System and method for the distribution of software products

A computer method of obtaining software products, the method comprising:

• transmitting information over a network to a server computer to purchase a software subscription to obtain access to a plurality of software products, the subscription requiring payment of a predetermined amount at selected billing intervals during a subscription period;
• receiving over the network a subscription credit to be used during a credit interval to purchase an unrestricted access version of one of the plurality of software products, wherein the subscription period comprises a plurality of predetermined credit intervals that do not coincide with the billing intervals;
• receiving via a user interface a selection specifying a software product selected from among the plurality of software products;
• communicating to the server computer a purchase request for the selected software product during the credit interval, the purchase request including an indication that the purchase is to be made using the subscription credit;
• and
• receiving from the server computer over the network an unrestricted access version of the selected software product in exchange for the subscription credit.

A client computing device for purchasing software products, comprising:

• a processor;
• a network interface to access a server computer over a network;
• a service module configured to:
• facilitate payments for a software purchase subscription to a plurality of software products, each payment being a predetermined amount paid over the network at a selected billing interval in a subscription period;
• receive over the network from the server computer a subscription credit to be used during a credit interval to purchase an unrestricted access version of one of the plurality of software products, wherein the subscription period comprises a plurality of predetermined credit intervals that do not coincide with the billing intervals;
• present a user interface to receive a selection specifying a software product selected from among the plurality of software products;
• transmit over the network to the server computer a purchase request for the selected software product during the credit interval, the purchase request including an indication that the purchase is to be made using the subscription credit;
• and
• receive over the network from the server computer an unrestricted access version of the selected software product in exchange for the subscription credit.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by a client computing device cause the client computing device to perform operations comprising:

• transmitting information over a network to a server computer to purchase a software subscription to obtain access to a plurality of software products, the subscription requiring payment of a predetermined amount at selected billing intervals during a subscription period and providing a credit for the purchase of one of a plurality of software products games during each of a plurality of credit intervals, wherein the subscription period comprises a plurality of predetermined credit intervals that do not coincide with the billing intervals;
• and
• receiving a selection specifying a software product selected from among the plurality of software products;
• communicating to the server computer a purchase request for the selected software product during the credit interval, the purchase request including an indication that the purchase is to be made using the subscription credit;
• and
• receiving from the server computer over the network an unrestricted access version of the selected software product in exchange for the subscription credit, wherein the client computing device thereafter has unrestricted access to the purchased software product.

A computer method of obtaining software products, the method comprising:

• transmitting information over a network to a server computer to purchase a software subscription to obtain access a plurality of software products, the subscription requiring payment of a predetermined amount at selected billing intervals during a subscription period, wherein the subscription includes a subscription discount for purchasing an unrestricted access version of one of the plurality of software products;
• communicating to the server computer a purchase request for the selected software product, the purchase request including an indication that the purchase is to be made using the subscription discount;
• and
• receiving from the server computer over the network an unrestricted access version of the selected software product.

A client computing device for purchasing software products, comprising:

• a processor;
• a network interface to access a server computer over a network;
• a service module configured to:
• facilitate payments for a software purchase subscription to a plurality of software products, each payment being a predetermined amount paid over the network at a selected billing interval in a subscription period, wherein the subscription provides a subscription discount for purchasing an unrestricted access version of one of the plurality of software products;
• present a user interface to receive a selection specifying a software product selected from among the plurality of software products;
• transmit over the network to the server computer a purchase request for the selected software product, the purchase request including an indication that the purchase is to be made using the subscription discount;
• and
• receive over the network from the server computer an unrestricted access version of the selected software product.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by a client computing device cause the client computing device to perform operations comprising:

• transmitting information over a network to a server computer to purchase a software subscription to obtain access to a plurality of software products, the subscription requiring payment of a predetermined amount at selected billing intervals during a subscription period and providing subscription discount for purchasing an unrestricted access version of one of the plurality of software products;
• communicating to the server computer a purchase request for the selected software product during the credit interval, the purchase request including an indication that the purchase is to be made using the subscription discount;
• and
• receiving from the server computer over the network an unrestricted access version of the selected software product, wherein the client computing device thereafter has unrestricted access to the purchased software product.