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Cloudflare buys Eager to build an app store for websites
Cloudflare Inc.’s strategic ambitions extend far beyond the domain name system hosting space where it has built its reputation.
The provider also offers several tools designed to improve the security and usability of web services, a lineup that is poised to receive a major boost in the wake of its move today to acquire Eager Platform Co. Founded by HubSpot Inc. veterans Zack Bloom and Adam Schwartz in 2014, the startup has created a platform that enables users to download extensions for their websites without writing any code.
That’s similar to what Automattic Inc. offers with the WordPress Plugin Directory. But whereas the extensions in the firm’s marketplace are only compatible with its own content management system, Eager also facilitates integration with other platforms, including the custom publishing tools that power many corporate sites. Workers can use plugins from startup’s store to quickly add advanced features such as embedded maps without having to seek the help of the IT department.
A salesperson, for instance, could download a slideshow app from Eager and craft a custom landing page for an important lead. Website administrators have access to various automation tools such as the Elevio customer care tool that are designed to streamline various backend operations. The startup claims that its catalog features more than 100 plugins in total.
In a notice posted on its site following today’s acquisition, Eager started that the standalone version of the service will shut down in February. The startup’s founders will join Cloudflare and help its engineering team develop “an even more powerful incarnation” that is set to become available next April at no charge.
The platform will replace the DNS provider’s existing extension catalog, which was launched all the way back in 2011 but has gained little traction since due to a limited plugin selection. Cloudflare presumably hopes that the acquisition of Eager will help set it apart from the numerous other providers that compete in the cutthroat website optimization market.
Image via Pixabay
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