UK news service for mortals

A British Internet service is lowering the bar to enable mere mortals to create Web site news feeds within minutes. The new service at http://www.metacentric.net/ creates a news feed from most standard HTML Web pages, and is mercifully free from baffling technical jargon.

News feed technology has been adopted by commercial Internet services like Amazon and PC World, and traditional news publishers like the BBC and Reuters. Feed readers are built in to many Web browsers and email programs, including the next version of Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Metacentric managing director Philip Shaw said: "News feeds are about to move into the mainstream and Web site owners need an easy way to make that transition." He believes that there are many Web site owners who appreciate the benefits of a news feed but find it difficult to introduce new technology.

Metacentric has researched the adoption of news feeds by government Web sites and found the success stories were usually the same. Philip Shaw said: "In every case the 'shoot first, answer questions later' approach was the key." He said: "It is far easier to show the benefits of a news feed than a thousand words could say, and that's what Metacentric enables Web managers to do."

The Metacentric service does not require any software, scripts or databases to be installed on the source Web sites, so it can be set up within minutes. Service charges are based on level of use and invoiced 30 days in arrears, so customers can discover the benefits of a Web feed without major investment.

Philip Shaw said: "We have gone to great lengths to make our news feed service easy to use and keep jargon to a minimum. The time is right for a service that simply eliminates the technical barriers to news feed adoption."

Internet news feed readers check news feeds while you are looking at other Web sites or reading your email and alert you to new items. News feeds use a plain text format, so cannot carry the viruses and worms that have made people so suspicious of email notification. Each news item includes summary text and a link back to the Web site to read the "full story".

Philip Shaw said: "News feeds protect your privacy and security because they use the Web, not email."

Notes for editors

Metacentric Internet Limited is a British company based in Norwich, England. A media kit with high resolution graphics, illustrations, screen shots and further background information is available at http://www.metacentric.net/about/MediaKit.jsp

News feed technology has been adopted by commercial Internet services like Amazon and PC World, and traditional news publishers like the BBC and Reuters. Feed readers are built in to many Web browsers and email programs, including the forthcoming version of Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Feed readers check news feeds while you are looking at other Web sites or reading your email and alert you to new items. News feeds use a plain text format, so cannot carry the viruses and worms that have made people so suspicious of email notification. Each news item includes summary text and a link back to the Web site to read the "full story".

Please contact Philip Shaw for further questions and quotes on 01603 506486 (UK) or +44 1603 506486 (International). Email philip.shaw@metacentric.net