notice how much crypto really caught on when Netscape incorporated it, and how this action alone did more for the proliferation of crypto in cyberspace, almost, than all prior efforts combined. I think that microcurrency will be unleashed in a very similar way.
I assume you are referring to secure web connections via SSL in talking about crypto. In that case there was a very strong pent up demand for the service. Customers were afraid to send credit card numbers and other personal information across the web. Sellers were pressuring the net server companies to do something to quell these concerns so on-line selling could succeed. Netscape did it, and in the grand tradition of the net, implementation beat design and SSL defeated SHTTP.
neither has "beat" the other at this point. but this does show something I have always believed: companies should just invent ad-hoc, quick-and-dirty standards if full standards are not immediately available. it makes no sense to me to delay the introduction of some new feature because there isn't industry standardization. the case is often that the initial ad-hoc standards will tend to converge into a better standard down the road. I don't see standards as "forever". standards should be viewed as stepping stones to better standards. hence I think netscape and/or MS should invent a "plug and play" (i.e. trivial to use) micropayment standard immediately, regardless of what industry standardization does not or will exist. it wouldn't be pretty at first but standardization to better interfaces could ensue later. the main thing is to get it on the table, and get people using it, to create the demand. services are rarely developed unless there is a demand. hence I suggest that a *rudimentary* form of the service be first devised and implemented asap to increase demand for one with much more finesse. In its early
versions SSL had a lot of problems but it was a good enough solution for what it needed to be.
exactly.
The question is whether there is similar market demand for pay per view web pages.
don't think this is a valid question. the whole point of microcurrency is just decreasing the cost until people hit the page and don't care about the cost. hence I think there is a guaranteed market, because with microcurrency you can always shave off your price to virtually infinitesmal values (say pennies a hit) that will guarantee you will have at least some audience. Do web service operators think they can offer value added
services which will motivate customers to click through the for-pay link?
I'm imagining just putting a teeny little transaction charge on top of every single hit that now exists. if it is small enough, consumers won't care very much.
There is also the issue of sellers learning to use the various payment systems which are out there. Here again if Netscape and Microsoft would just pick one then everyone could standardize on it, which would increase acceptance a great deal.
well, pick one payment scheme and then competing companies could adopt the same standard (but offer competing systems and features)
Ecash as it is implemented now has the problem that the customer has to open a special bank account. What you need is a payment system where you can use your existing VISA card and withdraw cash against it into your electronic wallet. This is pretty close to the FV model but their payment system is somewhat clumsy.
exactly. someone who reengineered the whole thing from top to bottom and made it absolutely trivial to use-- I suspect the future of the browser wars will belong to the company that does this. again, I note it might be doable in a plug in, but as I said, I think browser manufacturers are eventually going to put it into their own code because of its sheer importance.