A new feature of Windows Marketplace—a Microsoft Web site that lets users find and purchase Windows-compatible hardware and software—could make electronic software distribution more attractive to customers. The new Digital Locker gives customers a centralized and secure online location to store important information about their software purchases, including receipts and license keys. The actual purchase transactions are handled by existing partners: Digital River, eSellerate, Handango, and Kagi. For ISVs, the Digital Locker could make working through these distribution partners more attractive than building their own online stores.

Making ESD Easier

Many software developers prefer electronic software distribution (ESD) for a number of reasons, most notably the reduced costs of selling and distributing software and documentation online compared to physical disks, manuals and packaging. Customers, however, face numerous headaches: they must create an account (with an accompanying password) and give credit card information to multiple vendors; they must make sure to save a copy of their electronic receipt (often delivered by e-mail but sometimes simply a Web page they must print and file away); and they must make sure not to lose their license keys—special codes required to install the application.

The Digital Locker allows users to use their Passport account (a.k.a. Windows Live ID) to create a secure storage location on the Windows Marketplace. They can then purchase software from multiple online vendors with a single checkout. A digital receipt, along with a link to download the software and any necessary license keys, are placed in the user's Digital Locker. The Digital Locker also includes an optional download assistant that allows users to interrupt and resume downloading large files as well as burn backup CDs. Should they need to reinstall their applications, customers then access their Digital Locker and redownload the programs along with the license keys.

Microsoft hopes to extend the list of partners participating in the Digital Locker to include leading shareware providers, such as Tucows, but has no plans to allow ISVs to sell their products directly, presumably because of the work required to integrate the Digital Locker with the vendors' billing and distribution systems.

The Digital Locker beta is available at www.windowsmarketplacelabs.com.