I noticed that link as well. What are your plans for this site Annette? Is it like the other host search sites or what?

Best regards,
Frank Rietta

Hi Annette

I noticed on one of the threads that you are going to host a BB @ hostcoalition.org

Webhosts unite, eh? :D
Do you have an ETP for this new site?

It's an idea I've been kicking around for a couple of months now, and one that I've discussed with a couple of people in the past month or so. Still coming together, really, but what I had envisioned was a place for hosts to discuss issues directly related to the particular business that we're in.

I wanted to differentiate from places like WHG, which I think has a decided slant toward the huge companies, and quite frankly, whom I think don't put into practice what their mission statement says. If you've read the things that I've posted in various places, you'll know that I have very high standards for myself and our company - and that I think it is not unrealistic for clients to expect those same high standards from their hosts, no matter who those hosts might be.

It would be different from fora like this and others, in that the bulk of the info would be directed at hosts, not at end users. I haven't entirely ruled out a section of the site for users, since I know how valuable any type of hosting information can be, having suffered through a horrendous experience with True Hosting myself. But the primary focus would be for helping hosts deliver the type of service that clients should expect as a matter of course, and not as the exception. There will be forums there, as Hosting Matters has purchased a license for vBulletin. I'd like to have, in addition to other categories, of course, one devoted to the technical issues that arise for various providers: Alabanza, naturally would be one, and I'm open to suggestions for others. The forum, I think, should be restricted to hosts only, or at least have only one or two cateogories available for general viewing, so that users who may wander in can understand what's going on. I'm of the opinion that a site of that nature would be a nice complement to sites like this one.

Anyone with ideas about what they'd like to see on such a site can send some mail to forumideas@hostcoalition.org.

There will be no advertising. No fees. No banners. Space and bandwidth will be provided by us. I'm hopeful that it will turn into a useful resource.

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Annette
Hosting Matters, Inc.
http://www.hostmatters.com

The WHG was started by Jonathan Caputo, the same individual who founded the Ultimate WebHost List. Remember that site -- the one purchased by c|net? They were the ones recommending ***** in their "top 5" for so long. Caputo continued to pick all the recommended hosts after c|net purchased the site. That site disappeared from c|net shortly after the ***** melt-down, I assume because of complaints from irate ***** customers asking how they could have rated such a poor host so highly for so long.

I personally complained to Caputo about *****'s practices well in advance of the melt-down, quoting from several webmaster's e-mails to me all describing the same billing "irregularities," and was ignored.

Beware of anything Jonathan Caputo is involved with. Money, not the truth, is his goal.

Sounds like Annette wants to do a hontest fourms that leads customers to the weh hosting company that what they are trying to looking for rather than thoses unhontest, lies host like hostindex, hostsearch? Am I correct? if that so, thats great.

Not precisely, no. I think there are enough of those types of sites out there (and I really don't want to get into the review business). I picture it more as an information exchange area for hosts, with limited additional information available for users, such as a listing of hosts represented at the site and perhaps some contact information for those hosts. Plan comparisons and reviews are done elsewhere, and there are a lot of them, so I have no desire to duplicate those efforts.

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Annette
Hosting Matters, Inc.
http://www.hostmatters.com

Very cool Anette, best of luck to you and keep the good work. Once its all done, I will be glad to take a visit of the site :)