Bundling strategy in base-supplemental goods markets: the case of Microsoft

Sang-Yong Tom Lee
2000 European Journal of Information Systems  
We show that bundling is the optimal pricing strategy for a base good monopolist who also supplies a supplemental good under zero marginal cost of production. Without the exit of the rival firm, bundling is a profitable strategy because it increases the profits in the base good market. We show that bundling lowers social welfare as well as rival firms' profit if the supplemental goods are close substitutes. Otherwise, bundling may actually generate welfare enhancements. Our analysis applies
more » ... ctly to the computer software markets and the case of Microsoft.
doi:10.1057/palgrave.ejis.3000377 fatcat:juufw6swlzhtjgyksz3jtxgt5m