There’s the old expression ‘take only what you need’ and it’s good advice to follow in all sorts of situations. It may be followable when you’re at an all-you-can-eat buffet and you’ve eaten all you can, but when it comes the processing power in your computers at home you get what’s given to you when the device was put together. Some people put the entirety of that processing power to work for them, but most people don’t use anywhere near the total of it. And in truth the majority of people may not even know what it is they actually have at their disposal.
Some will though, and it’s these people who will want to take note of a new decentralized Internet platform that will let people pay for their apps and services by making their idle computing power available to those who could put it to use. As a quality Canadian web hosting provider, this is something that resonates with us here at 4GoodHosting because like any host we can relate to what it’s like to have real constraints based around this and in the industry there’s been much in the way of roundabout talk along the lines if something like this might become possible someday.
It has made a lot of sense for a long time, but like many things it takes time to get the wheels sufficiently in motion to see things start to happen. But that’s what’s happening now with Massive, an app monetization startup that’s set to make some serious waves.
Smart Decentralization
Massive has just recently closed a $11 million seed round, which will let it move forward with a monetization software development kit that will be able to support the project and move forward with s small yet noteworthy step in decentralizing the internet and making it possible for people to pay for apps using their idle compute power.
This is an impressively unique potential solution, one that will benefit the individual consumer but also improve on how app developers and service providers make money for the work they do. As it is now they usually charge users money, and it’s fairly standard to have a 1-time app download fee or subscription services that come with a monthly charge. There are some who want to make their work free to the public and will set up their compensation by means of an implementing on-screen ads, and nearly everyone will know the type from using the apps they have.
This is especially common for mobile games and sometimes it is preferable because upfront costs often turn off new customers. But ideally most people will enjoy an ad-free experience, and that may be what’s soon to be possible if people have the means of renting out their CPU power.
Expanding on Distributed Computing
What is being proposed here is taking the concept of distributed computing - utilizing extra CPU cycles on otherwise idle machines- and reinventing it as a legitimate payment method. Looking at how it works it is not unlike to individuals can rent their unused vehicles and homes on Turo and Airbnb. The unused compute power is exchanged for a passive means of paying for apps and services already being used and enjoyed.
Some might say this will sound a little invasive because the space and power is going to be utilized on a personal device, and it may be for those who aren’t familiar with distributed computing. However, Massive is adamant that it will be putting a priority on security and digital consent, with promises on their website that users will need to opt into the model to participate plus able to opt out at any time.
They’re also very upfront about their wish to be a part of dismantling the internet’s reliance on nosy marketing practices. The idea is that this new arrangement opportunity will reduce the amount of personal information users unwittingly give away, and it is true that antivirus protections are going to be thoroughly incorporated into Massive’s CPU-sharing software.
They are working with third-party partners to this model to customers, but as of now Massive is only compatible with desktop apps. Plans are in the works to bring this opportunity to Mobile, although that may be a good ways down the road. Currently more than 50,000 computer users have already opted in, and that’s a very strong reflection of the high level of interest there’s going to be from people who like the idea of ‘bartering’ in a way for their apps and services.
