The "environment" problem isn't economic, but social. It's not new, and it's not about to change:
- Most users don't know that the browser that came with their device can be replaced by something else.
- Of those that know, many don't.
- Of those who do, they want it free; you cannot monetize it. You can't lock them in; they will switch to something else at the sign of any trouble.
The alternative browser user is pretty much the same person who doesn't want to see a single ad anywhere, or pay for anything.
You might as well wrap quartz pebbles in cloth and wait for whey to drip out.
A possible area for an alternative browser might be the corporate environment; employers who want to prescribe some kind of more locked down, security-fortified browser for use within their intranet. The challenge there is demonstrating value, compared to regular approaches: using regular browsers and securing things elsewhere.
Recently there was a HN submission to a story about how scalpers are able to get Ticketmaster tickets before everyone else, which mentioned custom browsers that the use. Someone makes money in that niche.
The "environment" problem isn't economic, but social. It's not new, and it's not about to change:
- Most users don't know that the browser that came with their device can be replaced by something else.
- Of those that know, many don't.
- Of those who do, they want it free; you cannot monetize it. You can't lock them in; they will switch to something else at the sign of any trouble.
The alternative browser user is pretty much the same person who doesn't want to see a single ad anywhere, or pay for anything.
You might as well wrap quartz pebbles in cloth and wait for whey to drip out.
A possible area for an alternative browser might be the corporate environment; employers who want to prescribe some kind of more locked down, security-fortified browser for use within their intranet. The challenge there is demonstrating value, compared to regular approaches: using regular browsers and securing things elsewhere.
Recently there was a HN submission to a story about how scalpers are able to get Ticketmaster tickets before everyone else, which mentioned custom browsers that the use. Someone makes money in that niche.