Shareware Programmers: Reach out to new markets overseas!

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2 total messages Started by Yves Dehnel Sat, 11 Feb 1995 07:50

#612

Author: Yves Dehnel
Date: Sat, 11 Feb 1995 07:50

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Dear Programmer:

   On a recent trip to my home country of France, I was shocked by the 
small amount of shareware available in stores. What little I could find 
on the shelves were, for the most part, English-language titles.

   I often read the soc.culture.french newsgroup, and a frequent 
question there is: "where can I find French-language shareware?" Sadly, 
such questions are usually left unanswered.

   My comclusion is that there is demand, but no supply. With a 
potential market of 100 million Francophones worldwide that's being 
virtually ignored, there are tremendous amounts of money to be made.
 
   Sure, many French speakers can figure out how to use the English 
editions, but think of the edge that you, the shareware developer, could 
gain by having a French-language version of your product on the market!

   I'd like to help you achieve this goal. I can translate your DOS or 
Windows program. In association with my contacts in France, Belgium and 
Quebec, I will study the distribution of shareware disks, or even 
consider publishing a CD-ROM if we collect enough titles. I believe that 
distribution on disks is essential, in order to reach buyers whose 
Internet access is limited.

   Please contact me if you're eager to tap these new markets!

   As I am new to some of these groups, I hope this post is appropriate.
-- 
Yves "That French Guy" Dehnel (dehnel@ix.netcom.com)
Listen to "French Kisses" Saturdays 2 pm on WMBR 88.1 FM Cambridge MA.

Re: Shareware Programmers: Reach out to new markets overseas!

#611

Author: David Webber
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 1995 07:03

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In article <3hhq7i$evi@ixnews1.ix.netcom.com>
           dehnel@ix.netcom.com "Yves Dehnel" writes:

> ...
>    On a recent trip to my home country of France, I was shocked by the 
> small amount of shareware available in stores. What little I could find 
> on the shelves were, for the most part, English-language titles.
>... 
>    Sure, many French speakers can figure out how to use the English 
> editions, but think of the edge that you, the shareware developer, could 
> gain by having a French-language version of your product on the market!
> 
>    I'd like to help you achieve this goal. I can translate your DOS or 
> Windows program. In association with my contacts in France, Belgium and 
> Quebec, I will study the distribution of shareware disks, or even 
> consider publishing a CD-ROM if we collect enough titles. I believe that 
> distribution on disks is essential, in order to reach buyers whose 
> Internet access is limited.

Bonjour Yves,

What you say is entirely reasonable.  I have also been asked for German and
Swedish versions of my program.   However it is not so simple.

First there is the cost.  You don't say what you'd charge, but if the program
has an extensive help system (and good ones do) then it could cost a lot. If
the author works out that it will take 20 years to get back the cost of
the translation, it won't happen.

Then there is maintenance.  You add an extra feature and update the help
system or manual to cover it.  But now you're faced with getting your
translators to do lots of small updates and it is much more difficult.

I am a strong supporter of linguistic diversity - the world would be 
extremely boring if everyone spoke English - but I suspect you will
have to find a strategy which can cope with the fact that software is
a far less permanant medium than books, just as books are less permanent
than tablets of stone.  And (with a few exceptions) that shareware is
a cottage industry.

In any event, let me wish you *bonne chance*

Dave
-- 
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|  Dave Webber                |   Author of MOZART, the Win31   |
|  dave@musical.demon.co.uk   |   shareware Music Processor.    |
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