Multi-Media Publishing Systems Shown At Nexpo

By: Meg Campbell Publishing-systems vendors have come to Nexpo in Orlando, Fla., with cautious optimism this year -- not expecting throngs of visitors but hoping for serious shoppers motivated by recent sales of cross-media solutions. Cross-media (or even media-neutral), these systems have continued to evolve over the past year, and suppliers are eager to show off new products, share company news, dish about recently signed high-profile contracts, and debate the health of vendors in what has been a tough year.

As cross-media systems develop, vendors search for ways to distinguish their products from those of competitors. Some promote elegant, seamless pathways to the Web and wireless devices; others stress tools available to reporters and editors. Some seduce with low costs; others offer a chance for greater revenue. Some are willing to shoulder technology burdens and offer turnkey services; others are eager to hunker down in client information-technology departments and brainstorm solutions yet to come.

The wide variety of approaches reflects the many questions dogging cross-media operations.

For example, newspapers still debate whether to maintain separate Web and print operations or to create converged newsrooms. They struggle with technology decisions, such as whether client-server systems, browser-based systems, or distributed, component-based architectures are best. They weigh the advantages of hosting their own Web sites against contracting for such services.

The decisions are difficult for executives looking to protect their 20th-century investments while gearing up for a 21st-century publishing environment.

Two papers -- the Financial Times, based in London, and the South China Morning Post, headquartered in Hong Kong -- have come to some conclusions regarding such issues, and have charted their cross-media courses, each for a second time. The industry will be watching closely. Both had been sites for Atex Media Solutions Inc.'s ambitious but abandoned Omnex project. A cross-media platform that was years ahead of its time, it ultimately fell well behind the progress expected by developers, investors, and beta sites.

This time, the papers are moving in two different directions, once again reflecting the different trails to cross-media that are being blazed. While the SCMP goes with established giant CCI Europe, the FT has chosen industry newcomer EidosMedia, the Italian developer that only this month released its product line for print.

In this issue, E&P takes a look at how veteran vendors are tackling cross-media. These companies, some more robust than others, all have new products and upgrades, as they compete to hang on to their installed base and court new customers. In our next issue (available online July 2), E&P will examine the lesser-known companies. Some are new; others have a greater presence overseas.

To see this week's complete report, click here.