DocZone is a global-savvy CMS that includes an embedded server-based translation memory application from XML-Intl. The software is available in a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) hosted model and, as of this week, customers can pay by the sip. U.S. Managing Director Dan Dube told us that the idea is based on a mobile calling plan. Instead of paying per user per month, pretty much the standard in the on-demand world, DocZone customers can now opt to pay for blocks of minutes. These CMS calling plans range from 2,500 shared minutes per month at US$0.39 per minute to 50,000 minutes at US$0.24 for every 60 seconds of content manipulation (other blocks at various prices are available).

Any number of users can share the purchased minutes within a customer’s DocZone environment, which is designed for technical publications groups. Heavy users of the software benefit more from the flat rate pricing of US$395 per (floating) user per month, but Dube hopes the new scheme will appeal to smaller groups of 3 to 5 writers with sporadic publishing needs. Here’s the math:

Fixed rate: 3 seats @ US$695/month = US$2,085
Per-minute: 2,500 minutes/month = US$975

While we applaud the intent, and now with the correct figures (we originally calculated using incorrect inputs) we see how this pricing could indeed turn some heads. As with calling plans, a customer must commit to a 1-year contract at the minimum level. But unlike the mobile companies, at least DocZone charges overage only at the maximum base rate of US$0.39 rather than an extortionary amount (take that, Verizon Wireless!). Groups of 4 or more writers who come together and work in collaboration for short periods of time (several days in any given month) will see the most benefit using this scheme. But even regular users may come out ahead.

That said, we see many other factors that come into play in CMS selection besides pricing. With data models, process flows, and authoring tools in play, DocZone’s software’s primary value proposition still remains largely what it was before: XML, DITA, and integrated TM, delivered affordably as SaaS. But now with a peppy pricing grid thrown in.