Founded in 1981, Softdisk is a privately owned company headquartered in Shreveport, LA.

The world leader and primary innovator of the two markets it pioneered -- monthly software subscriptions and online software stores -- Softdisk also publishes or markets a variety of other products and services through its four corporate divisions: Internet Services, Multimedia Presentations, Online Shopping, and Software Publishing.

These division services include: local Internet access, web page design, multimedia presentations, and online shopping on the Internet and major online services.

• 1981 Publishes its first monthly software subscription-- "Softdisk" for Apple II computers. This subscription program ended in the fall of 1995.

• 1984 Rolls out a monthly software subscription called "Loadstar" for Commodore 64 computers. (Now a separate company.)

• 1986 Starts a monthly software subscription for IBM PC compatible computers called "Big Blue Disk" (renamed "On Disk Monthly" in 1991 and "Softdisk PC" in 1993; ended in 1998).

• 1988 Establishes a Macintosh software subscription called "Diskworld" (renamed "Softdisk for Mac" in 1993; ended in 1998).

• 1989 Adds two more software subscriptions to its lineup -- "Softdisk G-S" for Apple IIgs computers (no longer published) and "Loadstar 128 Quarterly" for Commodore 128 computers (now published by a separate company).

• 1992 Launches its first online software store on the PRODIGY service with over 40 titles -- all available for instant purchase and download.

• 1994 Begins a new monthly Windows subscription -- "Softdisk for Windows." (Ended in 1999.)

• 1994 Expands its online software store concept to America Online, CompuServe, and GEnie.

• 1995 Opens a Macintosh software store on the eWorld online service.

• 1995 Sets up a web server and begins to offer local Internet access, web page and multimedia presentation design services, web page maintenance services, and free links with the Softdisk sponsored Shreveport/Bossier Page (the first site on the Internet to offer information about northwestern Louisiana, and still the leading such site).

• 1996 Launches an Internet software download store with both download and mail-order catalog sections.

• 1996 Begins issuing Windows, DOS, and Macintosh software subscriptions on CD-ROM in addition to floppy-disk versions. CD-ROM versions have additional animations and demo software.

• 1997 Releases Screen Saver Studio, a program allowing users to create their own screen savers with no programming skill required.

• 1998 Builds intranets and extranets for companies and organizations; a new and growing market.

• 1998 Launches the SPYS Program (Softdisk Pays Your Site), which lets anyone with a web site earn money from referred sales in the Softdisk download store.