{"id":2790,"date":"2013-09-18T16:42:29","date_gmt":"2013-09-18T21:42:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bytebot.net\/blog\/?p=2790"},"modified":"2013-09-18T16:42:37","modified_gmt":"2013-09-18T21:42:37","slug":"cyanogenmod-raises-money-how-will-they-make-money","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.bytebot.net\/blog\/archives\/2013\/09\/18\/cyanogenmod-raises-money-how-will-they-make-money","title":{"rendered":"Cyanogenmod raises money – how will they make money?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"OK<\/a>Cyanogen, makers of Cyanogenmod<\/a> for Android devices, just raised<\/a> $7 million from Benchmark Capital and Redpoint Ventures. The founder Steve Kondik has a really nice story: a new chapter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When you raise money, you certainly have to provide some form of “exit”. Many comments are asking how they’re going to commercialise, since they have a great commitment to opensource. Just look at their repositories<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Verge thinks Cyanogenmod might be the third OS in mobile (after iOS and Android). It might even be ahead of Windows Mobile. Impressive. Just look at the opt-in installation statistics<\/a>\u00a0(~7.7 million installs).<\/p>\n

I’ve never loaded Cyanogenmod on my Android device. I’ve owned a Nexus One, HTC Desire HD (10 days?) and a Samsung Galaxy S III. Samsung is clearly not pushing out updates yet (they delay them from what I gather now that the S IV is out) so I might look into Cyanogenmod soon.<\/p>\n

I’m interested in how they’re going to monetize. Some options:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Make an easy-to-use end user installer. Charge for it.<\/li>\n
  2. Work with device manufacturers who are making cheap devices.\u00a0<\/li>\n
  3. Work with device manufacturers like HTC, who are making devices but aren’t really “successful”, and replace their UI to be more streamlined.<\/li>\n
  4. Secure messaging already exists; offer even better at a price tag?<\/li>\n
  5. Secure voice calling for a fee? The resurgence of VOIP in an easy-to-use format.<\/li>\n
  6. Offer hosted secure email, that is a gmail replacement? Nokia tried this to some extent with Ovi services. You got an Ovi account when you got a device.<\/li>\n
  7. Preload a Whatsapp-equivalent, like Samsung does (ChatON); make it available on many platforms?<\/li>\n
  8. Encrypted\/secure backup & restore. Restoring on Android loses account details for example.<\/li>\n
  9. Acquire TrueCaller<\/a> and have the services built-in. Imagine this running as a default? Imagine paying $1\/month to never have to answer spam again?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Many options exist. The firmware will be free. This is great, because older devices that manufacturers choose to neglect will just run Cyanogenmod.<\/p>\n

    The potential for developing nations is great too. The second hand market for an Android device just got a lot better. The total lifespan of a device might become tremendously longer. Interesting moves and something to watch, especially in a world where more open options are starting to come by: FirefoxOS, Ubuntu phones, etc.<\/p>\n

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