[Interest] Indie Mobil Program terminated?

[Turunen Tuukka]

Hi Mark,

We know that the mobile ports to non-Nokia platforms came a bit later than to certain other cross-platform tools. We also know that there are still some Qt APIs that are not working on all mobile platforms, especially Windows Phone still missing some APIs like Qt Purchasing. On the other hand Qt already supports much more functionality on mobile than many of those frameworks that have been out longer. Also, Qt provides the option to scale to desktop and embedded (which of course may not be what mobile app developers seek).

I am sorry to hear that you and others are dissatisfied with removal of Indie Mobile product from new sales. We do understand your points, and are not disagreeing with many of them. We also admit that we should have announced earlier that new sales of Indie Mobile will be discontinued. Therefore we have extended sales of Indie Mobile until end of August. Those who have subscribed to it, can continue also after August.

We are continuing to invest into mobile platforms, as well as desktop and embedded. Qt 5.5 provides many improvements in iOS, Android and WinRT - as well as new APIs such as Qt Location. Qt 5.6 (to be released in December) again brings new stuff that helps making great mobile apps.

There are already many really good mobile apps created with Qt and the number is growing. We are happy about each and every one of these apps and want to present these at showroom.qt.io 

We are also happy that the overall Qt business is growing and that Qt is stronger today than it has ever been. But we are not happy with the amount of Indie Mobile subscriptions. These have not picked up despite of campaigns and marketing investments. Therefore we decided that this product is not doing what it should, and that we want to discontinue it. We are continuously thinking what approach would be better and we do value the feedback you and others have given us in the different forums.

Yours,

                   Tuukka

> "md at rpzdesign.com" <md at rpzdesign.com> kirjoitti 6.7.2015 kello 22.49:
> 
> Tuukka:
> 
> I do not have any problem if you made a interest list message indicating that Qt wants fully engage its self-induced licensing chaos with the Indie user base when the principals return from vacation.
> 
> But the clumsy BLOG announcement mechanism is a joke.
> 
> Someone from sales to scan the lists every day so they can keep their fingers on the pulse of things.
> 
> When you count the number of issues/sticking points that I and other users have publicly raised in this list and the number of those that Qt has simply left unaddressed is shocking.
> 
> And GENERATING BAD WILL.  Bad for sales.  Bad for confidence.
> 
> On more than just the Indie licensing.
> 
> We HEAR you about poor sales.  We get it.
> 
> But to get this growing pile of issues to settle down, you must directly address nearly all of them so that the users are actually satisfied with the responses.
> 
> Your below response is a great example of an response that does not cut the mustard.
> 
> Your feedback loops are broken, you likely do not understand segments
> of the user base hence your "surprise" about a product no-one has bought.
> 
> Ask questions on the list.  Have a dialogue with the Indies when you
> get back from Vacation.  Have the sales types bounce questions too.
> 
> Qt should have a public goal of getting as many projects into production shape as possible.  It makes Qt stronger and more ATTRACTIVE.
> 
> If I succeed, or Nuno Santos succeeds, we will be better Qt salespeople with our contacts than anybody on your sales team.
> 
> Now go enjoy your vacation!
> 
> The Indies can help you clean up the crap when you get back.
> 
> Mark
> 
> 
>> On 7/6/2015 12:23 PM, Turunen Tuukka wrote:
>> 
>> Hi Mark,
>> 
>> The reason why Indie Mobile product is to be discontinued is simple: there has been so few licenses sold that it does not even cover for the cost of online sales, let alone any cost of packaging, testing, distributing etc. We do care about indie developers and the community, but based on the sold Indie Mobile subscriptions it is very clear that there was no demand to this product.
>> 
>> As also stated in the blog post of today, we are rather surprised that a product that almost no-one has bought is crucially important to so many. For this reason, we decided to have extension until end of August rather that promise that the product is available indefinitely. It will be interesting to see how many decide to purchase it now that it is again available.
>> 
>> We are continuously thinking of ways to improve our offering and naturally hope to find products that provide new business. We are also very happy that we have an active community and customer base. And we are extremely proud that Qt is a great product, used by a huge number of developers worldwide.
>> 
>> Yours,
>> 
>>                 Tuukka
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ________________________________________
>> Lähettäjä: md at rpzdesign.com <md at rpzdesign.com>
>> Lähetetty: 6. heinäkuuta 2015 16:39
>> Vastaanottaja: interest at qt-project.org
>> Kopio: Knoll Lars; Turunen Tuukka
>> Aihe: Re: [Interest] Indie Mobil Program terminated?
>> 
>> Dear Lars & Turunen:
>> 
>> Qt has been reading their email, but still appear tone deaf:
>> 
>>  > http://blog.qt.io/blog/2015/07/06/indie-mobile-available-until-aug-31st/
>> 
>> There are statements in that blog which strain QT credibility.
>> 
>> Transparency is only ONE of several significant problems.
>> 
>> Your feedback loops are apparently broken.
>> 
>> Community Crisis Response and Pricing Policy VIA BLOG is a
>> communications disaster.
>> 
>> You have manufactured haters which will not evangelize QT, further
>> weakening QT now and in the future.
>> 
>> Failing to have Qt staff directly and completely address many valid
>> questions/issues raised in the interest list and blog replies has
>> consequences, whether obvious or not.
>> 
>> Stop saying Open Source successfully replaces Indie, until you can
>> provide an articulate and concise page why instead of sending
>> all potential Indies to their lawyers to figure it out.  They will not.
>> 
>> The web site is a confusing MESS. You are LOSING sales because nobody
>> can clearly see price VS benefits.
>> 
>> Like Nunos Santos says: QT Rocks.
>> 
>> Just not enough people have the time (and now the money) to bet on QT to
>> figure it out.
>> 
>> They need to see other users succeeding, not users bitching.
>> 
>> This has been a terrible week for QT.
>> 
>> Mark
> 
> -- 
> No spell checkers were harmed during the creation of this message.