'Net Features : sxsw

A New Platform for Subscription-based Selling

Linc Wonham — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:00:00 GMT

A new e-commerce solution worth exploring launched last week at SXSW in Austin, Texas. SaaSy strives to be the most all-inclusive selling platform serving the growing market of software-as-a-service and Web services companies that offer subscription-based digital services and goods.

Because SaaSy is the product of billing and merchandising solutions provider FastSpring, the new service is part of an easy-to-use but powerful full-service e-commerce platform. FastSpring, a six-year-old trusted reseller of software products and services that already works with more than 1,000 companies, is the merchant of record for all SaaSy transactions.

This separates SaaSy from competitors in the online subscription billing space such as Chargify, Spreedly and Recurly, which offer basic recurring billing services for companies selling software-as-a-service. Those and others generally require that these SaaS, Web 2.0 and Web services companies obtain their own merchant accounts and find their own subscription e-commerce solutions, whereas SaaSy takes on those and other responsibilities such as purchasing and delivery, licensing and activation, buyer satisfaction and payment-based customer support.

Your subscription-based customers can pay for their services globally with major credit cards and SaaSy provides a customizable order page that can match the design of your website. SaaSy, and FastSpring before it, are the work of CEO Dan Engel, who directed Web marketing for the multi-billion dollar advertising products AdSense and AdWords as Google’s marketing manager.

SXSW Interactive Web Awards [Call for Entries]

Pete Prestipino — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:15:00 GMT

Are you a “Web innovator” building and implementing tomorrow's design and development trends today? If so, you’ll want to check out the annual SXSW Interactive Web Awards has uncovers the best new websites of the past year.

In addition to the glory and bragging rights among industry peers, the "Best of Show" and "People's Choice Award" winners receive premium prize packages with valuable tech-related goodies. All finalists will receive two complimentary registrations to the SXSW Interactive Festival and SXSW Web Awards Ceremony, and winners for each category receive a unique Web Awards trophy and prize package.

All websites that have been launched or completely redesigned in the 2009 calendar year are eligible for entry in the 2010 competition. Submission are evaluated on visual design, creativity, and content. Websites launched before January 1, 2009 can be entered into the "Classic" category. If you want to enter (there’s a $25 fee) you’ll need to hurry as the final deadline is December 18, 2009.

The SXSW Interactive Web Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, March 14th, at 7pm during SXSW Interactive festival at the Hilton Hotel Austin downtown.

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SXSW Interactive Web Awards

Pete Prestipino — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:00:00 GMT

Designers and developers interested in participating in the the SXSW Interactive Web Awards better get going! The competition aims to uncover the best new websites and celebrate those who are building tomorrow's online trends.

Don't miss this opportunity to showcase your latest online work to the web industry - you never know, you just may win big! The final deadline for submissions is tomorrow, December 19th, at midnight (CST)! Learn More at SXSW.com.