Near-Time Updates Platform

-- Publishers Weekly, 3/10/2008 7:13:00 AM

Near-Time, a North Carolina technology developer offering a wiki-based software that lets publishers release content in multiple digital formats, has updated the platform’s functionality to include mobile devices and other Web applications like widgets. The updated software offers an e-mail digest of message board topics, widgets, podcasts and an enhanced advertising capability.

Near-Time software allows publishers to take book content—either new titles or backlist—and publish it online in the form of Web sites, blogs and online communities or even video content. While the software is hosted by Near-Time, publishers control public access and can offer it for free, as a subscription service or use it to sell physical books. Publishers can post books online to get feedback before they’re published or create new revenue streams with online advertising. Publishers such as John Wiley and O’Reilly are clients.

Near-Time CEO Reid Conrad, said the update, “leverages Web standards to extend the reach of the interactive web. Near-Time expands Web collaboration and publishing to any Internet device, regardless of platform.”