| Are you looking for a place to help you kick start | | | | directory of ESC members with businesses |
| your shareware business or strengthen it? A place | | | | providing services other than software -, the ESC |
| to discuss your problems with other independent | | | | newsgroup, where members may communicate |
| software developers and exchange ideas with | | | | with each other and the public, a members-only |
| them? Professional software associations are here | | | | web page with news, downloads, special offers, |
| to do that and much more! | | | | and information of interest to ESC members. |
| Depending on the type of business you run, you | | | | ESC membership gives acces to the Cooperative |
| may join several of the following associations: | | | | newsletter and allows participation in ESC's Net |
| - Association of Independent Software Industry | | | | Ring, a vehicle that can drive new, targeted traffic |
| Professionals (AISIP). | | | | to your site. |
| AISIP provides information and support to | | | | Various membership fees, starting from $ 35 for |
| professionals in the independent software industry. | | | | basic annual membership to $ 1000 for Lifetime |
| Open to anybody that works in this industry, the | | | | members. |
| association website hosts various forums on | | | | - Independent Software Developers Forum |
| technical issues, book discussions and reviews, | | | | (ISDEF). |
| general topics (events, marketing, customer | | | | Its most important function is to support and |
| support, etc.) and community (non-business) | | | | improve software development and marketing, |
| where members can share news, ideas, opinions, | | | | facilitating the creation and promotion of new |
| ask or give advice. | | | | products by organizing seminars, conferences and |
| Membership fees: 24 $/ year | | | | forums to exchange ideas and share experience |
| - Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). | | | | in the field. ISDEF also organizes events tackling |
| Created in 1987, the ASP now has fourteen | | | | the problem of computer piracy. The Association's |
| hundred members world wide, its purpose being | | | | self-declared purpose is to protect the interests |
| to promote shareware, improve members' | | | | of software developers and other participants in |
| businesses and make it easier for computer users | | | | the software industry. |
| to find software at good prices. For independent | | | | Membership fees: 100 $/ year |
| software developers, one of the biggest | | | | - Organization of Independent Software Vendors |
| advantages in joining this association is having | | | | (OISV). |
| access to a huge archive of resources and | | | | It's a co-operative of developers, marketers, |
| shareware know-how. Help regarding difficulties | | | | distributors and retailers that want to create |
| with business, technical or marketing problems is | | | | better and more affordable software for users. |
| at hand around the clock, through private | | | | Their mission statement is to create marketing, |
| discussion groups. Also, there are experts that | | | | development and support paths for all OISV |
| offer knowledge on business strategies and | | | | members to use as professional guidelines for |
| techniques, through monthly newsletters. | | | | success; to provide Web forums and Articles in |
| Membership fees: standard 100 $/ year, | | | | which all members can contribute their thoughts |
| supporting member 250 $/ year | | | | and ideas equally; to help all members distribute |
| - Educational Software Cooperative (ESC) | | | | and market their software using best practices |
| ESC (Educational Software Cooperative) is a | | | | and the experience of others; to help users by |
| non-profit corporation bringing together | | | | creating software that solves problems and is |
| developers, publishers, distributors and users of | | | | affordable. The OISV website features news, |
| educational software. | | | | articles and forums organized in very relevant |
| The ESC web site features a download section, | | | | categories: Marketing, Distribution, Development , |
| one-stop shopping for educational and | | | | Web Design, SEO, E-Commerce, Customer |
| edutainment software, The Service Guide - a | | | | Service. |