Company Overview : Astraware

Our Business Model

Astraware is a a wholly-owned subsidiary of Handmark, Inc., which develops software for handheld computers, publishes software both from its own internal development and also from other developers, and then creates and maintains sales channels to promote and sell products to the end consumer.

There are sections of this site for Development, Publishing and Sales and Services.

Our basic model is to develop software, then self publish it over the internet through many channels, including our own main web site:

Working With External Companies

While our business has remained viable without relying on other companies, we have been able to expand and increase profitability by working with external companies in a number of ways -

With IP Licensors : A number of well known web based companies have licensed titles of their products to us to develop and sell handheld versions. Key examples include Bejeweled from PopCap Games, and Collapse from GameHouse.
With External Developers : Other developers who simply wish to work on developing high quality content, who then use Astraware's strength to more effectively sell their products. Key examples include GTS Racing Challenge from Pazzazz Games, and ChromaGames from WhiteHorse Games (FirePad, Inc)..
With External Publishers : Custom Development for PocketExpress and Handmark, Distribution through Palm, MDigitalM, Globalstar.
With Hardware Developers : Creating new software to help them showcase new hardware, and also bundling OEM demo and full versions with hardware and accessories.
With External Vendors : We also sell products through over a dozen further vendors - maximising distribution and exposure for our products amongst all potential consumers. We have premier level agreements with the largest of the vendors, allowing us to gain additional exposure and placement on those sites for our products.
With Other Developers and Publishers : Astraware has also created and maintains web sites carrying custom content, either for specific device platforms, or of specific product categories. These all use the Astraware developed eCommerce system, and so we are able to sell products for other companies through these additional sites, acting as a vendors for those companies.

Astraware Team

Our team have many varied skills allowing us to excel at development, publishing, and creating web the most effective channels. These include:

Expert Game and UI Design
High Quality Artistic Design
Front-line Retail Experience
Operating System and Hardware Support
Low level optimisation and algorithm expertise
Quality Assurance testing
Corporate standard web design and eCommerce system engineering

You can also read more details about our key team members.

Astraware Technology

Astraware's games are built on some of the smartest handheld technologies that exist. We work with hardware companies at the cutting edge - often with alpha hardware - to provide support for new features and create products which they can use to help show off device capabilities.

Our handheld code technology is the culmination of over 10 man-years of effort, and means that our game developers can concentrate on doing just that, while our technology developers work on supporting hardware and features.

Between the team members, we amass almost 100 years of development experience, going back to the early days of home computing, right up to the sharpest edge of development with the latest CPUs and emerging technologies such as Bluetooth.

Two key components of our development technology are our Core Technology Library - our underlying system providing elements such as high performance graphics and multi-channel sound on each of the platforms we support, and our Common Games Library, a higher level system which provides us with a standard architecture for game concepts such as object lists, high scores, game states, and control systems. Between them, the CTL and CGL mean we do not have to re-invent the wheel for every game, and so our development is rapid and focused, while remaining compatible with a broad range of devices.

You can also find our more details about Astraware's technology systems.

Astraware Sites

Our main web site is the www.astraware.com site, where the majority of traffic arrives. It maintains a consistently high level of traffic, and many of our game licensors direct traffic straight to the top level.

We promote each of our games via these pages, and since late 2001, we have been running our own integrated eCommerce system to provide real-time sales directly to customers. Our own shop brings in over half of our revenue.

In addition to our main site, we have also created, hosted, and maintained other PDA software sites focused for particular purposes. These have included:

A specialised games channel for one of the major entertainment oriented PDA manufacturers
Channels with updated listings for various of our resellers
Games specific channels and board areas, including for our Sudoku product.

Astraware Background

While the Astraware team members have diverse backgrounds, our goal has been consistently to enjoy our work, and create products which we are proud of and in their various ways, makes people's lives a little better. Games and entertainment are a passion of all of our team members, which is the main reason we excel at our roles! Read more about our history here.

Astraware Press Info

For further information on Astraware, our products and services, please contact our team directly.

