The problem with offering any free tier is that it lets people keep their wallet in their pocket.
It's impossible to determine but as a thought experiment imagine if the only way to subscribe to Facebook after the .edu phase was to pay $1 / £1 / €1 per year.
Overall revenue would be lower but they wouldn't have to maintain enormous sales and ad-tech teams.
app.net flunked IMHO because noone understood what it was, not because it required payment.
Comments
The problem with offering any free tier is that it lets people keep their wallet in their pocket.
It's impossible to determine but as a thought experiment imagine if the only way to subscribe to Facebook after the .edu phase was to pay $1 / £1 / €1 per year.
Overall revenue would be lower but they wouldn't have to maintain enormous sales and ad-tech teams.
app.net flunked IMHO because noone understood what it was, not because it required payment.