Meeting with the VSO-Software team

On Tuesday November 2, Mandie Falguieres and Fabrice Meuwissen, from VSO-Software were kind to give Gravure-News (represented that day by LaddyC, Koba and Stef) an interview that we're glad to relate !

Gravure-News : Mandie, on behalf of all the Gravure-News members, hello and thank you to give us an interview !
Mandie Falguieres : Hello everybody ! Fabrice will join us in a few minutes, but we can start at once !

The firm

GN : VSO-Software was born on may 2002 on Jacques Vignoles and Fabrice Meuwissen's initiative. Could you let us know about this « birth » ?
Mandie : The first software – BlindWrite Suite – was created by Jacques and Fabrice more than 5 years ago whereas they still worked in other firms. In view of BlindWrite Suite success, Jacques and Fabrice have decided to market it. Here's the creation of VSO-Software, which was born and developed in the field of burning software edition in the broad sense of the word.

GN : At present, VSO-Software has five employees instead of two as before. Who are they and what are their duties ?
Mandie : Jacques Vignoles and Fabrice Meuwissen, VSO-Software founders, are respectively Lead Developer and Sales & Marketing Manager. Hélène, Management assistant, secures the coordination of the operations and also intervenes in the sales. Frédéric, Developer, participates in the VSO products improvement. Finally, for my part, I'm in charge of communication and responsible for developing the traffic on our website.

GN : What is the medium age of the team ?
Mandie : It is about 30.

GN : In view of its increasing popularity, does VSO-Software have its own premises ?
Mandie : For the next few weeks, our work will mainly go on at distance. But soon, we'll open news premises. You'll will be able to see them if you wish.
GN : Thanks ! We'll make efforts to fulfil it !

GN : Where will the premises be located ?
Mandie : VSO-Software is located in Toulouse (France)

GN : Your firm may have numerous assistants ? What could you say about them ? What are their roles in the development of your products ?
Mandie : You're right, numerous assistants take part in the global development of our firm : such as webmasters, journalists, independent developers or persons passionate for burning, etc.

GN : What could you say about your software tests ? How do you choose your testers ?
GN : Quite simply, the fact that you gladly distribute beta versions, does it mean that you knowingly appeal to the community to test your softwares, to reveal bugs or to propose improvements ?
Mandie : Our assistants obviously take place in the test of our softwares, but we also call for the community as you just notified. More precisely, we must distinguish the « alpha » versions and « beta » versions of our softwares. An alpha version is a version of software whose functionalities haven't been all decided and for which we ask some advices to users : The most recent example being DivxToDVD. A beta version is a version whose functionalities are defined but whose tests have to be done on a wider scale.

GN : Thank you for these numerous details ! Here is Fabrice. Good morning and welcome to you !
Fabrice Meuwissen : Good morning everybody !

GN : In addition those assistants we talked about, do you expand partnership with hardware manufacturers ? Obviously, we think of Plextor and the very good use you've made of the Premium technology with BlindWrite Suite.
Mandie : We've been very lucky to discover a particular functionality of the Premium which allowed us certain things. Later and Unfortunately, Plextor has removed that functionality.

GN : Although VSO-Software is a French company, it offers English information especially on its website. Why such a choice ? Aren't you afraid your French-speaking customers remain frustrated ?
Mandie : About 95 % of our customers are English-speaking. That's the reason of this strategic choice.

GN : In the limits of the present overhaul of your website, could we hope that a wider part could be allowed to the French language ?
Mandie : It is not because we give a major priority to English that we neglect the French language. On the contrary ! We hope we could go on with the development of our website in different other languages and granted to French language the place it deserves.

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