playful and delicious

• JS-Kit extends its reach to 900,000 registered publishers by partnering with AOL/Userplane
• First widget to be distributed via Userplane channels is the JS-Kit Rating Service
• In economically challenging times with shrinking IT budgets, publishers can continue to lean on JS-Kit to expand their user experience at little cost
• This is the latest in an ongoing set of announcements from JS-Kit to ensure that publishers have a stable and sustainable partner for now and into the future. (Previous announcements include HaloScan Acquisition, Partnerships with Evite, JetBlue, Experian, WorldNow, InfoWorld & $3.6m Series B Funding)

Today we're excited to announce a partnership with AOL's Userplane division. This partnership sees the two companies achieve a combined reach of over 900,000 registered publishers.

Userplane is the world's premier social software provider for online communities and one of the largest global social media ad networks. It will offer JS-Kit's Ratings service through Userplane's distribution channels. JS-Kit will add Userplane's Webchat application to its product suite.

As Sam Wick, the GM of Userplane and a VP at AOL said in the press release:

"Both Userplane and JS-Kit bring interaction to websites and, incredibly, our product offerings are 100% complementary."

Here's another piece of the Press Release with my comments:

"As IT budgets tighten in 2009, web publishers will be able to turn to our low cost, yet feature rich product suite, to achieve their objectives," said Khris Loux, Chief Executive Officer, JS-Kit. "With this collaboration, publishers will also benefit by working with companies they know will be around. They can enjoy one-stop shopping with either of us, and they'll get familiar with how our technologies work and can leverage that experience with any of our apps. It's a great solution for everyone."

In the economic downturn, companies are being forced to pare down, re-focus or opt out of their startups. The result is new types of opportunities and risks for both startups and the companies that partner with them.

This is the latest in an ongoing set of announcements from JS-Kit to ensure that publishers have a stable and sustainable partner for now and into the future. (Previous announcements include HaloScan Acquisition, Partnerships with Evite, JetBlue, Experian, WorldNow, InfoWorld & $3.6m Series B Funding)

Ultimately though, this is a win for both Userplane and JS-Kit's customers and users. Rather than compete, the two companies will now be able to leverage each other's product suite and remain focused on improving their core offerings and developing new features and delivering products.

The money side of the deal is pretty straight forward. Ads from Userplane's social media ad network will flow through the Minichat product, providing monetization for both companies on any ads distributed through their use of the apps.

Khris Loux
CEO, JS-Kit