million in New Zealand alone) has led to a huge explosion in open source and low cost software. The sheer number of potential users has made it viable for Web application developers to sell their software at low cost in order to generate high volumes of sales.

There are various business models that can successfully support low cost offerings:

• Often the lower cost software has a number of features removed and customers are prompted to buy the higher value ‘premium’ product

• Free software often includes advertising which can be removed if an amount is paid

• The low cost will often only provide minimum support and no training and support can be paid for annually

• Once software is downloaded larger application developers can pitch their other products.

What it means is that Website developers become integrators rather than code-writers as they match a customer’s requirements with what is available. It is far easier to integrate than build an application from scratch.

A fairly standard Website could quite easily include the following:

1. Video stored on YouTube

2. A Google Map on the contact page

3. Online chat for customer support by PHP Live

4. An IP.Board online forum

5. Google Analytics Web statistics.

All these applications can be either used for free or at low cost and can easily be integrated into most Websites.

In fact all the applications mentioned can be hosted elsewhere so none of the information needs to be stored on your site – only a few lines of code are required.

This has major benefits for you as a Website owner:

• The application will be far cheaper

• Applications are normally sophisticated and feature-rich as the software developer looks to attract users.  Often the market for that type of software is quite mature and so many great features are standard.

• Applications have often undergone years of usage and upgrades so are less ‘buggy’ than custom software.

Alex Garden – www.netinsites.com