Adobe acquires Web platform builder

Adobe Systems has acquired Business Catalyst, which provides a platform for Web professionals to build online businesses, and its GoodBarry subsidiary, Adobe confirmed on Monday.

Business Catalyst offers an all-in-one Web site platform for Web professionals to build online businesses for clients at a fraction of the time and cost, without requiring any programming, Adobe said in a statement.

Business Catalyst's technology was built with Web designers in mind, the company said.

Business Catalyst “is a great complement to Adobe's existing tools and services for Web professionals, who are increasingly looking to hosted services to deliver Web sites and online businesses,” the company Web site states.

GoodBarry, meanwhile, features an integrated system for running Web sites and offers e-mail marketing. GoodBarry has been around since 2004.

“There are some changes we'll be making to GoodBarry in the coming months,” according to the GoodBarry site. “Most importantly, we'll be refocusing our marketing and sales efforts on the Web professional market (via businesscatalyst.com), as opposed to Web-savvy DIYers such as you. In other words, this means that eventually we will cease 'retail' operations and focus on our wholesale operations and we will only be selling subscriptions to our software via our partner and reseller network.”

The site also says GoodBarry soon will be only for Web designers. The GoodBarry brand will be shut down on Oct. 1.

“You'll be able to create free trials until 1st October 2009, and you'll be able to upgrade those sites until 1st of November 2009. After that date, no sites will be able to be upgraded via GoodBarry,” the site states.

The current Business Catalyst team is expected to remain largely intact at Adobe, Business Catalyst said. The company also expressed a continued commitment to partners and customers. Adobe did not provide information on the cost of the acquisition.