In a not-so-surprising move, Adobe quietly shut down its Print Service Provider Program. This fee-based program offered technical support, marketing opportunities, and software to printers around the world. Introduced around the time that InDesign emerged on the scene, its intention was to get printers to accept (and adopt) InDesign files. It grew into a robust program that offered training, web seminars, a Connect Pro account, newsletters, beta software participation, current software titles, and more.
Citing a declining market (that means that the number of print shops around the world is dwindling) and increasing overhead costs, Adobe is recommending that members join PIA or a local PIA affiliate, where they can enjoy some of the benefits of the Adobe program, but not the direct line to technical support, which was a huge benefit for many companies. My companies have been members of the Adobe program for 10 years or more, and I am sorry to see it go.
Quark still maintains their QuarkAlliance program, and Microsoft shut down their free Publisher Print Service Provider Program over a year ago.
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