Service Boosts Electronic Software Delivery

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.