January 13, 2005

Tucows - the evolution of a software distributor

For many years, geeks and others who download freeware and shareware have known Tucows (http://www.tucows.com ) as THE place to be for software downloads. Tucows worked with a worldwide network of service providers (including of course Internet Service Providers) to provide thousands and thousands of software downloads to millions of computer users around the world.

Over the past years Tucows has evolved from a distributor of software to a distributor of a range of Internet services.

Tucows is one of the few, "pre-bubble burst" dot-coms that has been around for 10 years, has millions of dollars in cash and has positive earnings and cash flow.

Elliot Noss, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tucows, explains that while GoDaddy is focused on selling a suite of online services to customers directly Tucows leverages its channel to resell online services to customers. These services include - Digital Certificates, Email, Email Defense, Web Publishing Tools, Platypus Billing System

Tucows channel partners include 6,000+ ISPs, Webhosters, Cable/Telcos and WISP/VOIP in over 100 countries and approximately 80% of Tucows service providers are re-selling Internet products and services to SMEs.

An example of the enabling methods of Tucows for services provides is the May 2004 release of Blogware, a weblog publishing service. With Blogware, service providers can quickly enter the fast growing weblogging market with little risk and no upfront investment. Blogware helps service provider's customers share what they want, when they want, with whom they want - via their desktop, handheld or cellular telephone.

Working with Tucows, service providers do not have the burden of developing their own services but can resell the online services produced by Tucows and concentrate and getting new customers and service existing ones.

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