Recently in Web Content Management (WCM) Category

CrowdGather (OTCBB:CRWG), announced that it has completed a beta deployment of its new content management system (CMS) for forum owners. By implementing its proprietary forum CMS CrowdReport, CrowdGather immediately increases a particular site's visual appeal to members, visitors, and advertisers. More importantly, the CMS enhances the user-experience by converting user-generated content into zero-cost editorial content for the site. CrowdGather expects to have deployed the CMS on its busiest sites by the end of February. http://www.crowdgather.com

Hippo has launched version 7.0 of its Content Management System, Hippo CMS. Hippo CMS 7.0 is an enterprise-class open source software product designed for businesses that have a large quantity of files, documents and web content that need to be captured, stored, preserved and delivered internally and externally. Version 7.0 features a completely new technological core based on Apache Jackrabbit, introducing full JSR 170 compliancy. The GUI technology moved to Apache Wicket enabling a modern AJAX GUI with drag drop and auto-save functionality. Version 7.0 is extensible, allowing organizations to choose from a wide variety of plug-ins in order to address their precise needs for managing and utilizing their enterprise content. This flexible architecture also allows developers to easily add custom functionality if no suitable plug-in is available. The Hippo architecture now has a faceted repository based on Apache Lucene and Apache Jackrabbit. The faceted repository introduces 'drop and start' dynamic categorization of content; allowing organizations to speed up implementation. Hippo CMS 7.0 is open source software that is free to download at http://www.onehippo.org

Interwoven, Inc. (NASDAQ: IWOV) announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Autonomy Corporation plc (LSE: AU. or AU.L) for approximately $775 million. Interwoven's products improve human interactions with information, and Autonomy's technology will allow people to know what those human interactions mean. Their target customer base includes global 2000 corporations, law firms, and government regulators. Under the terms of the agreement, Interwoven will be acquired by Autonomy for $16.20 per share, in cash, or approximately $775 million in the aggregate. The directors and certain executive officers of Autonomy and Interwoven have agreed to vote the shares they own in favor of the acquisition. The transaction is expected to close by Q2 2009 and is subject to shareholder approval by both companies, Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust clearance, and other closing conditions. http://www.interwoven.com

Alfresco Software, Inc. announced the availability of Alfresco Web Studio, a visual, drag-and-drop designer for building web sites with the Alfresco Surf platform. Using Alfresco Web Studio, business users can quickly create custom web sites while leveraging the Alfresco Web Content Management (WCM) runtime and repository. Alfresco Web Studio broadens the ability for more people inside a company to build sites and web pages with a drag-and-drop visual editing tool. Users can browse a library of Alfresco Web Components and visually assemble their web experience, rapidly building web site's pages, navigation structure, templates, and presentation layout. Web components snap into web site pages through simple drag-and-drop interactions. The benefit of this approach is that business users have the flexibility to rapidly develop web sites in collaboration with colleagues while content is managed in an enterprise scale repository with secure editing, approvals, deployment, and audit of content creation and modification. Alfresco's WCM solution now incorporates the following three elements: Alfresco WCM - an enterprise-class content creation platform and repository; Alfresco Surf - a web application and site assembly framework for developers; and, Alfresco Web Studio - a graphical design and site assembly tool for business users. Alfresco Web Studio is available as part of the new Alfresco Labs 3d release. http://www.alfresco.com

Content Circles, a provider of distributed content management and collaboration solutions, announced the availability of Content Circles 1.0, a new approach to enabling distributed and mobile teams to collaboratively create, share, and manage documents within and among companies and organizations on a worldwide basis. Today's workgroups and teams are often distributed across companies, highly mobile, and must quickly assemble around key tasks and need easy, secure access to the right documents at the right time. Web-based content management solutions eliminate IT resource issues but can still be expensive and require training to use. More importantly, they require companies to put all of their confidential documents on the web exposing the companies to significant security as well as business continuity risks. Content Circles understood that unless the solution could be set up and used by virtually any computer user, there would not be broad acceptance and adoption. Some of the elements of the solution include: Instant replication of shared content across users computers; Unlimited file size, storage and usage; Online and offline access to all content; 100% confidential, secure, and spam/ad free; Role-based access control; Version management, including comments per each version; Content synchronization with other repositories including Microsoft SharePoint, Google Docs, FTP Servers and Network Drives; Cross-platform application runs on Mac and PC; One-click, server-free download and installation; and, Subscription pricing model similar to Web conferencing. The company founders realized that well established models of viral software distribution were a perfect fit for Content Circles. Revenue is derived from workgroup leaders and content creators. The Content Circles model takes advantage of the best and most proven elements of these models. Anyone can open and view documents created by a "Circle" owner in a Circle they have been invited to participate in. Participants in a circle can even add content to the circle. A recurring subscription fee is only assessed when an individual needs to create and invite participants to a circle they need to control. http://www.contentcircles.com

