We're pleased to announce the completion of the development release of OpenMission Community Server!

We have been operating for the past two years in alpha mode while a suitable platform was selected to give us the features and functionality desired for our missions platform.

The OpenMission Community Server is based on Telligent Systems Community Server platform. We have completed migration and testing of the OpenMission alpha blog content to the new Community Server 2007 platform.

The Community Server 2007 platform features an integrated application suite that offers functionality that would be difficult to build with multiple vendor platforms. This integrated system offers missions a number of benefits, namely the ability to turn on features as they are needed.

Many applications and platforms were considered and heavily scrutinized before deciding on a final platform. We evaluated many technologies, operating systems, and development platforms. The following list summarizes some of our key technology applications that were evaluated during our architecture review period:

• Roller Web Logger
• Community Server
• TypePad
• WordPress
• Blogger
• dasBlog
• Rainbow Portal
• Dot Net Nuke
• Mambo

...and many other platforms. Community Server from Telligent Systems was chosen for its outstanding architecture, features, capabilities, and performance.

And this technology is tried, true, and tested by some major players in the blogging and community industry. A few of the players and thier use of Community Server are summarized below:

	MSNBC Blog sites meet the demand of more than a billion page views a month with Telligent’s flexible and scalable Community Server platform. The MSNBC team chose Telligent’s Community Server™, a secure online collaboration application that uniquely provides integrated multi-user blogging, forums, file sharing, video-casting, podcasting and photo sharing.
	VISA's RWC Debate showcases the ability to integrate video and Flash with Community Server, while creating multiple customized "skins" to target specific markets. On behalf of Visa International, IMG Media was tasked with finding the best software solution for hosting a web community campaign for Visa to showcase their Rugby Legends ahead of Rugby World Cup 2007, and Telligent's Community Server platform provided the foundation upon which a fully customized product was created.
	The National Geographic team selected Community Server to power their community presence. The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest not-for-profit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 350 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other media properties.
	Community Server powers the Intel Software Network Support Forums which enables Intel to stay aware and address end-user concerns and issues as well as a means of self-help for the end-user. Site users can receive expert advice from subject matter experts from the developer community as well as Intel engineers. Community Server provides the framework and all the necessary tools to position a support community. This is a key element to maintaining customer satisfaction and long term retention.
	During football season the NFL offers a level of entertainment that few sports can replicate. Each game is an event and each team has a loyal following. With that in mind various NFL teams turn to Community Server to power their online interactions with their loyal fans. Teams such as the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans and New York Giants leverage the easy to use forums application of Community Server to allow fan collaboration around the world.

End to end migration and architecture is scheduled to be completed by mid 2007 with final publish on or before January 1, 2008. 

Check out our list of the OpenMission Technology Stack to see the core technologies used in creating the OpenMission platform.