Internet Start-Up Asynchrony.Com Rockets To More Than 1,000 Active Software Developers In Three Weeks; Revolutionary Software Incubator is Already Developing More Than 60 Software Projects

Business Wire, April 13, 2000

Business Editors/Technology Writers

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 13, 2000

Just three weeks after releasing the public beta version of its Web site, Asynchrony.com, Inc., has more than 1,000 active members participating in its virtual software development incubator, which allows programmers worldwide to collaborate via the Internet on software programs and receive the majority of net revenues from the sale of their creations.

Asynchrony.com members, who work with fellow site members on their own projects, have already initiated more than 60 projects that represent a variety of software programs, including games, business applications and utilities. Asynchrony.com expects to begin marketing and selling finished software projects as early as May.

Products created at Asynchrony.com will initially be marketed via online download from the Asynchrony.com site, as well as more than 50 download sites on the Internet. Additionally, Asynchrony.com will negotiate licensing agreements, where appropriate, with shrink-wrap, OEM and other marketing channels. Asynchrony.com members receive up to 90 percent of the net revenue from sales of Asynchrony.com products.

The power of 1,000 active Asynchrony.com members is immense. If each of these 1,000 members were to work just four hours per week, development on the Asynchrony.com site would equal the development efforts of a 100-person full-time programming staff.

"At this rate, we will quickly attract the largest pool of entrepreneurial developers on the planet, producing scores of exciting new software programs from creative minds around the world," said Nate McKie, chief technology officer for Asynchrony.com. "We're bringing to life what has only existed in cyberpunk fiction.

"The vast majority of revenue goes directly to the site members who develop the software," McKie added. "Word is quickly spreading that Asynchrony is the place where all programmers can create the software of their choosing, whether they want to work on Open Source or proprietary software."

Members of Asynchrony.com include not only software programmers but also technical writers, testers, designers, graphic artists and others who contribute to the creation of a total software package. Each development team has a project manager who is responsible for coordinating the work of the individual team members. Team members are assigned tasks, and there are "shares" associated with each task. Once the software is sold, the "shares" represent the percentage of the sales revenues each team member receives.

"Traditional corporations can't afford to go out on very many limbs with new software products, but we will thrive by always being out on as many limbs as possible," said Bob Elfanbaum, president of Asynchrony.com. "We're freeing the untapped genius of software talent from around the world that has been stifled by corporate agendas."

Online collaborative software development by entrepreneurial developers represents another quantum leap in software development, an industry that International Data Group projects will reach $222 billion in annual revenues by 2002.

The only other model for online collaborative software development on this scale is the Open Source movement. But unfortunately, the Open Source movement has had limited means to credit and compensate the developers all over the world who participate in such projects - until now. Asynchrony.com's infrastructure is available to individuals who want to work on proprietary or Open Source projects.

"Outside of the Open Source movement, programmers around the world spend their spare time each week working on their own pet software projects. More often than not, this innovative work is merely for enjoyment. It either stays on the programmers' hard drives or is given away for free on the Web," McKie said. "By providing an integrated system for developers to collaborate and receive shares for the work they produce, this activity can be channeled to produce marketable products and provide income to the development teams."

To become a member of Asynchrony.com, simply visit the Web site at http://www.asynchrony.com. There is no charge to become a member.

Asynchrony.com, Inc., is a St. Louis-based Internet company that - through a Web-based virtual community - brings together software developers worldwide who want to collaborate, innovate and profit with their peers. The company was founded in May 1999 by "The Brothers Elfanbaum" (Steve, Bob and Dave) and Nate McKie. The virtual community -- http://www.asynchrony.com - was launched in March 2000.

SOURCE: Asynchrony.com, Inc.