Ektron CMS400.NET Version 6.0 Adds More 'Must-Have' Web Capabilities; Ektron Integrates New Features for Directly Engaging and Interacting With Site Visitors Into All-in-One Web Content Management Application.

AMHERST, N.H. -- Ektron, Inc., a technology and market leader in web content management software, today announced the availability of Ektron CMS400.NET Version 6.0, its all-in-one application for creating, deploying and managing interactive web, intranet and extranet sites.

With new features, such as site analytics, blogging, forums, polls, surveys and content ratings, the company expands CMS400.NET with more out-of-the-box capabilities organizations must have to directly engage site visitors, collaborate on ideas and allow interaction among visitors.

"CMS400.NET Version 6.0 is a single application with all the cool web technologies companies want for their sites. Although there are plenty of third-party web applications available to enhance the visitor experience, integrating a myriad of these widgets into a website just isn't practical," said Bill Rogers, founder and chief executive officer, Ektron. "We've rolled that functionality into one integrated package and made it easy-to-use by minimizing the technology complexity to which users are exposed. That way, non-technical users can author and publish content in a familiar environment while webmasters, designers and developers can drag and drop pre-built controls that reduce coding."

Ektron CMS400.NET enables organizations to develop richer, more interactive sites and web applications that communicate better with visitors, foster community, boost loyalty and attract more repeat visits, which can lead to increased business opportunities. In CMS400.NET Version 6.0, Ektron brings together more functionality for companies to build and manage their online presence, including:

--Website analytics - Understand and optimize web, intranet and blog usage with built-in measurement, analysis and reporting

--Blogging - Automate and control the blog posting process, including RSS syndication, pinging and trackbacks. There is also support for structured blogging and microformats to easily syndicate content across many sites

--Forums - Create and manage discussion forums to encourage online community, provide customer service and increase communication between a site and its visitors or the visitors themselves. Site administrators can control look-and-feel, regulate access with registrations and review postings and responses

--Surveys, polls and content ratings - Gain feedback from site visitors with built-in surveys, quick polls and ratings that allow readers to evaluate and comment on content. Results can be displayed instantly

--AJAX-enhanced search - Improve visitors' search experience and help them find information quickly with AJAX-powered results

--Multimedia asset management - Manage multimedia assets, such as Flash(R), RealAudio(TM) and RealVideo(TM), Microsoft(R) Windows Media(R) and QuickTime(TM), track changes, reference and display files within website templates or content, and define and assign metadata to the multimedia files, optimizing them for search engines

--Multi-site management - Use one interface and one installation of CMS400.NET to manage multiple sites and subsites and share content, workflow and publishing rules where appropriate

In addition to performance and other enhancements, CMS400.NET Version 6.0 introduces document management support for OpenOffice.org, the multiplatform, multilingual open-source office suite, and Oracle(R) Database 10g for storing site data.

"In the past, we would have to look at either buying or building our own content management solution and integrating it into a project. We can now offer our clients a vast array of features for their websites that go far beyond being able to edit site content and structure, such as deploying a blog, survey or multi-language version of their sites quickly. Another added bonus is that all these features can be managed from one central location with the same workflow and approval capabilities in CMS400.NET," said James Davidson, interactive director, Versant, a marketing communications firm and an Ektron Gold Certified Partner.

Pricing and Availability

Ektron CMS400.NET Version 6.0 is available immediately. Pricing starts at $8,640 USD for a 10-user, one-URL license with one year of maintenance, which provides access to all product upgrades and Ektron support. For more information, to download a trial or to request a live demonstration, visit www.ektron.com/pr/cms400v6.

About Ektron

Ektron's web content management and authoring solutions are affordable for any organization and simple enough for anyone to use, yet offer webmasters, designers and developers all the tools they need to create, deploy and manage interactive web, extranet and intranet sites in one platform. With Ektron CMS400.NET, companies can do what they want on the Web, including developing rich sites for personal, two-way communication with visitors, building community with memberships, blogs and forums, and attracting more repeat visits using RSS feeds and web alerts to increase business opportunities. An open API allows for easy customization and extension. Ektron is headquartered in Amherst, N.H., and has more than 15,000 customer implementations worldwide, including Unilever, Intel and Pfizer. For more information, visit http://www.ektron.com.

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