The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said that the only thing that remains unchanged in this world is change.

The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said that the only thing that remains unchanged in this world is change. In the rapid changes in the business market today, the classic quote is the most accurate expression of the Internet industry, do not understand the change will be eliminated by the new generation of meat. And looking at the domestic internet these years of development process, it is easy to draw such a conclusion: every time the "free" wave, will bring a new revolution.

Gathering time CEO Lee Colling pointed out that the free mode, is not only the embodiment of the spirit of the Internet, but also many enterprises development of the killer. Internet industry, emphasis on customer-centric, through the realization of their own interests minimized, maximize customer interests, to pursue scale efficiency.

Every time "free" is a revolution

If you were to choose the 2014-year Internet vocabulary Now, "free" would be a powerful candidate. It is well known that free marketing is one of the most successful internet business models, and this year many companies are starting the free model again, heralding a new revolution in the mobile internet era or coming.

For example, 2008, 360 launched free antivirus service, when Zhou 祎 rallying: Antivirus and mail, search, IM, all belong to the category of Internet basic services, since it is the basic services, should be free to users! Then 360 antivirus quickly get very good market reaction, soon will Jinshan, Ruijin and other competitors left behind. This brings the formal arrival of the security software free era.

In communications, the battle between the micro-letters and the operators last year was still vivid. Finally, micro-letter to carry the pressure of operators, insist that no charges, the vast number of users, the Ministry of Micro-letter does not charge "express support and welcome." With people's in-depth understanding of mobile Internet, now even operators themselves have to admit, micro-letter, such as "free" OTT business gradually replaced the traditional voice, SMS business is the general trend, this is a way to avoid the communications industry revolution.

If, 360 and micro-letter, has become the Internet "free" mode of the big coffee, then this year there are two companies worth watching-the time of the Gathering (YY) and the snail. Two companies have launched their own free models, respectively, through online education and mobile gaming.

YY has officially launched its independent Education brand: 100 education, and provide permanent free TOEFL IELTS Intensive course. "100 Education" platform free mode will completely solve the online education development bottleneck of students, for the completion of the course, YY will also give 100 Yuan bonus. Industry insiders also generally believe that this will be the new Oriental and other traditional educational institutions bring a great impact.

And snails, as early as the year before the Mobile strategy conference, put forward in the hands of the industry took the lead to open the "flow free" mode. Relevant person in charge, as a game company with virtual operator license plate, snails hope to provide the vast number of players with free flow download, play different themes and types of mobile games by integrating the two industry resources of communication and game. It is reported that the game company snail will be introduced in the recent development of mobile gaming platform, the full implementation of the company's mobile strategy, the main "free flow" characteristics.

With the previous "revolution" similar to Jimpan "free" Home Army again attack, can be said to be the Internet competition 2.0 times of a wrestling, the result will be not enough competitors are eliminated, the industry pattern was shuffled.

Thinking behind the free mode

If the early Ishin, and other IM tools have been introduced to provide users with free flow of activities. It can be said that the free mode of enterprise, almost covers the mobile internet era of several major areas of focus.

These enterprises have opened the "free flow" mode, but also bring more of the industry to follow and follow, at the same time, users will get a lot of convenience, and this behind or more content is worth thinking about.

First, the development of thinking. The 2014 "Free" Home Army again attack, is the internet thinking more mature embodiment. Internet development as the rolling wheel, we "roll" for a long time, internet thinking has become a major, internet companies are increasingly aware of high viscosity users than short-term profits more important. Take the snail, free for the game industry is not unfamiliar, the past end of the tour has been relying on selling cards profit, is now basically free game, relying on the value-added content and services to profitability. And today, the snail for mobile phone game launched free policy, is to stare at the user directly download, play the game of high flow fee of this "pain point" is to help users across the threshold of high flow rates, so that the nature of the flow of services to return to the essence, so as to obtain more users. Market experts also mentioned that in the era of information explosion, the asymmetry between buyers and sellers is becoming history. In a new era of highly egalitarian and transparent mobile internet, it is difficult for enterprises to rely solely on the market price operating methods and other profits. Therefore, through free mode to quickly improve the user, while really make good products, and ultimately achieve market share of the increase, this is the development trend of Internet enterprises.

Secondly, it is a breakthrough in the field. In the past, the Internet Free mode, more in security anti-virus, social communication and other basic services, but now there is a trend to enter a variety of new areas, such as the snail involved in the hand travel industry, YY expanded online education. This YY plan invests 1 billion yuan in two years, launches the independent brand "100 education", 100 education will strengthen the interactive experience, does not participate in the teacher to divide, provides the student free content to win the user. The first to launch is a permanent free TOEFL IELTS Intensive class, hoping to play a leading brand in the field of teaching. It can be expected that, whether the content is free, or traffic free, in the future of the Internet changes, more areas are likely to become a free mode of access.

Third, product innovation. The past 360, micro-letter more is to seize the market blank, relying on "free" mode of direct hit users pain point, fame. And today's yy, snails and so on, light burning money to burn a "free" mode to rob the market, has not been realistic, must rely on the enterprise's own innovative ability, this is to crawl users, to seize market share of the protection. According to people familiar with the situation, the snail will rely on its virtual operator identity, through cooperation with operators, big "free" brand, the future not only provide free game flow, but also customized according to user demand for a number of flexible self-help package model to solve the basic operators at present voice, data monthly clear zero of the more fixed package mode.

And YY is the focus of innovation on the user experience, according to the relevant person in charge, each student in the online teaching can acquire the teacher's teaching equally and clearly, also can realize the teacher classroom test the teaching effect, the big class divides into the study group, promotes the classmate interactive exchange, other like studies the record, the examination time misses the question key again examination and so on.

The free mode of mobile Internet is that in reality more and more park walls have been demolished, but people would like to come often, the key is to see the internal facilities, services.

360 Antivirus free, micro-letter message free, YY online education for free, snail handle flow free of charge ... The march of free armies will doubtless continue, and there will be more internet companies joining the ranks of the Free Army, and the "free" model will continue to innovate. For the revolution and subversion are not accomplished overnight, but are gradually realized in the round of shocks by the new and the rule-makers.