As i have mentioned a few times on this blog, I am currently working on yet another Todo List application. This application is developed from the needs that has arisen from my daily work as a lead software developer, and I think its going to be quite a killer app combining instant access to add and manage work items, without lifting your hands from the keyboard with modern Web 2.0 sharing capabilities etc.

As version 1.0 is nearing its completion, I am obviously considering how to distribute this software, and I have decided that there will be something free (as in beer) and something better available at a small cost, say $19.95.

Giving stuff away for free is pretty easy, and only limited by bandwith, but as a MicroISV how do you handle payment and licensing on an international scale? I don't want to give a potential customer any excuse not to buy the software. 

Therefore I have designed it to look Vista-like, it will be Vista Certified (hopefully - see my post about free Vista certification )  and I want the process of licensing and payment to follow that notion. So licensing should be easy, and the should be plenty of payment options including any kind of credit card optimally.

I have been looking for a solution to both these matters, and I might actually have found just the thing to solve it: I stumbled across a Danish Company called Wannakey who are soon going public on the Danish stock exchange for smaller companies.

Wannakey offers license and payment management for software developers, and makes your software available for other parties to sell on their shops through the Wannakey service, and Wannakey descibe their concept like this:

• The developer delivers new and exiting programs
• Wannakey™ delivers the program for protecting and controlling sales
• The stores deliver customers to buy the products

So as a software developer you could create the software and get a developer profile at Wannakey and implement licensing with the WannakeySDK. Then you could set op a shop with Wannakey and sell from your own website, but other software vendors could also choose to market your software in their shops at your terms.

This certainly sounds appealing, and I'm going to take a closer look at this. This could very well be the solution for any MicroISV who just wants to focus on the software.

I was listening to The MicroISV Show #14 featuring Don Dodge, the Director of Business  Development  on Microsofts Emerging Business Team, which is a very interesting show for any MicroISV, who might have dreamt about getting the call from Gates himself with a big cheque in his hand.

Don talks about Microsofts shopping sprees in the MicroISV mall, and lifts the vail a bit on how to get in Microsofts searchlights. Actually last year Microsoft bought 19 small companies, who primarily weren't VC funded - they basically were MicroISVs. So if your looking to get bought by Microsoft, heres a few pointers:

1. Any aquisition starts as a partnership with Microsoft
2. Get a network within Microsoft. Use the Microsoft Startup Zone to get contacts.
3. Microsoft is looking for strong developer personalities and teams, so feature yourself  as such.
4. Having a leading edge products is also a step on the way, especially if your product is covering an area where Microsoft has a weak offering. So Microsoft is looking to fill in the gaps.
5. You need to want to scale to millions of users - and not be a maverick going your own way.

So Microsoft is not looking for a quick buyout of a good idea. Rather they looking for the best innovative developer teams, who might happen to have a leading edge product and wants to create a long term working relationship with Microsoft, and maybe wants to influence Microsofts development in the future.

The dream of Bill Gates himself suddenly on the doorstep with an oversize cheque, followed by the immidiate departure to the Bahamas, is most likely not going to happen.

But if you have ambitions in that area, it is actually possible to get the attention of Microsoft, even as a MicroISV if you focus. And even if Microsoft isn't looking to purchase you, you might get great mileage out of a close partnership with Microsoft - they do know a lot of VC's and business angels, who are looking for someone like you.