Softonic

Softonic started in 1997 as a file-oriented download service called Shareware Intercom,{{cite web|url=http://shareware.intercom.es/upload_eng.htm|title=Shareware|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001021221550/http://shareware.intercom.es/upload_eng.htm|archive-date=2000-10-21|publisher=Intercom.es}} at Intercom Online (Grupo Intercom), a provider of Internet services in Cerdanyola del Vallès, near Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain). Files came from the "Files Library Intercom BBS" at Intercom Online, using a "5-step semi-automated process".{{cite web |title=Backstage |url=http://www.shareware.intercom.es/backstage.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990221082904/http://www.shareware.intercom.es/backstage.htm |archive-date=February 21, 1999 |publisher=Shareware.Intercom.es |language=es}} The company also offered monthly CDs of its software library.{{cite web|title=CDROMs Softonic |publisher=Softonic.com |url=http://www.softonic.com/cdrom.phtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001205075100/http://www.softonic.com/cdrom.phtml |archive-date=December 5, 2000 |url-status=dead }} In 1999, the service was described by El Tiempo as having a "generosity of games, antiviruses, education and the long, seductive et cetera."{{cite web |title =Enredados (Tangled) |url=http://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/MAM-949160 |date= December 19, 1999 |publisher=El Tiempo| location=Spain |language=es}} ([https://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A//www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/MAM-949160&hl=en&langpair=auto|en&tbb=1&ie=UTF-8 English tr.]). In 2000, the company became independent under the name Softonic.{{cite web|url=http://en.softonic.com/about|title=About pmiiumima|publisher=Softonic.com|access-date=October 12, 2011}}

In 2004, Softonic was made available in German, and in 2005, English.{{cite web|url=http://en.softonic.com/about/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051215051850/http://en.softonic.com/about/ |title=About Softonic |publisher=Softonic.com |archive-date=December 15, 2005 |url-status=unfit }} Initially, the service was oriented only to downloads of DOS and Windows software,{{cite web|title=Shareware.intercom |publisher=shareware.intercom.es |url=http://shareware.intercom.es/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19971224064811/http://shareware.intercom.es/ |archive-date=December 24, 1997 |language=es |url-status=unfit }} but it eventually had software downloads for Mac and mobile platforms.

In 2013, Partners Group acquired 30% of the shares, paying more than 82 million euros.{{Cite web |date=2013-02-27 |title=Partners compra el 30% de Softonic por 82,5 millones |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/economia/20130228/54367834606/partners-compra-softonic.html |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=La Vanguardia |language=es}}{{Cite web |last=Martínez |first=Jesús |date=2014-10-28 |title=Softonic, auge y caída de uno de los 'unicornios' españoles de internet |url=https://www.elblogsalmon.com/empresas/softonic-auge-y-caida-de-uno-de-los-unicornios-espanoles-de-internet |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=El Blog Salmón |language=es}} At the end of 2014, Softonic announced that a headcount reduction procedure would be carried out as a cost-cutting measure, allegedly due to financial and organizational reasons. In December, the company formalized the dismissal of 156 employees.{{cite web|url=http://www.eleconomista.es/tecnologia/noticias/6338670/12/14/Softonic-acuerda-con-la-plantilla-156-despidos-frente-a-los-207-planteados.html#.Kku89t0qdvgnWOo|title=Softonic acuerda con la plantilla 156 despidos, frente a los 207 planteados|date=18 December 2014}}

In February 2015, Scott Arpajian, co-founder of Download.com, became the CEO, succeeding founder Tomás Diago.{{cite web |title=Softonic Names Scott Arpajian New CEO |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/softonic-names-scott-arpajian-ceo-200100615.html}}

Softonic's "Softonic Downloader" was described by their CEO Scott Arpajian as having "facilitated bad behaviour amongst third party vendors which ended up harming the user", with malicious links impersonating the downloader itself. He said that the Downloader "grew revenue but was under the microscope as far as the industry was concerned, in particularly Google", who went on to withdraw its advertising from the site in 2014.{{Cite web |date=9 September 2015 |title=Q&A with Softonic's CEO Scott Arpajian: from desktop software juggernaut to 'mobile first' restart |url=https://novobrief.com/softonic-scott-arpajian-interview/}}

Arpajian said that shutting down the Softonic Downloader was one of the first things he had done when he took over the company in February 2015, and that his intention was to regain the trust of the site's users.

In July 2016, Softonic announced a partnership with business software platform Crozdesk.{{Cite web |date=July 6, 2016 |title=Crozdesk announces partnership with Softonic to help millions of businesses find the right software |url=http://techcitynews.com/press_release/crozdesk-announces-partnership-softonic-help-millions-businesses-find-right-software/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160707154831/http://techcitynews.com/press_release/crozdesk-announces-partnership-softonic-help-millions-businesses-find-right-software/ |archive-date=2016-07-07 |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=techcitynews.com}}

In May 2017, the company announced that it had hired international executive Sophie Bernard as Vice President of Strategy.{{Cite web |date= |title=Softonic Hires Sophie Bernard as Vice President of Strategy |url=https://hello.softonic.com/press-room/softonic-hires-sophie-bernard-as-vice-president-of-strategy/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718084120/https://hello.softonic.com/press-room/softonic-hires-sophie-bernard-as-vice-president-of-strategy/ |archive-date=2018-07-18 |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=Softonic Corporate}}

