These sites include general freelance marketplaces (Guru, Elance, oDesk) and others offering specialties like software (Rent A Coder), personal assistants (virtualassistants.com), graphics (99designs), or creative services (CrowdSpring).
However, it is still unclear how software providers can use software renting as a competitive strategy in the software market.
The software renting model has several advantages which significantly help software vendors to expand their business opportunities.
The findings also indicate that software renting is related to cost leadership and differentiation strategies, whereas software licensing is linked to a focus strategy.
Microsoft figures it will expand its network of data centers 64-fold over the next few years, just to handle some 200 services, including Xbox online gaming, video and corporate software rented over the Web.
The statement argues that RealDVD circumvents copyright restrictions and that RealNetworks knows users might use the software to "rent, rip and return" movies from services such as Blockbuster or Netflix.
Instead of working on systems that customers own, Corio owns the software and rents it out through two data-center operators, letting one program serve several customers.
Cloud software is rented over the Internet at lower costs and margins.
However, from a software perspective, renting a laptop instead of owning one is increasingly feasible.
Amazon has been steadily increasing the features it offers on A.W.S., including a store of software for rent or sale.
