Movable Type 3.1 Launched

I'm very happy to announce that this afternoon we released Movable Type 3.1.

What you're seeing with Movable Type 3.1 is a free update that comes a little over three months from our last release. When we made our licensing and pricing changes one of the things we didn't articulate clearly enough was that it takes revenue to keep a product line going. And, with the new pricing we have been able to spend a great deal of attention focusing on the features we've heard our users asking for in our products.

Sure, some Movable Type users migrated to other tools. And, of course, it is sad to see them leave. However, we feel strongly that the Movable Type community (and Six Apart as a company) has only become stronger since these changes. And if those who migrated do want to come back, we always have that import button. That freedom is why we have also had export since almost day one.

Additionally, we're happy because we're finally able to compensate the talent who have been part of the community for so long. We're hiring major Movable Type developers - see my post about Six Apart hiring Brad Choate and using other prominent developers as remote contractors.

Finally, we're devoting employee number three, Anil Dash, to the Six Apart Professional Network. Anil, in his new role as VP of the Professional Network will work to make available the sort of benefits needed to enrich the platform and our weblogging ecosystem. There are a number of benefits starting today, including a revamped Movable Type plugin directory, a members-only mailing list monitored by our team here at Six Apart, and a new site featuring links and updates on what's going on in our community. More benefits of membership can be found on the Six Apart Professional Network site.

If you're interested in making money with weblogs, making cool tools, or just making your work with weblogs easier, the Professional Network is designed for you. So, if you're interested in joining the network (it's free), be sure to visit http://sixapart.com/pronet/ for more information.

And for those who are rolling their eyes at the name - the Six Apart Professional Network - you can always call it by the name I've dubbed it: The Six A-Partners.

I hope that we'll see some great sites blossom from the capabilities of the new features. And, I'm sure that developers and professionals will be happy to have an outlet. The Professional Network is still in its early stages and will only improve with time. We would love to hear what you would like to see as part of the program.

To learn more about Movable Type 3.1, please check out this post on Six Log.