Making Markets for Information Goods: Software Commodification 1954-1995

Making Markets for Information Goods traces the evolution of software as a commercial product from the 1950s through the 1990s. This historical analysis follows the transformation of software from a free add-on bundled with hardware to a standalone commodity that generated billions in revenue. The narrative covers key developments in corporate computing, including IBM's unbundling decision in 1969 and the rise of independent software vendors. Campbell-Kelly examines how software companies developed new business models and marketing strategies to sell intangible products during this period of rapid technological change. The book incorporates extensive research from company archives, trade publications, and interviews with industry pioneers to document this shift in the computer industry. The text includes detailed case studies of influential firms like Applied Data Research, Informatics, and Microsoft. The work presents software commodification as a complex interplay between technological capability, business innovation, and evolving customer needs. Its analysis demonstrates how pricing models and distribution methods shaped the modern software industry's structure.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Martin Campbell-Kelly's overall work: Readers value Campbell-Kelly's thorough research and ability to explain complex technical history in accessible terms. His book "Computer: A History of the Information Machine" receives particular attention for balancing technical detail with broader historical context. What readers liked: - Clear explanations of technical concepts - Integration of business and social perspectives - Comprehensive documentation and references - Focus on lesser-known historical figures and companies What readers disliked: - Dense academic writing style in some sections - Limited coverage of non-Western developments - Some passages require technical background knowledge - High textbook prices Ratings across platforms: - Goodreads: 3.9/5 (367 ratings) - Amazon: 4.2/5 (89 ratings) - Google Books: 4/5 (112 ratings) One academic reader noted: "Campbell-Kelly presents computing history through a business lens rather than just focusing on technical innovations." A student reviewer commented: "Makes complex history digestible, though some parts are heavy on industry jargon."

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🔹 The term "software" wasn't widely used until the 1960s - before that, computer programs were typically referred to as "routines" or "codes." 🔹 Martin Campbell-Kelly is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Warwick and has been researching computer history for over 40 years, serving as editor-in-chief of the IEEE Annals of the History of Computing. 🔹 The first commercial software product was Autocode, developed by John Pinkerton in 1954 for the Ferranti Mark 1 computer - marking the beginning of the software industry as we know it. 🔹 By 1995 (the end period covered in the book), the global software market had grown from essentially zero to over $100 billion in annual revenues. 🔹 The concept of software patents didn't exist until 1968, when Martin Goetz received the first software patent for a sorting system developed at Applied Data Research.