ZetaBoards

ZetaBoards is a free forum software and website created by Zathyus Networks. According to its terms of service, ZetaBoards does not restrict forums based on the number of posts, topics, members or bandwidth usage, and does not delete forums for reasons of inactivity.
Background
ZetaBoards is similar in regards to forum software as InvisionFree, a modified version of Invision Power Board version 1.3 that has been and still is hosted and supported by Zathyus Networks. Zetaboards, however, was designed from scratch to suit a remote hosting environment. The software has been described by Brandon Kopetzky, the founder and leader of Zathyus Networks as this:
"ZetaBoards is a free message board host. We designed the ZetaBoards software from the ground up to address the needs of our users. In addition to an overall more intuitive feel, you’ll find very many features." Information regarding ZetaBoards was made public in March 2006.
Development
ZetaBoards had been in development for several years. It underwent a closed beta test in October 2006, using selected members and staff from the InvisionFree Support Forums. Then, on January 21, 2007, a temporary board for ZetaBoards was opened for public testing. Approximately two months after on March 3, 2007, people were able to register their own test boards. On November 27, 2007, the beta phase was completed and users became able to register the latest version of ZetaBoards on the website's registration page.
Features
ZetaBoards includes a variety of features, which include personal blogs (available to each member), the inlining of moderation, built-in support for multiple styles (called themes) and the addition of the jQuery Javascript framework.
Limitations and Criticism
Limitations of ZetaBoards include the lack of FTP access, editing restrictions and inability to access the MySQL database directly, as the software is remotely hosted. Also, e-mail notification of new topics, replies to existing topics and notification of new registrants is not part of the standard ZetaBoard package.
Google AdSense is present on almost all forums. Although being rather annoying to some users, the advertisements are what allows the majority of the website's services to be free. However, users are able to purchase ad removal for their forum.
Despite various bugs and glitches found in the original conversions of boards from InvisionFree to ZetaBoards, on January 20, 2010, it was announced that a "live" or automatic conversion system was available to the public. This update dealt with the many bugs of preceding conversions and reduced conversion times significantly, depending on said board's size.
Award
Despite of these limitations, Zetaboards won the best hosting forum service award of 2010 .

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