Is your product "shareware"?

(this article is part of a series)

Once upon a time shareware referred to software that was truly free.

Authors would write their software, and distribute it via bulletin boards and user group software libraries. They would only ask if people really used and liked their software, that they'd send in a certain amount of money to "register" it.

The "registration" process usually didn't unlock any features - it simply insured good karma. Sometimes users would get support as part of the deal.

As often happens, the meaning of the term shareware as evolved over time.

Today, most products labeled as shareware are really trialware or crippleware. Crippleware is when a program limits certain features unless the user pays. SpamButcher is an example of trialware. Users get full functionality for 21 days, then it stops working.

Still, people who are aware of how small an operation SpamButcher is will often refer to my product as "shareware." Yet, spam email killers offered by larger companies with free trials are for some reason not shareware.

So, large companies offer "commercial trials" while smaller companies or individuals sell "shareware."

Now, on the internet no one needs to know how large you really are (or that you're a dog). When talking about your product, should you identify it as "shareware" or leave the possibility open that you might be a larger company?

It may depend on the nature of your market. If you're selling solitaire games, it would seem unlikely that being a small company would make any difference to potential buyers.

However, SpamButcher sometimes sells into corporate environments, where being "the little guy" may not be seen favorably. As a result, we've generally avoided calling ourselves "shareware." The best choice for your product will probably become apparent upon a little meditation.

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