OpenMLS - Announcements

Please read the following press release about our new CEO, Lynn Hogan.

Terms of Usage Posted

We have added a Terms of Use page located at http://www.openmls.org/termsofuse/index.html

MLSML.org Launched

MLSML is a self-describing markup language for real estate properties. This project and site is donated by OpenMLS to everyone. To learn more, please visit www.mlsml.org.

New Web Services Page Added

We've added a new page about our upcoming web services.

OpenMLS Price Adjustment

We've adjusted our prices:

OpenMLS Launches Online Reviews Service

Please read the following press release:

http://www.openmls.org/pressreleases/2004/04/040405_onlinereviews.html

OpenMLS Back Up Online

All of our sites are back up and fully functional thanks to Dan "the Man" at Aoindustries.

OpenMLS Down for Upgrades

We currently down for software upgrades. We hope to be back up and running by this evening.

OpenMLS adds message board and forums

As of yesterday, we have added a message board complete with forums, avatars and a forums search.

To learn more, please visit forums.openmls.org

OpenMLS joins IBM's PartnerWorld for Developers

We've just received confirmation that we have been accepted into IBM's PartnerWorld for Developers.

To learn more, visit the home page for IBM's Partnerworld for Developers.

Grand Opening of Visitors Center

Today, we broke digital ground on our newly built Vistors Information Center.

Here you'll find how to get started using OpenMLS, posting listings, and communicating with other community members.

Founder's photo added to site

Ever wonder who's behind the OpenMLS curtain? Well here's my pix.

Meetup.com locations added to site

We will add Meetup.com city/country locations on our state pages.

Meetup.com helps people meet with other local Real Estate individials. Get together and discuss buying, selling, and other topics.

Ex. Colorado Meetup meetings

Free want ad service coming soon

In the coming days, OpenMLS will offer a free want ad service for residential properties. Buyers, professionals, businesses, and the government needing properties will be able to post their contact information, desired property location, and description of the needed property for no fee..

This new service will not affect posting fees for residential listings for sale.

Listing service posts 100th listing

Today, OpenMLS officially posted its 100th listing online since its launch on Labor Day in 2002. Our new goal is to reach 1000 listings by the end of 2004. Stay tuned!

Redesigned homepage to help users

You've probably noticed our new "redesigned" homepage. After extensive usability research, we've built a more content-rich page with the expected navigational links on the left-hand side. In addition, our keyword search box is now wide enough to enter and edit more than 5 words in a single search query. If you have comments about our new homepage please feel free to send us feedback on it.

MyOpenMLS Site Work Begins

As of yesterday, we began working on MyOpenMLS, a "portal" type site which will provide posting features such as an account sign in, adding listings, updating listings, renewing listings, and removing posted listings. An addtion, MyOpenMLS will be secured via digital certificate from Thawte. Also, we plan to add internationalizing (I18N) to MyOpenMLS to allow other posters' of countries to post properties in their locale's language.

Visitor Information Pages Completed

Our visitor information pages have been completed and are now live. The new pages cover specific information for buyers, owners, professionals, businesses, government, web developers and journalists.

Visitor Information Pages Underway

We're currently building a 'Visitor Information' area for buyers, owners, professionals businesses, government, developers, and journalists. To see an example, our buyers page has been completed just this past weekend.

As always, your comments and suggestions are welcomed.

OpenMLS launches Live Chat Help

OpenMLS now offers live online chat customer support during daily office hours.

You can use AOL, MSN, Yahoo, or ICQ (#240309582) to chat with us. Our screen name/username is OpenMLS for all, of course!

Please feel free to add us to your buddy list.

OpenMLS launches New Office Hours Added

Our new office hours are now published on our contact us page.

Our Office Hours are:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 10-4pm
Wednesday, Friday 10-2pm

OpenMLS Joins IBM's PartnerWorld for Software

We have recently joined with IBM's PartnerWorld for Software in an effort to research and develop new technologies for our community and the real estate sector.

To learn more, please visit IBM's PartnerWorld for Software.

Please contact us if you should have any questions regarding this new membership.

OpenMLS now accepting PayPal online payments

We are now accepting major credit cards via PayPal.

Our current posting fee for a 30 day listing is $29.99, 60 day listing is $49.99, and 90 day listing is $69.99.

Please contact us if you are having any problems with our new system or have any questions regarding our posting fees.

OpenMLS gets PayPal Verified

OpenMLS is now a PayPal Verified member.

To become Verified, a PayPal member must provide PayPal with proof that an organization has opened an account at a bank or other financial institution. Because these institutions are required by law to screen account holders, PayPal's verification process increases security when customers pay parties they do not know.

Please feel free to view our PayPal verification.

OpenMLS creates email address to derail spoofing

If you've received a spam message with the return address domain of "openmls.com", please forward this to us at spoof@openmls.org. I will then notify and forward it on to the Federal Trade Commisssion (FTC) for them to investigate.

Thank you for your continuing support.

OpenMLS joins PayPal's Business Program

Starting January 1, 2004, we will begin charging posting fees via PayPal. This system will allow us to accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.

To learn more about PayPal, please visit PayPal.com.

OpenMLS updates its privacy policy

I updated our privacy and P3P policies, respectively, since we added a new feedback form.

To read the web-based policy, please visit our privacy policy page.

Should you have any questions regarding our updated privacy policy, please feel free to contact us.

Spammer spoofing openmls.com domain

The last couple of days, I have been receiving "Bounced" email with the sender domain of openmls.com.

As everyone in our community knows, I only use the openmls.org domain to communicate. These suspect emails look like the work of a spammer spoofing the openmls.com domain.

I have contacted my isp admin and await word for his recommendations. I will post more as this unfolds.

OpenMLS begins charging fees in New Year

On Jan 1, 2004, OpenMLS will begin charging the following posting fees per listing:

If you have posted a listing before Jan 1, 2004 then your listing qualifies under our "Grandfather" clause and no fee is required. All listings posted before and on Dec 31, 2003 will of course be under this Grandfather clause. So, I highly recommend taking advantage of this if you would like advertise any new, removed, or expired listings before the new year.

The reasons for the new fees is to help cover the monthly hosting fee, the addition of new site features which will include a Truste Seal, Thawte Secured Site, Community Message Board, wireless keyword and basic search and much, much, more.

I am very excited about the future of OpenMLS and I wish to take this opportuniy to thank you for your support or our community in the past and into the future.

As always, please feel free to contact me with any comments regarding this announcement or any other thoughts you may have regarding OpenMLS.