WebProNews

Six Apart, the creators of TypePad, have launched the TypePad Platform, a set of APIs that allow developers, bloggers, publishers, and corporations use the TypePad "cloud".

"The bottom line is this: cloud services are transforming how web sites and social applications are being built, and we want to help move this trend forward by opening up TypePad’s APIs," says Six Apart Chairman and CEO Chris Alden. "We hope to dramatically lower barriers for those trying to get started on a shoestring to build the next Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube."

Alden says for larger publishers and Internet businesses, they view the TypePad Platform as a new way to incorporate blogs and social networking into their sites. For personal bloggers and TypePad users, they say opening up their APIs means that TypePad will be built into applications that will help them and their readers by paving the way for more apps that enhance the TypePad functionality.

The company also launched the TypePad Developer Program, which gives developers a free beta version  of the TypePad API.

Finally, Six Apart has launched (and open sourced) TypePad Motion, a microblogging app that was evolved from Pownce. Alden says its "extremely easy" to build and customize because it's written in Python using the Django framework.

"A TypePad Motion site is a place where members come together to share notes, files, photos, videos and audio with others and featured users can aggregate all of their activity around the web onto the TypePad Motion site, keeping their fans or followers up-to-date on their activities," says Alden. "Several celebrities have integrated TypePad Motion sites into their branded websites, such as Zachary Quinto (Star Trek, Heroes) and Ryan Star."

Six Apart views these announcements as a new chapter for the company and for TypePad. More information on the APIs, the developer program, and TypePad Motion can be found here.