SoftCity Launches the First Social Networking Community and E-commerce Website for Software

Avanquest Software participates with SoftCity on groundbreaking social commerce initiative where users interact with developers, consult with experts and buy software all in one place

MONTREAL – April 27, 2010 – Today, SoftCity launches the first social commerce site dedicated to software. SoftCity brings together software enthusiasts whether they are users, experts or developers for conversation, comment as well as trying and buying software. For the first time, users can interact and become part of an active social networking community to share advice and opinions on software, post software product reviews, try and buy software while earning SoftDollars, a virtual currency that can be used toward software purchases.

Avanquest Software (EPA: AVQ), one of the top 10 consumer software publishers, is an active developer on the site providing feedback to users as well as selling its software on the new social commerce site. “Imagine a merger of Facebook and Amazon where you also have a ‘rewards’ system like those used by the airlines, and there you have the very essence of SoftCity,” explained Bruno Vanryb, co-founder, President and CEO of Avanquest Software.

SoftCity consists of two primary destinations:

SoftCity Café
A social online community where the users can interact, discuss and ask questions about software and receive responses from peers, developers and experts. Participation in the community is rewarded with SoftDollars, which can be applied in connection with software purchased in the SoftCity Marketplace.

SoftCity Marketplace
An online commerce website, where buyers and developers can interact, suggest improvements, and test and buy software. Not only are there many software programs for all platforms, but SoftCity Marketplace also is a unique place where developers can upload and market their software to reach a community of enthusiastic users who will help them improve their products.

SoftCity users can purchase software from developers such as Avanquest Software with software products ranging from mobility to utilities and multimedia. These developers and vendors will benefit from an affiliate program where affiliated partners are rewarded with up to 10% commission on sales. Developers can make SoftCity its "Social Customer Care" destination.

“Previously, there were those who purchased software on e-commerce sites, and those who discussed software on social networks. The merger of e-commerce and social network forums has become a fundamental trend that we now call ‘social commerce’,” said Bruno Vanryb, cofounder, President and CEO of Avanquest Software. “With SoftCity, Avanquest is demonstrating its commitment to provide an improved software experience to users and customers in the way they want it today. We are establishing a real conversation with all users and software enthusiasts. We are committed to encouraging the development of software designed with the participation of the SoftCity community.”

Marc-Antoine Ross, co-founder and COO of SoftCity, concluded: “We are taking social networking one step further to provide a single location for software users and developers to interact as a community combined with the ability for developers to offer, and users to purchase, software armed with knowledge from the community. SoftCity citizens will benefit from the community resources plus earn cash and SoftDollars for providing the richest experience for all.”

About SoftCity
SoftCity is the first social commerce website dedicated to software enthusiasts. The online site merges a social media community with an online shopping marketplace to purchase software. SoftCity developers, users and experts interact in a community via the SoftCity Café that provides knowledge, expertise, and resources as well as a chance to earn SoftDollars, a virtual currency, to use in the SoftCity Marketplace. The Marketplace provides users the chance to try and buy software while earning more SoftDollars for each purchase. For the first time, software users have one online community for all their software needs. Visit www.SoftCity.com and become part of the first community for software enthusiasts.

Contacts:
Marc-Antoine Ross
SoftCity
Email: mross@softcity.com

Fran Bosecker:
Vantage Communications (For SoftCity)
Tel: +845-536-1416
Email: fbosecker@pr-vantage.com




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