Ektron CMS400.NET Now Integrates Microsoft's Silverlight

By David Dahlquist | Published Jul 11, 2008

Ektron Inc., the New Hampshire-based Web Content Management powerhouse, and VML, a major digital marketing agency, have announced that they have integrated Ektron's CMS400.NET CMS and Microsoft's Silverlight media web browser plug-in.

Microsoft's Silverlight

Silverlight is Microsoft's cross-platform, cross-browser media plug-in that provides support for rich internet applications like animation, vector graphics and audio-video playback. It's Microsoft's attempt to break into the media content creation market that has been so good to Adobe Flash, Shockwave, JavaFX and Apple QuickTime. Silverlight is now in beta version 2.0,and supports .NET languages and development tools.

VML's Interactive Experience Expertise

Having produced a number of public Silverlight-based apps for Microsoft, including the first all Silverlight site — HelloSecureWorld — VML is in a good position to develop for this platform. Founded in 1992, VML is a full-service digital agency that conceives and executes best-in-class interactive experiences for industry-leading brands. It's ranked by Advertising Age as one of the Top 20 Interactive Marketing Agencies in the U.S. Their roster of clients includes adidas, AMC Theatres, Burger King and Ford.

According to Todd Kirtley, VML’s CTO, employing Silverlight technology is only the beginning. “Even a site with the best user experience is limited if it can’t be easily updated and maintained. New integration technology pioneered between Ektron and VML provides clients the best of both worlds, delivering top flight interactive user experiences through Silverlight with all of the flexibility, control and benefits provided through the premier content management system available today.”

Ektron's CMS400.NET framework

VML relied on partner Ektron to provide a framework for achieving this solution. Ektron was recently listed by Gartner's MarketScope for Web Content Management as one of the strongest vendors in the marketplace today, so they were an easy choice for VML.

Ektron CMS400.NET lets organizations rapidly create, deploy and manage the content on their sites with efficiency and ease. Ektron CMS400.NET features powerful taxonomy, an open API, interactive RIAs and advanced XML Smart Form technology, which allows it to serve as a foundation for organizations developing their Web sites.

One of Ektron CMS400.NET's main appeals is in its ease of use. Non-technical business users can manage their Web site's content and messaging through an intuitive user interface.

The integration is designed to support both Silverlight 1.0 and the current 2.0 beta, so the solution will have current and long term benefits as well. VML currently has a 15-member team of Silverlight developers and designers supporting the technology, while Ektron has 35 engineers dedicated to Microsoft Technology and the Silverlight Partner Initiative program.