Brandable software
Encyclopedia
Brandable software is typically software created by one company for the purpose of allowing other companies to obtain resell rights
or giveaway rights to the software, change the brand
associated with it, and sell it as if it were their own. It may also be referred to as private label
software or Rebranded Software.
Brandable software is usually presented as an alternative to more expensive software development
. In most cases the company providing the software allows many features of the software to be changed by the customer, such as the software name, graphics, installer and website links.
Use of brandable software varies. In many cases it is placed on the customer's website in order to generate web traffic and increase name recognition. It can also be used as a source of additional revenue for the customer, or as the sole source of revenue for a new business.
and executable
formats. These can be distributed immediately to end-users without any prerequisite software.
.
Resell rights
Many ebooks and pieces of software, especially in the field of online or internet marketing, are sold with resell rights included. It is therefore necessary to distinguish between normal resell rights and master resell rights....
or giveaway rights to the software, change the brand
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
associated with it, and sell it as if it were their own. It may also be referred to as private label
Private label
Private label products or services are typically those manufactured or provided by one company for offer under another company's brand. Private label goods and services are available in a wide range of industries from food to cosmetics to web hosting...
software or Rebranded Software.
Brandable software is usually presented as an alternative to more expensive software development
Software development
Software development is the development of a software product...
. In most cases the company providing the software allows many features of the software to be changed by the customer, such as the software name, graphics, installer and website links.
Use of brandable software varies. In many cases it is placed on the customer's website in order to generate web traffic and increase name recognition. It can also be used as a source of additional revenue for the customer, or as the sole source of revenue for a new business.
Customizable components
Brandable Software is normally designed so that certain components are customizable with the purchasing company's information. Among the most common are:- Program name - The program is usually given a unique name chosen by the purchasing company
- Company name - The program is usually designed so that it appears to have been written by the purchasing company
- Name of the author - name of the person who made the program
- Product link(s) - Links to one or more sites with product or services offers
- Website - They purchasing company's website is usually displayed in numerous places within the software to promote brand name awareness and provide easy access to their website and other products
- Payment URL - The program's demo version will normally give the end user the option of opening a web browser directly to a page on the purchasing company's website that will allow them to immediately purchase the full version.
- Splash screenSplash screenA splash screen is an image that appears while a game or program is loading. It may also be used to describe an introduction page on a website. Splash screens sometimes do not cover the entire screen, but only a rectangle near the center...
- The splash screen is displayed when the program is opened. There may be separate splash screens for the program's installer and the program itself. Graphic design for the splash screen and other graphical elements of the brandable software is usually provided and included in the purchase price, but can also be created by the purchasing company - LogoLogoA logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
- They purchasing company's logo, or a related image, is usually displayed within the software - About boxAbout boxAn about box or about dialog is a dialog box that displays the credits and revision information of a computer software.Generally, most programs' about boxes include information about product name and installed version, company name, and copyright information...
- This window usually displays information about the program, version number, and company - End User License Agreement - The End User License Agreement (EULA) can normally be customized
- ReadmeREADMEA readme file contains information about other files in a directory or archive and is commonly distributed with computer software. Such a file is usually a text file called README.TXT, README.1ST, READ.ME, or simply README, although some Microsoft Windows software may occasionally include a...
- Normally a short introduction to the software with contact information or additional instructions. - Help file - The help file is usually created so that no reference is made to the program name or company name. This allows it to be used repeatedly for differently branded versions of the software. It is usually possible for the purchasing company to edit the help file.
- Start MenuStart menuThe Start Menu and Start Button are user interface elements used in the later versions of the Microsoft Windows operating systems and in some X window managers...
- In most cases, a start menu folder with the purchasing company's name is created on the end user's machine ([Company Name] Software). Then sub-folders are created for each of that company's branded programs. This helps to keep all of purchasing company's software folders organized in one central folder. - Installer - The installer is usually also branded with the purchasing company's identifying information, graphics and logos.
- Demo version and full version - In most cases the branded software is delivered with both Demo and Full versions, so that the demo may be distributed free of charge but in limited capacity, and the Full version is only distributed once it has been purchased.
- Demo version type - A wide variety of demo types are usually available to choose from. These include demos that will run for a certain number of days, uses, time, or a combination of these things. Demo versions may also have a smaller number of features available.
Delivery
Once the software has been fully branded with the purchasing company's information it is normally bundled into an installer. Some common types are Windows InstallerWindows Installer
The Windows Installer is a software component used for the installation, maintenance, and removal of software on modern Microsoft Windows systems...
and executable
Executable
In computing, an executable file causes a computer "to perform indicated tasks according to encoded instructions," as opposed to a data file that must be parsed by a program to be meaningful. These instructions are traditionally machine code instructions for a physical CPU...
formats. These can be distributed immediately to end-users without any prerequisite software.
Resell rights
The purchasing company is given the right to resell their branded version of the software, normally at the price of their choosing. Depending on the agreement, the purchasing company may also be allowed to give their branded version of the software away for free or allow other companies to sell it. In most cases the purchasing company is only given the rights to the compiled version of the software, not the software's source codeSource code
In computer science, source code is text written using the format and syntax of the programming language that it is being written in. Such a language is specially designed to facilitate the work of computer programmers, who specify the actions to be performed by a computer mostly by writing source...
.