Logistics
With shareware, a developer bypasses the retail distribution channel eliminating middleman markups and directly markets to the end user. The result is a reduced end-user price and direct contact with the author of the software. Users of shareware are encouraged to copy and distribute unregistered versions of the software to friends, coworkers and other acquaintances. The hope is that users will find the program useful or entertaining and will pay to register to be able to access all the features.
In the early to mid-1990s, large online distribution channels such as Download.com, Tucows, Yahoo! Games and RealArcade emerged. These portals acted as media of distribution for the shareware developers, providing a much larger audience than before.
Many shareware developers are individual computer programmers who develop their own product. Online shareware author communities, like the newsgroup alt.comp.shareware.authors, are often used by software seekers to post their novel software ideas for potential implementation.
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