As some free users may notice we're trying a few changes out on the blockpages: Ads!
I'm sure many of our passionate members will have some thoughts on this issue.
Before we dig in - let me give you some insight into what we're up to.
Untangle has been looking for a way to monetize its free user base and still maintaining the value that the free users love about Untangle. Ads are one possible avenue that look promising so we're going to run an experiment starting with 7.1.1.
What does this mean?
Some free users will see a small ad at the bottom of the block page (when users go to a blocked site).
If successful, this could provide additional revenue which allows us to improve Untangle for both free and paid users at a faster pace and allow us to maintain low prices on our software and services for paid users.
Don't want to see ads?
edit: Users who have subscribed to any paid app will not see ads.
We understand some free users may be sensitive to ads. As such, We are looking to find a good balance that allows users to enjoy Untangle but provide Untangle with additional revenues necessary to build a great product. As always, we would like to hear your thoughts, suggestions, and concerns.
update:
As you know, we have been exploring income-generating advertising on Untangle-served block pages. This activity has generated healthy community discussion, both for and against the notion.
Our goal has been simply to help fund efforts to keep Untangle in the leadership position in SMB gateways. Engineers are expensive, and we need more of them to keep our growing code base moving forward.
There have been some concerns raised about who will see ads and that ads carry the very same risks that Untangle aims to protect against.
We take this feedback very seriously and to make our ads program better, we have taken the following steps:
* We have tightened our screening policy for ad providers. (The provider that served the gambling ads was fired immediately.)
* Effective immediately we have changed our ad server to ensure that our paying customers are never served an Untangle ad. IOW, if you are subscribed to any paid app or package, we will not be serving you ads!
Thanks for your feedback so far. Our aim continues to be to make Untangle better; this gives us more fuel with which to do so. Thanks for your support.