Discovering WordPress VIP Services

The company behind the WordPress.com service, Automattic, is owned and operated by WordPress cofounder, Matt Mullenweg. Although Automattic doesn't own the WordPress.org software (as an open source platform, WordPress.org is owned by the community and hundreds of developers that contribute to the core code), Automattic is a driving force behind all things WordPress.

Have a look at the Automattic Web site at http://automattic.com (shown in Figure 5-5). The folks behind WordPress own and operate a number of different properties and services, including

• WordPress.com (http://WordPress.com): A hosted WordPress blogging service, discussed previously in this chapter.
• PollDaddy (http://polldaddy.com): A polling and survey software that easily plugs into the WordPress platform.
• VaultPress (http://vaultpress.com): Premium backup and restore service for your blog.
• Akismet (http://akismet.com): Spam protection for your blog (discussed in Book III, Chapter 5).
• VideoPress (http://videopress.com): Video hosting and sharing application for WordPress.
• IntenseDebate (http://intensedebate.com): An integrated commenting system for your WordPress blog.
• Gravatar (http://gravatar.com): Photos or graphical icons for comment authors (discussed in Book III, Chapter 3).
• Plinky (http://plinky.com): Even great authors get writer's block from time to time; Plinky gives a daily source of inspiration.
• VIP (http://vip.WordPress.com): Enterprise level Web hosting and WordPress support starting at $15,000 per year (usually reserved for heavy hitters, such as CNN, BBC, and Time, for example).
• P2 (http://p2theme.com): A unique, free WordPress theme with such features as in-line comments, real-time updates, and a posting form right on the home page so users don't ever touch the Dashboard.
• After the Deadline (http://afterthedeadline.com): A fancy and useful spelling and grammar checker for WordPress with such features as contextual spell checking, advanced style checking, and intelligent grammar checking.

Figure 5-5: The Automattic Web site.