In this chapter, I’ll introduce you to several methods by which you can monetize your Mixed Reality development activities. From the app model to offering your services as a freelancer, today’s developers can earn money from Mixed Reality in many ways. Developing for Mixed Reality is fun and rewarding, but plenty of business opportunities have also arisen from this revolutionary new medium.
When I bought my first HoloLens unit in the spring of 2016, I started developing for the platform as a hobby and for side projects. I worked on a few applications, both for myself and also others (at no cost). As the year progressed, I started observing that there was a fairly active market for HoloLens developers. I responded to several project bids, and quickly transitioned to becoming a full-time HoloLens developer.
The biggest financial opportunities for Mixed Reality, however, will come from the sheer fact that these devices will replace the way we do computing today. There’s an immense amount of financial potential, and we don’t need to wait for a mythical forthcoming device or form factor to start dipping into that potential. This chapter will provide you with plenty of resources and discussion for turning holograms into money today.
Publishing Your App to the Windows Store
This section covers publishing and monetizing your applications through the Windows Store, Microsoft’s online shop for apps and media, which is perhaps the most direct way to monetize your Mixed Reality experiences. Figure 9-1 shows just a few of the 232 HoloLens applications on the Windows Store as of this writing.
Figure 9-1. The Windows Store contains 232 HoloLens apps as of this writing, with more being added each month
When you publish to the Windows Store , you have several options for monetization :
Free: These are apps that users can download at no cost. You won’t receive any direct revenue from this approach, but it’s a fantastic way to build your brand and reputation and may lead to other financial opportunities. Developers may also have a portfolio of applications, where free applications may lead users to downloading other paid applications from the same developer.
Free with Ads: Applications that users can download at no cost but that include in-app advertising . Revenue comes from ad clicks and impressions. This is a fairly popular approach among mobile applications, but it’s still unproven in Mixed Reality as of this writing.
Freemium: Apps that users can download for free but may opt to pay a premium for additional features, in-app resources, or to remove advertising.
Paid: Apps that users pay for before downloading. Developers have the option of offering a limited trial period before requiring users to pay. According to Practical Analytics, 14 percent of all HoloLens apps use the paid app model.
I’ve not found any statistics from Microsoft regarding Mixed Reality app downloads, user engagement, and revenue. However, the general consensus among developers is that monetization opportunities on the Windows Store are fairly low. Reports indicate that the number of HoloLens devices currently active on the market are in the thousands, or at most, tens of thousands. My most popular application on the HoloLens only had a total of 1,215 downloads from June 2016 to June 2017. However, activity on the Windows Store is expected to increase with the introduction of lower-cost headsets to the market.
Note
Several lower-cost Windows Mixed Reality headsets are expected to become available to consumers starting in late 2017. At the time of this writing, these headsets have not yet been released for consumers. Many in the Windows Mixed Reality community anticipate that the lower cost ($299 for the Acer Headset compared to $3,000 for the HoloLens) will contribute to a significant growth in the user base, resulting in significantly more download activity in the Windows Store. As such, keep a close eye on Windows Store statistics for Mixed Reality applications . It’s difficult for anyone to forecast adoption of these headsets or user engagement in the Windows Store. Because the primary source of Mixed Reality applications will be through the Windows Store, I anticipate that a large consumer adoption of Mixed Reality headsets will translate to huge monetization opportunities in the Windows Store.
Freelancing
This section talks about being an independent Mixed Reality developer and shares best practices for successfully finding and securing opportunities. I share a little bit of my story to illustrate how you can be fully supported by Mixed Reality contracts.
A key turning point in my career was in January of 2017, which marked the point at which I started developing full-time for the HoloLens and was fully supported financially by Mixed Reality freelancing opportunities. It wasn’t until after this transition that people around me began to take notice that the HoloLens wasn’t just an expensive toy—it had real financial opportunities and use cases for businesses today. To date, I’ve completed projects for clients in Shanghai, Sydney, Dublin, New York, and Dubai. Earning a living using Mixed Reality is rewarding and exciting and gives you a grounded perspective on how Mixed Reality applications are used in business.
Finding Mixed Reality Freelance Opportunities
I was first made aware of opportunities by monitoring requests through forums and online communities (discussed in detail in Chapter 10). I typically see about three to five freelance and job opportunities per week in the virtual reality and Mixed Reality communities I follow online.
