There is no doubt that for Symbian-powered phones, we get to roll around in tons of different applications. We can choose between widgets, java or native Symbian applications in a wide range of categories. As the demand for better applications increases so does the offers. Most developers offer paid applications for different prices and some developers are offering free applications with a small notice to donate if you like the application. There are even a selection of free ad-supported applications, which begs the question, what are the arguments for what to choose?
Free applications
Let’s take the free applications first and here you have two models. First one is the donation model and the second one is ad-supported. An example of the first model is Group Creator, that groups your contacts on specific settings. Having a donation model, it doesn’t force you to pay for it. As for the second model, Shozu is one of the most famous examples. However such applications ask for connection to the internet to download the advertisement and display it to you. Should you deny it to do so, you are not allowed to use the application.
Commercial applications
Now let’s look at paid applications and here you basically have four models: the application itself is offered for free but additional features must be bought, the application contains heavy DRM, the application checks if your phone’s IMEI number is registered and the application requires you to enter a serial number. Two example applications following the first model are MyRMX and Adaptxt (The beta version). QuickOffice and Psiloc products follow the second model with DRM in their applications and examples on the third model are products from Lonely Cat Games, LCG and Gravity. The first model is quite obvious so I’ll just skip it to explain a bit about the second model. Both QuickOffice and Psiloc products have their own implementation of DRM, namely QuickOffice License Manager and Psiloc Common DRM Solution. What these additional components do in your phone is check if you have a valid license or a legal version of a product. In fact it’s quite unnecessary to install additional software for this purpose, in my opinion. I’ve also experienced problems with such DRM systems where upgrades sometimes went wrong. The third model is that the application will connect to the internet to check whether your IMEI number is registered as a customer. If you aren’t you can’t use the full product after the trial expires. Examples of the fourth and last model are Handy Black List and Best Blacklist. This models provides the least annoyance for the end user. Just enter the registered information and the serial and you are good to go, no online check or hassle with DRM.
To summarize
I’ve left out widgets and java applications intentionally because I rarely use these and my experience with them is limited. For java applications, it’s best to install them on phone memory since a firmware update could potentially make them no longer work if installed on the memory card. Also keep away from beta java applications as a future update can fail to install, so make sure to always uninstall a previous version of such a product before installing a newer version.
The benefit of free applications is that you can get in contact with the developer directly to e.g. exchange ideas or tell about bugs you’ve found. It’s more community driven but there’s no guarantee that you will get in touch with the developer. Application support is also limited as you can’t expect it to be made compatible with newer or older handsets or that new versions with bugfixes will come out regularly. Some versions of an application will also require you to sign them yourselves so sto some extent, you are required to know a little bit more and to be able to troubleshoot problems yourself.
Paid applications however have a better support surrounding them, and although getting an answer from support can take a long time before you finally get to solve your problems, they usually are willing to help you. However, sometimes they think you are stupid and in the end they can’t solve the problem. The cost of the support is also what you pay, hence a higher price for some products. Compatibility can somewhat be guaranteed as well as that newer versions with new features and bugfixes will come out more regularly. Check of license using your IMEI number or via DRM systems is not always a slipstream experience. Sometimes a connection can’t be established and hence you can’t activate your application. Here choosing an application where you input a serial number is the best experience.
Feel free to comment if you disagree or agree with me or have any other opinions to share in regards to this topic.
