Trellix to License Pyra Labs' Blogger Technology

Posted on April 18, 2001

Trellix Corp., a provider of website publishing software and hosting services, has announced the licensing of Pyra Labs' Blogger web logging technology. Through the agreement, Blogger technology will be integrated into Trellix's website publishing platform, which is used on websites such as About, CNET and Terra Lycos. Blogger co-creator Evan Williams will consult with Trellix to help with product integration and will serve on Trellix's advisory board. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

While the exact terms are not know, Pyra Labs and its Blogger service desperately needed the deal. In January, Blogger was seeking funds from its own website visitors to support the blogging tool before it was temporarily bailed out by Web Techniques magazine. Blogger is also not without competitors, which include Manila, Xanga, Live Journal, Squishdot, GrokSoup, online diary websites and content management software providers. Other Blogger clones are likely to emerge in the future, but Blogger has a nice head start with 150,000 registered users.

A web log, often known as a ``blog,'' is a website made up of short, frequent entries that are presented chronologically. Blogging has been fueled by students, families, newshounds and other web users who seek an outlet for their online diaries, passions and thoughts on a wide range of topics. Blogs typically consist of short or long comments with links to news articles, websites, press releases, discussions and even other blogs. The Blogger tools aim to make it easier for users to maintain a web log, by handling the tasks of posting, editing, formatting and archiving content.

Trellix's founder and Chief Technology Officer Dan Bricklin, says in a statement, "Blogger is a phenomenal tool that enables the passionate self-expression that has always been a part of our society. The web logging phenomenon reminds me of the pamphleteers who helped shape the American Revolution by engaging in passionate, public debate through their writings."