Trellix adds blogging to its Web tools

Software maker Trellix is adding a Web logging capability to its site-building tools.

Trellix, which sells software designed to simplify Web site development, is expected to announce Thursday that its tools now support the creation of Web logs, commonly known as "blogs."

The new "blogging" capability is aimed not only at consumers, but also small businesses that want to keep a dialogue with their customers or offer advice, such as tech support, according to Dan Bricklin, chief technology officer at Trellix and a blogger himself.

Blog authors typically post musings on various topics, chronicle their personal or professional lives, and provide links to other blogs and related articles. Blogs have become a popular phenomenon on the Web, with participants that include writers, artists, celebrities and members of the Web public.

"It's a market that's been huge for some time, and it's growing," Bricklin said. "There are people who want to read (blogs). And it's OK if only a few people are reading it. It's useful for public discourse. For small businesses, it's a great way to have a personal face to the public."

Later this month, Web news site MSNBC.com plans to introduce a Web logs section to take more editorial control over the opinionated ramblings of its former online discussion boards.

Concord, Mass.-based Trellix is a 7-year-old company that sells its Web publishing offerings to Internet service providers and other Web companies, which in turn offer Trellix's services to their customers. It licensed the blogging technology from Pyra Labs in 2001.