In October 2019, Softonic acquired Ghacks. The site's founder and editor, Martin Brinkmann, along with the writing team, retained editorial control over the content. Softonic assumed responsibility for administrative tasks, including domain management, hosting, advertisements, and partner communications.{{cite web |last1=Brinkmann |first1=Martin |title=Ghacks has a new owner, and that is good for everyone |url=https://www.ghacks.net/2019/10/07/ghacks-has-a-new-owner-and-that-is-a-good-for-everyone/ |website=ghacks.net |publisher=Softonic |access-date=December 7, 2020 |date=October 7, 2019}}

In 2020, Softonic launched Revamp, a technology to increase publishers' advertising revenue.{{Cite web |date=2020-08-12 |title=How publishers can amplify ad revenues with AMP |url=https://mediamakersmeet.com/how-publishers-can-amplify-ad-revenues-with-amp/ |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=Media Makers Meet |language=en-US}}

In 2021, Fiona Garvey was appointed as CEO.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-10 |title=Visión y trayectoria |url=https://forbes.es/empresas/276804/vision-y-trayectoria/ |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=Forbes España |language=es}}{{Cite web |date=2022-07-29 |title=Fiona Garvey nueva CEO de Softonic - ProgPublicidad |url=https://www.programapublicidad.com/fiona-garvey-nueva-ceo-de-softonic/ |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=El Programa de la Publicidad |language=es}}

In 2022, the company grew 34%,{{Cite web |title=Softonic CEO: ‘Having a female leader promote other female leaders has driven our success’ |url=https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/softonic-ceo-having-female-leader-promote-female-leaders-driven-success/interviews/article/1861761?utm_source=website&utm_medium=social |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=www.managementtoday.co.uk |language=en}} amounting to over €26 million.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-07 |title=Softonic aumentó sus ingresos un 34% en 2022 gracias a la diversificación de sus productos |url=https://www.eleconomista.es/tecnologia/noticias/12139608/02/23/Softonic-aumento-sus-ingresos-un-34-en-2022-gracias-a-la-diversificacion-de-sus-productos.html |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=eleconomista.es}}{{Cite web |date=2023-02-07 |title=Softonic eleva un 34% sus ingresos hasta los 26,6 millones en 2022 |url=https://forbes.es/start-ups/229464/softonic-eleva-un-34-sus-ingresos-hasta-los-266-millones-en-2022/ |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=Forbes España |language=es}}{{Cite web |date=2023-03-17 |title=Softonic vuelve a despegar |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/economia/20230317/8831664/softonic-vuelve-despegar.html |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=La Vanguardia |language=es}}

In 2024, Softonic acquired Appvizer, a business-to-business software recommendation platform. Appvizer is known for its recommendation algorithms and clients like Factorial, Monday.com, and Salesforce.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-25 |title=La tecnológica Softonic adquiere el medio de comunicación especializado Appvizer |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20240625/9758204/tecnologica-softonic-adquiere-medio-comunicacion-especializado-appvizer-agenciaslv20240625.html |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=La Vanguardia |language=es}}{{Cite web |date=2024-06-24 |title=Softonic entra en el segmento B2B con la compra de la francesa Appvizer |url=https://www.expansion.com/catalunya/2024/06/24/6679b9df468aeb1f378b45a6.html |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=EXPANSION |language=es}}

The company currently has four main products:{{Cite web |date=2023-02-07 |title=Softonic aumentó sus ingresos un 34% en 2022 gracias a la diversificación de sus productos |url=https://www.eleconomista.es/tecnologia/noticias/12139608/02/23/Softonic-aumento-sus-ingresos-un-34-en-2022-gracias-a-la-diversificacion-de-sus-productos.html |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=eleconomista.es}}{{Cite web |date=2018-06-07 |title=Esplendor, decadencia y renacer de un unicornio: Softonic vuelve a beneficios operativos - Emprendedores: La revista líder en economía de empresa |url=https://emprendedores.es/casos-de-exito/softonic-sale-crisis-beneficios-operativos/ |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=emprendedores.es |language=es}}{{Cite web |title=Softonic |url=https://www.coursehero.com/es/file/204506196/softonictxt/ |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=www.coursehero.com}}

• Softonic.com: A software distribution platform that provides options and guidance for various software needs.
• Appvizer: A platform that recommends B2B software.
• FileHippo: A computer software for Windows downloading website
• GHacks: A tech news site focusing on web browsers, software tips, guides, and reviews.

Softonic collaborates with other platforms to manage their ecosystems:

• Filecat.com: A software download site offering a variety of freeware and shareware for Windows and Mac.
• DigitalTrends.com: A tech news site that covers consumer electronics, computing, entertainment, and emerging technologies, with up-to-date news, reviews, and articles.
• Download.com: An internet download directory launched in 1996 as part of CNET.

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Category:Companies based in Barcelona

Category:Download websites

Category:File hosting

Category:Internet properties established in 1997

Category:Spanish brands