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International: Open Source CMS in Thailand

Reflections on the Thai Joomla! community

Written by Akarawuth Tamrareang

There are many factors contributing to the popularity in Open Source CMS in Thai users community. For instance, they do not have to pay license fee, and feel assurance due to worldwide developers, including being easy to use since they do not have to do any programming. However the most important of all is its “interface in Thai language” that makes Thai users choose specific Open Source CMS. In Thailand, most of the web sites are in Thai, and most of the end users do not familiar with interface in other languages.

Various Thai users groups could be categorized as follows:

1. Non-technical user group: They do not directly study IT but they are capable of developing content, for example, those in marketing or public relations.
2. Graphic Design user group, non-programming users: They’ll learn how to use the CMS and create new templates.
3. Developer group or Web site developing companies: This group will study and have in-depth understanding of an Open Source CMS. They can develop Web sites, as required.

From the above three groups, the number of users in the first one is the biggest. Most of the CMS users are non–technical therefore it is not surprising that the Thai interface of CMS is a key factor for them to make decision in choosing the Open Source CMS.

During the first phase of Open Source CMS, there was no Thai interface provided yet. However, its flexibility made Open Source CMS in wider users and making them come together as Open Source CMS users in Thailand. In 2003, the web site mambohub.com was initiated as a center for communication among mambo’s users.

Thanks to mambohub.com, more and more users in Thailand were aware of Open Source CMS very widely. The web site was not only for communicating and sharing ideas and information, but it was also sources of relevant information and it was the place where users looked for help on Open Source CMS in Thailand. Later on, the web site joomlacorner.com was also initiated for Joomla! users group in Thailand.

Not only providing information, guidelines and knowledge through the web site, Thai users also participate in developing various modules and components for further distribution. Another area that encourages new users is related to training sessions organized for the largest group of non-technical users.

Currently, mambohub.com and joomlacorner.com are acknowledged as the pioneer of Open Source CMS in Thailand.

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