    A Little Shareware History...

         Shareware, freeware, and user-supported software are all
    terms used to describe a relatively new phenomena in the PC
    world.  It all began in March 1982 when the late Andrew
    Fluegelman introduced PC-TALK (a communication program). For
    several years before this, computer user-groups and Bulletin
    Board Systems had created a net-work of communication allowing
    users of compatible systems to take advantage of each others
    knowledge & Public Domain programs. These systems were in
    place when Mr. Fluegelman came to realize that there was no
    software available that would allow incompatible systems to
    communicate.  After trying to modify available programs he
    decided to write his own.  He did.  The program allowed any
    computer to communicate with any other computer via the
    telephone.
        It worked so well some friends suggested he do something
    public with it.  Rather than follow the traditional publishing
    route, Mr. Fluegelman decided to send his program out for
    free, encouraging people to copy and distribute it and asking
    people to make donations if they liked it.  In return, he
    would supply them with up'grades.
        Within a week of making the program available he received
    his first order.  Very quickly he had to replace his post
    office box with a large one and buy a few more disk drives.
    Shareware was born!
          Around the same time Mr. Fluegelman's mailbox began to
    swell, a former IBM employee, Jim Button, had successfully
    ported an AppleSoft BASIC program called EASY-FILE, that he
    had written as a hobby, over to the then new IBM PC. Out of a
    simple desire to share a good thing, he distributed the
    program among friends and colleagues. Friends shared with
    friends, associates with associates and soon hundreds were
    using the program.
         Problems soon developed trying to notify users when fixes
    or improvements became available, mainly how to identify
    serious users who needed or desired the up'grades?
         Mr. Button decided to place a message in the program
    encouraging people to use and distribute the program and to
    send a donation of $10 if they wanted to be included on his
    mailing list. The first person to receive this request
    telephoned almost immediately, mentioning another program,
    PC-TALK, that had a similar message.
         The two original Shareware authors got together and
    decided to refer to each other in their disk. EASY-FILE became
    PC-FILE and the requested donation became 25$.
         In may 1983 PC World Magazine gave PC-FILE a rave review.
    Shareware was growing up and life for the Buttons's changed
    forever!

         Three months later, Bob Wallace introduced PC-WRITE and
    with it, Commission Shareware. To encourage people to
    distribute and register his program, Mr. Wallace's company
    (Quicksoft Inc.) sends each registered user a copy of the
    program with it's own unique registration number. The newly
    registered user can then distribute his personalized copy so
    that each time someone else registers his copy, Quicksoft Inc.
    will pay him a commission. PC-WRITE is without question a
    super program, but there can be no doubt that "Commission
    Shareware" has played a significant part in it's success.
         In the years following the revolution of these pioneers,
    shareware has evolved into a competitive marketing
    alternative. With multi-million dollar companies (like
    Buttonware and Quicksoft Inc.) and literally hundred's of
    entrepreneural authors offering commercial quality software
    and support, at an unbeatable price, Shareware has a lot to
    offer. Tie this with the virtually free, "Try Before You Buy"
    marketing concept and you, the Software Consumer, can hardly
    lose!



    The ASSOCIATION of SHAREWARE PROFESSIONALS

           Another move in April 1987, toward established
    organization has been the formation of ASP (Association of
    Shareware Professionals). ASP members are all programmers who
    subscribe to a uniform code of ethics and are committed to the
    shareware method of marketing. The ASP's standards for it's
    members are:

    Programming Standards
 
        The program meets the ASP's definition of "shareware"
    (i.e., it is not a commercial demo with a major feature
    disabled, nor a time limited program).
 
    Documentation Standards

         Sufficient documentation is provided to allow the
    average user to try all the major functions. Discussion of the
    shareware concept and of registration requirements is done in
    a professional and positive manner.

    Support Standards

         Members will respond to people who send registration
    payments, as promised in the program's documentation. At a
    minimum, the member will acknowledge receipt of all payments.
         Members will establish a procedure for users to
    report, and have acknowledged, matters such as bug reports,
    and will describe such means in the documentation accompanying
    all versions of the programs. The author will respond to
    written bug reports from registered users when the user
    provides a self-addressed,    stamped envelope.

         Known incompatibilities with other software or
    hardware and major or unusual program limitations are noted in
    the documentation that comes with the shareware (evaluation)
    program.

     ASP OMBUDSMAN

         ASP wants to make sure the Shareware principle works for
    you.  If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem
    with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may
    be able to help.  The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a
    dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide
    technical support for members products.

             ASP Ombudsman
             545 Grover Road
             Muskegon, MI  49442

        Shareware is not just a novel idea. It is a real solution
    to the Program Author's distribution problems and the Software
    consumer's high prices. It's simply great for everyone, but
    will work only if Author's keep their promises and consumer's
    pay for the products they use.  So if you like the shareware
    concept, support it!  
