shareware

software that is available free of charge

may be distributed for evaluation with a fee requested for additional features or a manual etc.

Shareware is a marketing method for software, whereby a trial version is distributed in advance and without payment, as is common for proprietary software. Shareware software is typically obtained free of charge, either by downloading from the internet or on magazine cover-disks. A user tries out the program, and thus shareware has also been known as 'try before you buy', demoware, trialware and by many other names. A shareware program is accompanied by a request for payment, and the software's distribution license often requires such a payment. Payment is often required once a set period of time has elapsed after installation. The term ''shareware'' was coined by Bob Wallace to describe his word processor ''PC-Write'' in the mid-1980s.

History - Wallace came up with the name that stuck, but many consider the "fathers" of the shareware marketing model to be Jim Button and Andrew Fluegelman. Their coordinated offerings of ''PC-File'' (database) and ''PC-Talk'' (modemtelecommunications) programs, respectively, pre-dated ''PC-Write'' by several months. Button referred to his distribution method as "user supported software," and Fluegelman called his "freeware." Between the three of them, they clearly established shareware as a viable software marketing method. Via the shareware model, ''PC-File'' and ''PC-Talk'' made Button and Fluegelman millionaires.

Implementations - Open source software and shareware are similar in that they can be obtained and used without monetary cost. Usually shareware differs from open source software in that requests of voluntary "shareware fees" are made, often within the program itself, and in that source code for shareware programs is generally not available in a form that would allow others to extend the program. Notwithstanding that tradition, some freeware authors ask for voluntary "donations," although there is no requirement to do so.Sometimes, paying the fee and obtaining a password results in access to expanded features, documentation, or support. In some cases, unpaid use of the software is limited in time—in which case the software is vernacularly called crippleware.The original shareware programs were applications running under DOS, but are now more commonly utilities running on Microsoft Windows, although gaming, editing and other examples also exist. Shareware is rarely found on non-Apple MacintoshMacintosh Unix-like operating systems, which may be due to the corporate use of Unix until the advent of Linux, which championed free software as opposed to shareware. But it is more likely due to the fact that the Unix/Linux market is still small compared to MS Windows thus drastically reducing the "shareware licensing fee" potential.

Logistics - In using a shareware approach to distributing a program, a developer bypasses the normal distribution channel (eliminating the normal retail middleman markups) and directly markets to the end user. The end result is a relatively low end-user cost compared to the retail channel. Users of shareware are encouraged to copy & distribute unregistered versions of the software to friends, co-workers and other acquaintances. The hope is that users will find the program useful or entertaining and will register it (by paying a fee) to unlock a full suite of features.Nowadays, shareware is rarely found with large complex programs requiring many programmers because of the large costs associated with same. A shareware's program source, maintenance and extensibililty can sometimes be negotiated for a licensing fee with the author(s) similar to standard proprietary software.Pertaining more towards shareware games, large online distribution channels known as "Portals", such as Yahoo! Games and RealArcade, have emerged in recent years. These portals acts as a medium for the shareware developers, providing their audience base for a percentage of the software's sale.

Criticism of shareware concept - In the 1980s and early-to-mid 1990s shareware was considered to be a concept for independent software writers to receive a degree of remuneration for their labor. However, after that the shareware model began to degrade as the term was used by commercial startups offering (sometimes substandard) commercial software and labelling non-functional or limited demo versions (known as crippleware) as "shareware". As a result, the term shareware has shown reduced usage in recent years. However, it must be stressed that the shareware software is not always so limited in function, as demonstrated with programs such as GetRight, WinZip, and WinRAR, as well as the game examples mentioned below.

Examples - In the early 1990s, shareware distribution was a popular method of publishing games for smaller developers, including then-fledgling companies such as Apogee Software (now 3D Realms), Epic Megagames (now Epic Games), and id Software. It gave consumers the chance to try a trial portion of the game, usually restricted to the game's complete first section or "episode", before purchasing the rest of the adventure. Racks of games on single 5 1/4" and later 3.5" floppy disks were common in many stores, often very cheaply. Since the shareware versions were essentially free, the cost only needed to cover the disk and minimal packaging. Sometimes, the demo disks were packaged within the box of another game by the same company. As the increasing size of games in the mid-90s made them impractical to fit on floppies, and retail publishers and developers began to earnestly mimic the practice, shareware games were replaced by shorter game demodemos that were either distributed free on CDs with gaming magazines or as free uploading and downloadingdownloads over the Internet, in some cases becoming exclusive content for specific websites. There is a technical difference between shareware and demos. Up to the early 1990s, shareware could easily be upgraded to the full version by adding the "other episodes" or full portion of the game; this would leave the existing shareware files instact. Demos are different in that they are "self-contained" programs which are 'not' upgradable to the full version. A good example is the Descent (computer game)Descent shareware versus the Descent II demo; players were able to retain their saved games on the former but not the later.

