Drew Douglas or Lisa WahrmundCorporate Technology Communications(312) 832-9300ddouglas@ctcomm.comlwahrmund@ctcomm.com
New Features Designed to Enhance Peer-to-Peer Interaction;
Online Press Room Established to Assist Media in their Coverage of the IT Industry
 

LOUISVILLE, Ky., August 15, 2000—TechRepublic (www.techrepublic.com), the leading online destination developed exclusively for IT professionals by IT professionals, today announced the expansion of its award-winning Web site, improving the site in both functionality and design.

“We created TechRepublic to meet the needs of IT professionals who wanted to connect with their peers and have access to the type of in-depth content, tools, services, and online marketplace that will empower them in their careers,” said Tom Cottingham, founder and CEO of TechRepublic. “When we asked our members how we could build upon our site, they indicated a desire to more easily engage with their peers to discuss IT issues and challenges they face in the workplace. This new version strengthens the community aspects of our site by giving our members unparalleled opportunities to interact with one another.”

The overall look and feel of the site has undergone its most extensive update since the site was launched a year and a half ago. The new design and layout of TechRepublic.com are much cleaner. This version of the site provides TechRepublic’s members easier access to the information they need most. The changes also provide the technology platform for the site’s future growth and expansion into new products, e-commerce marketplace, services, and other functional areas.

The most notable enhancements to the site include in-depth member profiles designed to highlight the real-world successes and challenges of today’s IT professionals. The member profiles are featured on the site’s home page and on each of the six Republics, which represent the various levels of the IT profession. These profiles allow members to better connect with their peers so they can learn about and discuss IT-related issues of mutual concern. Updates to the TechRepublic peer directory, which includes more detailed information on members’ specific IT interests and experience, are intended to make the peer directory the cornerstone of the TechRepublic.com community.

Threaded discussions have been added to the site’s new discussion center and throughout the site as another feature to encourage TechRepublic members to communicate with one another on topics of interest or concern. Members can begin or join conversations accompanying any article, as well as subscribe to e-mail alerts informing them that a discussion regarding one of their interests has begun.

Other improvements include streamlining and updating the technical Q&A section of the site to enable members to communicate more freely to find answers to their hard-to-solve IT situations. Many of the overall site enhancements also have been incorporated into TechProGuild, TechRepublic’s in-depth subscription site.

As part of the new version, TechRepublic launched an online press room (www.techrepublic.com/pressroom), an interactive resource that provides the media and analysts with access to a wealth of news and information on IT. The online press room is designed to be both a source of corporate information and an indispensable research tool for the media to find technical information, particularly through the Ask An Expert feature. This feature provides direct access to TechRepublic’s more than 250 contributing authors, editors, and IT industry experts that can speak to a wide variety of topics affecting IT and the Internet. Other press room features include the TechRepublic press kit, a media library, a listing of upcoming IT events, and access to TechRepublic white papers.

Cottingham added, “In an industry that is as fast moving as IT, we wanted to assist the media and analysts in easily obtaining news and information that will help them cover our space. The new TechRepublic online press room has been designed to be the one-stop resource for all their IT information needs.”

About TechRepublic
TechRepublic is the leading online destination developed exclusively for IT professionals by IT professionals. TechRepublic was acquired by Gartner Group, Inc. (NYSE: IT and ITB) in March 2000. With the Gartner relationship, TechRepublic provides its members the largest and most comprehensive source of IT community, content, and research available anywhere. Services include IT industry news, analysis, columns, articles, downloads, career-management tips, forums, job directory, peer directory, vendor directory, auctions, e-commerce offerings, event listings, and electronic newsletters.

Content on TechRepublic.com is categorized by IT job segments. CIO Republic provides analysis and insight for an organization’s CIO, CTO, and other IT executives; IT Consultant Republic features content specifically tailored to today’s IT consultant; IT Manager Republic provides information and resources for IT managers; IT Support Republic’s solutions assist help desk professionals; IT Trainer Republic prepares IT trainers with a wealth of resources and advice; and NetAdmin Republic features content written specifically for network administrators.