The benefit of finding opportunities through these online communities is that you interact directly with individuals who need help, and a hiring decision can be made swiftly. If you’re active in these communities, frequently help others, showcase your work, and contribute to the community, you’ll have a good chance of being recognized and sought out, and you may well land the freelance opportunity. It’s fairly common for companies to need quick-turnaround help, lasting anywhere from a week to two months.
In addition to online communities, job boards and freelance websites are also an excellent source of contracts that you can bid on. It’s harder to stand out on freelance sites, though, and you often don’t have the opportunity to connect directly with the manager. However, there is usually a much larger pool of projects to bid to, with new projects being added daily. One website I monitor closely is VREX.io , which has relatively few opportunities overall but a big concentration of HoloLens and Mixed Reality opportunities. Figure 9-2 illustrates what to expect when looking for opportunities on VREX.io.
Figure 9-2. Job and freelancer websites like VREX provide many Mixed Reality opportunities to bid on
Increasing Your Chances of Winning a Contract
In winning and losing many HoloLens opportunities, I’ve observed a few patterns that can help increase your chances of landing a Mixed Reality job.
Have a portfolio: Managers are interested in seeing your portfolio of apps . Try to have at least two or three good applications that you can refer prospective clients to. Have at least one stunning application that you can point to first. Many software development firms claim to have Mixed Reality development capabilities, but lack any real qualifications or prior experience. Managers have a very difficult time trying to filter out true Mixed Reality developers from those with no experience. A portfolio of applications quickly lets managers know that you have hands-on experience with the technology.
Submit a proposal: Sometimes it’s easy to think that a casual conversation or e-mail bid will suffice. When I take the time to develop a thought-out proposal, I have a much higher chance of winning the contract. I recommend developing a proposal template that you can use to quickly put together for projects you bid on.
Keep in touch: My most successful projects have come out of lost bid opportunities . Regardless of whether you lost a bid or weren’t called back after an initial phone call, keep a record of your various opportunities and follow up from time to time. It keeps you fresh on your client’s minds and lets them know you’re a dedicated Mixed Reality developer.
You’ll always have plenty of competition, regardless of what industry you freelance or consult in. It’s no different with Mixed Reality. However, because Mixed Reality is an emerging platform, there are many ways that you can stand out as a developer. Making unique contributions to the community, creating a great application, and making a splash on social media with something cool you did are all ways that can make you stand out and help you start freelancing in Mixed Reality.
Future Opportunities Today
By now, I hope that I’ve instilled in you a sense of where Mixed Reality is headed. A world in which everyone interacts with holograms instead of 2D screens means that a lot of industries will be disrupted, many new businesses will be created, and many financial opportunities will arise.
The truth is that this future is not a far-off science fiction prediction. It is something already here today. We have the technology and the resources to start building out this future, and there’s no reason we shouldn’t. Yes, technology will continue to improve (when does it ever stop?), and yes, devices will get smaller, lighter, and less expensive. The HoloLens, however, is a revolutionary device that’s fully capable of ushering in our holographic future.
Imagine taking a PC back in time, to several decades before computers were widely used in businesses. Do you think you could walk into just about any business and show them how valuable a computer would be for their company—from document and spreadsheet editing, digital art, record keeping, audio recording, and much more? I suspect you’d be able to sell them on buying a computer without much persuasion. In the same way, Mixed Reality is here to usher in the next computing paradigm and start disrupting the status quo. Whenever you visit or drive by any office or business, start thinking about how that business could leverage holographic technology. Start thinking about the types of applications and experiences you could build that would add value to those companies.
There’s nothing stopping you from scheduling a free demo to several companies local to you and pitching them on transitioning to the holographic age. If you’re equipped with a compelling solution that will add value, I doubt many will turn down the offer for a fun Mixed Reality demo. In this way, you could create new and larger opportunities for yourself (and the industry) rather than merely respond to freelance and other Mixed Reality job opportunities .
Summary
In this chapter, I provided several insights into ways you can earn money as a Mixed Reality developer. I discussed various monetization models for the Windows Store, provided several ideas for successfully securing freelance and contract opportunities, and offered some inspiration for creating new opportunities all around you.
Ultimately, a technology platform will be widely accepted and embraced if it adds real value. So far, Mixed Reality is living up to its promise by demonstrating that it does indeed add value across a wide range of sectors. As you and other developers continue to build new experiences, discover new ways to interact with holograms, and find new ways this platform can add value to businesses, the financial opportunities of Mixed Reality will grow exponentially.