Jelsoft's future

[ManagerJosh]

The staff themselves have said that they buy licenses and they don't get them free. Why would it be any different now?

Because there is a boss that could possibly override James's decision.

[Freezerator]

A year ago something like this happened in the Netherlands, one of the biggest news sites (www.tweakers.net) got sold to a big company. Everyone was moaning just like here about it, how it would change and that it wouldn't be controlled how it was. But all those people forget it was taken over because it is a good concept. You don't have to change a winning team, but if you can give it better financial support, it can improve even more.

The prices don't need to go up, because if they make their product better, and more addons, the total amount of revenue will go up because more will be sold. Thats also the reason prices haven't gone up in years, because they are simply still expanding their marketshare.

I think this is a really good thing that has happened, because there is now more time and money available to do things they are good in, and that is developing the software we all like to use.

Just my $0.02 cents

[MRGTB]

The prices don't need to go up, because if they make their product better, and more add ons, the total amount of revenue will go up because more will be sold. Thats also the reason prices haven't gone up in years, because they are simply still expanding their market share.

I agree, people have been talking about the price of the forum software possibly going up, and how they will pay extra for it still. But like you say, there is a lot of scope to make a lot more money from add-ons without having to adjust the price of the forum software at all to keep that very competitively priced. Which is the best way to go.

I've heard it all before when people say they will pay the extra money, then when it happens their the first to moan about it, very easily said!

[dkon26]

I agree, people have been talking about the price of the forum software possibly going up, and how they will pay extra for it still. But like you say, there is a lot of scope to make a lot more money from add-ons without having to adjust the price of the forum software at all to keep that very competitively priced. Which is the best way to go.

I've heard it all before when people say they will pay the extra money, then when it happens their the first to moan about it, very easily said!

We shall see about the prices. I kind of hope the prices do go up a little just to keep the kids away. Just not the members yearly fee that ive been foaming at the mouth about.

Doesnt really make any sense anymore to keep going on and on about this. I think the reason why all of us posted so much about this is to make sure they see and read this so our point is made. I think everyone accomplished that goal.

[ManagerJosh]

It would not surprise me one bit that a good portion of Jelsoft's license holders were actually minors at the time of purchase.

[Yours Truly]

It would not surprise me one bit that a good portion of Jelsoft's license holders were actually minors at the time of purchase.

Minors?

[RedTyger]

Children. Or below the age of 18, presumably.

[Alan @ CIT]

Hi all,

Whilst this buyout / merger doesn't affect me at all (I no longer run any forums), my one concern would be this.

From what I have seen of IB, they seem to own a lot of large internet properties, so the purchase of a software development company like Jelsoft seems like a strange one as it doesn't fit in with their current portfolio. The cynical amongst us (me) might wonder if it where coincidence that with this purchase, IB now have direct access to the owners of some of the internets biggest forums which would certainly enhance their current portfolio.

However, I'm sure there are easier (and cheaper) ways to get information on large internet properties than buying a company such as Jelsoft

On an extra note, I would also like to wish IB good luck with their new purchase and I hope Jelsoft and vBulletin continue to prosper and advance.

Kind regards,
Alan.

[petertdavis]

We shall see about the prices. I kind of hope the prices do go up a little just to keep the kids away. Just not the members yearly fee that ive been foaming at the mouth about.

I wouldn't mind seeing the purchase price go up a bit if I could get a bulk discount deal on the yearly renewals.

[---MAD---]

I wouldn't mind seeing the purchase price go up a bit if I could get a bulk discount deal on the yearly renewals.

I think if the main price goes up, the renewal should stay the same or decrease.

[MRGTB]

I don't understand why your all talking about the price going up for, your going to be paying extra for the new add-ons.

So you want to pay more for vBulletin if I get this right, as well as pay extra for the add-ons as well.

[MJM]

I don't understand why your all talking about the price going up for, your going to be paying extra for the new add-ons. ...

Good point.
Imagine if the addons requested were instead inclusive in the vB4 version, but along with it included a price increase of hundreds of dollars, with proportionally extra annual fees.

Some customers would be thrilled to get the the extra components they've been wishing for while others would be hooting and hollering.

I think that the pricing structure for addons will also open up new opportunities for 3rd party providers who may offer competitively alternative solutions to what Jelsoft provides.

There are few products in the real world in which one can develop a single product, and then replicate unlimited clones of this product at no further cost then marketing, support and additional operational overheads.
Herein lies the dilemma - immense time and effort spent developing the initial prototype, (of which there is little leeway in 'turning back the clock' once it has been released) ... and then hoping that a sufficient market share is out there to compensate expenses and make a decent profit.

[linesiders]

Dangnabbit - just read through 25 pages of this ...

To vB/Jelsoft - Good Luck - hope this works out well for you.

To IB - Don't screw it up. Make the right decisions and foster the community, don't operate in spite of the community.

The last forum I attend somewhat frequently - that was "acquired" by Internet Brands - TheHullTruth.com had a similar reaction by the members (boaters, not people that run the forums). THT is one of the largest (if not the largest) boating forum of its kind in the US.

Personnel from IB, logged in and did the "Aww Shucks, we're just happy to be here and nothingwillchangerightawayany..."

That has been so far absent from this thread.

IB explained on THT that they go out and find strong leaders in various markets and bring them into the fold so to speak to leverage these large sites with other large sites.

Buying Jelsoft probably helps them to unify their sites running on disparate platforms. This certainly makes sense. How it will impact US, people running vB software, remains to be seen.

(Wonder if they'll buy my 500Kpost 5K member site)

[Cyber Smoke]

Hello. Well, my first impression is that I would never have sold my own business to a company which suggests contacting it about it via a website form - that's the first thought.

Secondly, I have failed to find anything written about Jelsoft on their resource yet - if they're a big company (and they are), they should definitely spend more time updating their website not to make it look as if the most recent events didn't happen or that such a remarkable company as Jelsoft doesn't deserve a right to be the news headliner on it.

Speaking about their website's design, I'll make it short - they should stop living in Windows 3.11 or copying Adidas, they aren't selling the sports shoes No offence, but they really should contact someone from here: www.2advanced.com

I really don't have anything against American or Korean corporations that naturally own small companies all around the world, but, it is my sincere belief that Jelsoft might have achieved everything they were looking for without this venturesome movement, just by naturally growing and expanding the staff.

On the other hand, I do understand that Jelsoft have had some... human resources problems delaying the expansion of their product line, and therefore, I feel that there will be some positive outcomes of the merger, such as more people involved in Jelsoft's product support or even multiple teams of programmers working on two or more vBulletin-related projects at the same time. If this takes place, it's definitely going to be a very positive outcome for Jelsoft Enterprises and for us, vBulletin customers.

Only time will tell what's going to happen with vBulletin development in the future, and personally I hope it will be the things we aren't going to regret.

Cheers to the whole vB team,
Dmitri.

[Dean C]

I hardly think 2advanced fit the bill for a rebrand. They are flash specialists.