EPiServer, provider of platforms for Web Content Management and online social communities, announced the acquisition of the product family of Dropit. Dropit's main product, Extension, called X3 in its latest version, was specifically developed for EPiServer CMS following requests for this functionality from EPiServer's customers. Extension has been integrated within EPiServer CMS for more than four years. X3 makes it quicker and easier for web editors to administer and alter their sites. For example, page layout can be changed in an instant by dragging and dropping different 'blocks' into place. Text, images and film can also be included and moved around freely. Two people working in the product organization at Dropit will join EPiServer. The acquisition also encompasses a number of other products which Dropit has developed as add-ons to EPiServer CMS. http://www.dropit.se, http://www.episerver.com

Systems Alliance, Inc. announced the release of Enhancement Pack 4, a software update for the company's SiteExecutive 4.1 Web content management application. With Enhancement Pack 4, Systems Alliance introduces the SiteExecutive Application Framework, a new mechanism for developing dynamic Web content, along with a blog application, automatic spam reduction capabilities and other improvements. The new Application Framework provides an alternative custom development option for modeling, managing and delivering dynamic or structured content. Content created with the Application Framework can take the form of a Web page, XML feed or virtually any other MIME type. And, the SiteExecutive Application Framework produces search-engine friendly content with human-readable URLs, as well as content-specific browser titles and meta tags. The Blog Application is the first SiteExecutive component developed using the new Application Framework. It enables the provisioning and management of one or many individual blogs, and offers an easy-to-use interface for managing blog posts and comments. Other SiteExecutive blog features include: Scheduling posts for advanced publishing, Generating or consuming RSS feeds, Notification and comment approval workflow, Captcha to eliminate robot-generated comments, Keyword and calendar views, and Viewlets for displaying blog content on other SiteExecutive pages or templates. Enhancement Pack 4 includes a built-in Spam reduction feature which automatically recognizes and rejects robot-generated submissions, saving site owners from the time-wasting task of sorting through junk form submissions. http://www.systemsalliance.com

A team of Ruby developers announced the open beta launch of Viviti, a new, hosted web site building tool and content management system for all levels of users. Viviti allows anyone to build websites complete with maintenance and a user friendly, feature rich set-up, all "in a matter of minutes". Viviti currently supports the ability to create a great web site, complete with a blog, photo gallery, customizable content, and a professionally designed template. Viviti allows people to edit their web site directly through a browser by clicking, editing, dragging, and adding content precisely where they want it, much like desktop-based WYSIWYG applications. http://viviti.com/

Percussion Software announced the continuation of a strategy to expand the number of European Union Percussion Partners. Percussion continues to provide Technical Services and Professional Services from its London office. http://www.percussion.com

Day Software (SWX:DAYN)(OTCQX:DYIHY) announced the completion of the sale of MarketingNet Ltd, a UK company active in the agency services business, to WAA Ltd, also a UK company. This sale marks the completion of Day's efforts to refocus its UK operations on its core business and drive UK expansion through a channel-driven model. Day Software acquired MarketingNet Ltd in October 2000. All existing customers of MarketingNet Ltd will stay with MarketingNet Ltd, which will be owned by WAA Ltd. As a result of the sale completion, Day are anticipating non-cash charges in its 31st December 2008 results relating to Goodwill as well as cash charges relating to discontinuing operations such as leases, staff costs, and legal costs. Day Software's core operations in the UK carried out by Day Software Ltd are not affected by this announcement. http://www.day.com