- Softonic.com
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Softonic.com 
URL softonic.com Type of site Software Downloads Available language(s) English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Dutch and Japanese Created by Tomás Diago Launched 1997 Alexa rank 
261 (November 2011[update])[1]Softonic.com is a software download portal based in Barcelona, Spain, founded in 1997.[2] Since 2007, the portal has included a blog called OnSoftware.[3] In 2009 and 2011, the site was listed as having the most unique visitor traffic in Spain by audit bureau OJD Interactiva.[4][5]
Contents
History
Softonic started in 1997 as a file-oriented service called Shareware Intercom,[6] at Intercom Online (Grupo Intercom), a provider of Internet services in Cerdanyola del Vallés, near Barcelona. Originally files for the website came from the "Files Library Intercom BBS" at Intercom Online, using a "5-step semi-automated process", which was later greatly simplified.[7] The company also offered monthly CDs of its software library for users tired of "having to wait for downloads to complete or pay exorbitant phone bills."[8] In 1999, the service was described as having a "generosity of games, antivirus, education and the long, seductive etcetera."[9] Due to the popularity of the service among its users, in 2000 the company became independent under the name Softonic.[10] In 2004, Softonic was made available in German, and in 2005, English.[11] Initially the service was oriented only to downloads of DOS and Windows software,[12] but evolved to offer software downloads for Mac and mobile platforms. Softonic was listed as the best place to work (100-250 employees) in an annual study by the Great Place to Work Institute, in 2009-2011, and #2 in 2008.[13][14]
Downloads
Softonic offers the "Softonic Toolbar", a Windows-only 4MB web browser add-on for Firefox and Internet Explorer which provides company-specific "content on the fly, many interesting online services, and can be easily customized" and "streamed music" using the "built-in music player".[15]
Downloads hosted at Softonic can be preceded by a customized installer called "Softonic Downloader" which shows "commercial offers, such as the Softonic Toolbar."[16] Downloads not hosted by Softonic are not accompanied by the Softonic Downloader.
References
- ^ "Softonic.com Site Info". Alexa Internet. http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/Softonic.com. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
- ^ Online - Most Visited Web Sites - NetCraft)
- ^ "About OnSoftware | OnSoftware". En.onsoftware.com. http://en.onsoftware.com/about/. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
- ^ "Auditoría Online - Certificación Audiencia - Difusión Medios Online". Archived from the original on 2009-06-15. http://web.archive.org/web/20090615041315/http://www.ojdinteractiva.es/alfabetico.php?mes_inicio=&anio_inicio=&titulo=&url_principal=&id_categoria=&campo1=DESC&campo2=DESC&campo3=ASC&campo4=DESC&campo5=DESC&campo6=DESC&orden=uunicos.
- ^ "MES: SEPTIEMBRE 2011 - TIPO DE DATO: TOTALES - TRÁFICO NACIONAL E INTERNACIONAL". ojdinteractiva.es. (sort by "N.UNICOS", sort by "PAGINAS")
- ^ "Shareware". Intercom.es.
- ^ "Backstage" (in Spanish). Shareware.Intercom.es. Archived from the original on February 21, 1999. http://web.archive.org/web/19990221082904/http://www.shareware.intercom.es/backstage.htm. (English tr.).
- ^ "CDROMs Softonic". Softonic.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2000. http://web.archive.org/web/200012050751/http://www.softonic.com/cdrom.phtml.
- ^ "Enredados (Tangled)" (in Spanish). Spain: El Tiempo. December 19, 1999. http://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/MAM-949160.(English tr.)
- ^ "About Softonic". Softonic.com. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
- ^ "About Softonic". Softonic.com. Archived from the original on December 15, 2005. http://en.softonic.com/about/.
- ^ "Shareware.intercom" (in Spanish). shareware.intercom.es. Archived from the original on December 24, 1997. http://web.archive.org/web/19971224064811/http://shareware.intercom.es/.
- ^ "Best Workplaces in Spain 2011". Great Place to Work. http://www.greatplacetowork.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=27&Itemid=208. Retrieved October 13,2011.
- ^ "Vodafone, Louis Vuitton y Softonic, entre las mejores empresas para trabajar en España" (in Spanish). El Mundo. April 22, 2010. http://www.elmundo.es/mundodinero/2010/04/22/economia/1271944478.html.
- ^ "Softonic Toolbar". Softonic.com. March 24, 2010.
- ^ "Softonic Toolbar" download page.
External links
- Softonic.com
- "Intercom, un proveedor diferente". iWorld, IDG.es.
Categories:- Download websites
- Internet properties established in 1997
- File hosting
- Companies based in Catalonia
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