Support Product Previews Forums What's New Press Releases Team Blog Company Overview About Team Jobs Financial Development Publishing Sales & Services Legal Information Overview Business Model Basic System External Companies Our Team Key Technology Managed Sites Company Background Press Kit	Astraware Overview Our Business Model Astraware is a a wholly-owned subsidiary of Handmark, Inc., which develops software for handheld computers, publishes software both from its own internal development and also from other developers, and then creates and maintains sales channels to promote and sell products to the end consumer. There are sections of this site for Development, Publishing and Sales and Services. Our basic model is to develop software, then self publish it over the internet through many channels, including our own main web site: Working With External Companies While our business has remained viable without relying on other companies, we have been able to expand and increase profitability by working with external companies in a number of ways - With IP Licensors : A number of well known web based companies have licensed titles of their products to us to develop and sell handheld versions. Key examples include Bejeweled from PopCap Games, and Collapse from GameHouse. With External Developers : Other developers who simply wish to work on developing high quality content, who then use Astraware's strength to more effectively sell their products. Key examples include GTS Racing Challenge from Pazzazz Games, and ChromaGames from WhiteHorse Games (FirePad, Inc).. With External Publishers : Custom Development for PocketExpress and Handmark, Distribution through Palm, MDigitalM, Globalstar. With Hardware Developers : Creating new software to help them showcase new hardware, and also bundling OEM demo and full versions with hardware and accessories. With External Vendors : We also sell products through over a dozen further vendors - maximising distribution and exposure for our products amongst all potential consumers. We have premier level agreements with the largest of the vendors, allowing us to gain additional exposure and placement on those sites for our products. With Other Developers and Publishers : Astraware has also created and maintains web sites carrying custom content, either for specific device platforms, or of specific product categories. These all use the Astraware developed eCommerce system, and so we are able to sell products for other companies through these additional sites, acting as a vendors for those companies. Astraware Team Our team have many varied skills allowing us to excel at development, publishing, and creating web the most effective channels. These include: Expert Game and UI Design High Quality Artistic Design Front-line Retail Experience Operating System and Hardware Support Low level optimisation and algorithm expertise Quality Assurance testing Corporate standard web design and eCommerce system engineering You can also read more details about our key team members. Astraware Technology Astraware's games are built on some of the smartest handheld technologies that exist. We work with hardware companies at the cutting edge - often with alpha hardware - to provide support for new features and create products which they can use to help show off device capabilities. Our handheld code technology is the culmination of over 10 man-years of effort, and means that our game developers can concentrate on doing just that, while our technology developers work on supporting hardware and features. Between the team members, we amass almost 100 years of development experience, going back to the early days of home computing, right up to the sharpest edge of development with the latest CPUs and emerging technologies such as Bluetooth. Two key components of our development technology are our Core Technology Library - our underlying system providing elements such as high performance graphics and multi-channel sound on each of the platforms we support, and our Common Games Library, a higher level system which provides us with a standard architecture for game concepts such as object lists, high scores, game states, and control systems. Between them, the CTL and CGL mean we do not have to re-invent the wheel for every game, and so our development is rapid and focused, while remaining compatible with a broad range of devices. You can also find our more details about Astraware's technology systems. Astraware Sites Our main web site is the www.astraware.com site, where the majority of traffic arrives. It maintains a consistently high level of traffic, and many of our game licensors direct traffic straight to the top level. We promote each of our games via these pages, and since late 2001, we have been running our own integrated eCommerce system to provide real-time sales directly to customers. Our own shop brings in over half of our revenue. In addition to our main site, we have also created, hosted, and maintained other PDA software sites focused for particular purposes. These have included: A specialised games channel for one of the major entertainment oriented PDA manufacturers Channels with updated listings for various of our resellers Games specific channels and board areas, including for our Sudoku product. Astraware Background While the Astraware team members have diverse backgrounds, our goal has been consistently to enjoy our work, and create products which we are proud of and in their various ways, makes people's lives a little better. Games and entertainment are a passion of all of our team members, which is the main reason we excel at our roles! Read more about our history here. Astraware Press Info For further information on Astraware, our products and services, please contact our team directly.
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