See also -

Guiltware

External links -

sic.org - Shareware Industry Conference

euroconference.org - European Shareware Conference

asp-shareware.org - Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP)

paulspicks.com - ''The History of Shareware'' by Michael E. Callahan

!lazowska.cs.washington.edu - Bob Wallace biography

sharewarejunkies.com - Interview with Jim Button

mysharewarebox.com - Shareware, Freeware & Games Websitesoftware distribution Category:Application !softwareca:Sharewarecs:Sharewa reda:Sharewarede:Sharewarees:S harewarefr:Partagicielit:Share warenl:Sharewareja:シェア゠¦ã‚§ã‚¢pl:Sharewarept:Sharewar eru:Sharewarefi:Julkisohjelmas k:Sharewaresv:Shareware

REBO-Soft
Some shareware and freeware tools for home users and network administrators.
http://www.rebo-soft.de/

Fertiglösungen für Excel
Fertiglösungen für Excel - Freeware, Shareware, Arbeitszeiterfassung, Urlaubsplan, Kalender, Terminplaner, Feiertagskalender, Exceltools, Beispieldateien uvm. für Privatanwender und Firmen
http://www.marusoft.de/

Gartrip
PC shareware program for Garmin and Magellan GPS receivers
http://www.gartrip.de/

Font Garden - the home of handwriting fonts
Font Garden - the home of handwriting fonts thousands of fonts and dingbats for PC and Mac. Handwriting to font conversion. Welcome!
http://www.fontgarden.com

Claude's PC-Tipps
Link-Datenbank für Software (Freeware, Shareware, Updates, Upgrades, Patches, Treiber) mit Beschreibung, Bewertung, Preis-Angaben. PC-Tipps-Datenbank (Windows, Linux, Anwendungen, Programmieren,...) Die Links und Tipps stammen aus PC-Zeitschriften oder aus dem Internet, oder aus der Praxis.
http://www.cpctipps.de/

BigLoad
BigLoad.de is a Download Portal for Freeware, Shareware and Demos.
http://www.bigload.de

S & L Consulting Solutions
S & L Consulting Solutions provides computer and technology solutions to the home user and small business. We provide a high level of technical know how with legendary customer service at reasonable rates.
http://www.slconsultingsolutions.com/

LittleLite Software
LittleLite Software is a leading edge software house of cryptography, privacy and security related software. It is the home of LLCryptoLib, a reliable, standard .NET cryptographic library, available with source codes in C#. LittleLite develops and distributes LLCryptoLib based shareware products, such as Folder Crypt, among the easiest and powerful encryption tool on the market, and Iside, the message digest, hash computing tool, along with customized enterprise solutions.
http://www.littlelite.net/

Zdarma.sk - freeware, shareware.
Freeware, shareware, open source software, download, information for free.
http://www.zdarma.sk/

CyberSky
CyberSky is an exciting, entertaining, and educational astronomy program that transforms your personal computer into your personal planetarium. CyberSky provides an excellent way to learn about astronomy and to explore the wonders of the sky visible in the distant past, the present, and the far-off future.
http://www.cybersky.com/

Free Software Downloads
Directory of free and trial softwares that you can download online.
http://www.goloads.com/

Derbrill Multimedia
Small german multimedia agency. Developers of well known utilities like uGrabit and the very popular ArcadeEngine Add-on for Revolution. You also find a set of free tutorials here.
http://www.derbrill.de/

Downloadarchiv XPArchiv
Download Freeware, Shareware, trial versions, Treiber und andere kostenlose Demos.
http://www.win2000-software.de/

Hotwinfiles
The hottest place to download software on the net. Utilities, Ipod tools, DVD Tools, free download
Http://www.hotwinfiles.com

HBTeam Web Site
We develop engineering software for fluidodynamic applications and general purposes utilities and games
http://www.hbteng.com/

Farkas Software
Software development and distribution
http://www.farkas-software.de/

Doppelkopf bei karlchen.com
Willkommen bei der kostenlosen Community zum Thema Doppelkopf. Auf unseren Seiten finden Sie Freeware Doppelkopf-Programme, regelmäßig aktualisierte Neuigkeiten, eine große Linkliste und ein Forum.
http://www.karlchen.com/

Bulletin Boards for the Music Classroom
Bulletin Boards for the Music Classroom contains hundreds of ideas for music bulletin boards as well as other bulletin boards for regular classrooms including character education. Most entries include photos. Stop in and be inspired!
http://www.musicbulletinboards.net/

Sigma Team Site
Sigma Team's goal is creating games for a wide range of users of different age, social status, genre preferences etc. That's why we have developed Crazy Lunch – a funny arcade for the kids. Of course it is not as popular as Alien Shooter, but is sells steadily on CDs and on the web as well. Our company became famous thanks to the Alien Shooter game. It gained various awards on large Internet portals, being highly appreciated by ordinary users and by aces of the game industry as well. This can be proved with a great many of favorable professional reviews placed in game portals and mass media.
http://www.sigma-team.net/

Shareware software resource, search and browse for free downloadable files.
Free software resource - Features a variety of shareware categorized by topic, including games, business, screensavers, and education software. Programs have screenshots, reviews and author info. Free downloads of the latest Windows 95/98/2000/XP shareware.
http://www.softdepia.com/

Ashisoft - Find and remove true duplicate files
Find and remove duplicate files, true byte-by-byte/crc32 comparison, fast and accurate results.
http://www.ashisoft.com/

Amara Flash Animation Software
Amara Flash Photo Animation Software creates stunning virtual tours through still photos for on your website. You can build a slideshow of numerous pictures,and define keypoints that will allow your visitors to 'walk through' each picture.
http://www.amarasoftware.com/flash-photo-animations.htm

Jumbo
Source of free and shareware computer programs and utilities for PC and Mac. Evaluate software and read product reviews. Download games and screen savers.
http://www.jumbo.com/

Tucows
Freeware and shareware downloads for Windows, Macintosh, Linux and PDA. Mirror locations throughout the world.
http://www.tucows.com/

Galt Shareware Zone
Directory of shareware downloads, reviews and a free newsletter.
http://www.galttech.com/

Pass The Shareware
A select list of screen savers, desktop themes, wallpaper, free games, computing resources and others. Freeware and Shareware.
http://www.passtheshareware.com/