Message Board Software vs Message Board Hosting

Message Board Sofware defined: a software program/package that you download/purchase, install, host, and manage on an internet server. The software give you and your users internet message board capability.

Message Board Hosting defined: a service provided by a third party that gives you and your users internet message board capability. There is no software to download, install, maintain, or host. The software and hosting capability is done for you.

Message Board Formats There are 3 basic display formats a message board will use: Non-Threaded, Semi-Threaded, or Fully-Threaded Either method usually provides all 3 formats, although in some cases, changing your board configuration from one format to another may be easier using a remotely hosted solution. Message Board Capabilities There can be over 100 different options/capabilities a message board can provide, i.e., integrated chat rooms, listserv features, RSS feeds, etc.. You'll find a complete spectrum of capabilities, as well as a lack of significant capabilities using either method. If you do enough research, you should be able to find a software package or a remotely hosted solution, that will be able to satisfy your requirements. Although, if you have an unusual situation or requirement requiring custom programming, you may find the remotely hosted solution a better fit because of the availabilty of immediate technical help. Cost There are many message board hosting services, and message board software packages available. Using either method, you'll find both can be acquired for free, or for a fee. You usually incur some type of advertising obligation using the free option. Usually, having a company remotely host your board is less expensive, than having to provide the hardware, software, and associated service provider fees, especially if you are considering a dedicated server to host your board. Unless your board membership is very large, i.e., several thousand, it's unlikely you would need a dedicated server. Technical Expertise. Downloading, installing, and maintaining your own message board software, definitely requires more technical expertise than a remotely hosted message board. Hardware requirements A remotely hosted message board will not require you to purchase any additional hardware or software. All hardware, software, backup, ip connections are provided by the message board hosting provider. Using a message board software package will not require any hardware purchase on your part either, if you have an internet hosting provider that will allow you to install your message board software on their server... otherwise you'll need to provide an intenet connection and a server to run your software on. Summary In most cases, I recommend a remotely hosted message board solution. You may want to consider the purchase of a message board software package if you are software knowledgeable, have your own programming staff, or need to exercise physical security of the operating hardware/software.

Other Message Board / Forum Solutions

Following are some additional message board information sources and providers, including our message board hosting service(BulletinBoards.com): BulletinBoards.com Ubbcentral.com ThinkOfIt.com Activedataonline.com Bbv2.com Searching for other Message Board Providers Finding a list of alternative Message Board / Forum providers is easily done using a search engine such as Google or Yahoo, and searching with keywords such as: bulletin boards, bulletin board software, message boards, message board software, message board forums, message board hosting, bulletin board hosting, etc. Blog Alternative Another option you may want to consider, is creating a Blog vs a Message Board. The main difference between a Blog and a Message Board, is that a Blog is usually structured so only one individual post message topics, while anyone can view... whereas, with a message board, anyone can post as well as view. Some Blogs will be configured to allow users to post replies to message topics/comments started by the Blog owner. Our message boards can be configured to operate in either manner.