ReleaseWire

Software Developers' Trade Organization Modernizes Its Name

Posted: Friday, June 18, 2010 at 9:03 AM CDT

Janesville, WI -- (SBWire) -- 06/18/2010 -- After 23 years of serving the software development industry as the Association of Shareware Professionals, the ASP has changed its name to the Association of Software Professionals. The new name reflects ASP's influence in converting nearly all of the software publishing industry to the try-before-you-buy model, as well as ASP's commitment to continue to guide independent software publishers in innovative new software development and marketing strategies.

"ASP began in 1987 as the trade organization for software developers"said ASP's current president Mike Dulin of SharewareJunkies.com. "Back then, the ASP was a small band of independent underdogs who defied the traditional software distribution channel, and created the try-before-you-buy model. Today, the entire software industry has adopted the shareware system, and there's no need for our organization to keep a name that is tied to the past."

The ASP has evolved into an international organization of 1,000 software developers who are pioneering cloud computing, software as a service (SaaS), smartPhone development, and desktop/laptop development on all of tomorrow's popular computing platforms.

ASP's newsgroups are constantly buzzing with discussions about new ways to market software. In past years, ASP members were at the leading edge of using press releases to publicize their software, using search engine advertising to increase sales, and using the Internet to market their applications.

"Today, ASP's developers work together to optimize their programs' registration incentives, protect their intellectual property, and optimize innovative software sales methodologies," said Adriana Iordan, ASP's PR Chairperson. "We use our newsgroups, newsletters, and blog to work together for the good of the industry, and to strengthen our members' businesses."

"With fewer and fewer developers calling their applications 'shareware', software buyers have become confused about the meaning of the term," explains Rich Holler, ASP's Exeuctive Director. "And since nearly all software developers today, from the smallest micro independent software vendor (mISV) to the largest software publisher, offer trial versions of their programs, the term 'shareware' has become less useful."

Shareware is a marketing method. ASP's members develop and market software. And the ASP will be called the Association of Software Professionals as it moves into the future.

ASP's spam-free private discussion groups save members countless hours and minimize frustration by delivering information on the most difficult business, technical, and marketing issues. Visit the ASP's website - asp-software.org - to learn more about how the ASP can help your software business grow.

If you're a software buyer, please visit the ASP's download site - downloads.asp-software.org - to find some of the finest software available today.

About ASP
ASP is the world's main trade organization for independent software developers and vendors, focused on providing know-how through various events and resources. Software professionals have access to helpful business information, and archives providing useful assistance to newcomers. ASP also functions as a liaison between software authors, microISVs, beginners and leaders, distributors and marketers facilitating contacts and sharing experience.

Mike Dulin, President of the ASP, is available for press interviews.

Email: president@asp-software.org