Automattic, the company behind the popular blogging software platform WordPress, acquired enhanced commenting system IntenseDebate today.  With this move, WordPress users will begin to see IntenseDebate's enhanced commenting features by default, such as threaded commenting.

WordPress has been in need of an update to its comment system for some time, as features like threading and the ability to rate comments were absent.  While larger sites such as Digg were able to build their own systems with such features included, most bloggers using platforms such as Wordpress were left out.  Fillling this void, companies such as Disqus and IntenseDebate flourished, creating plugins for users to install the code on their site and enjoy an enhanced commenting system.

Most notably, however, is the social aspect to IntenseDebate's platform that provides benefits to both the commentor and publisher.

Social Benefits of IntenseDebate & How It Works

Sure, threaded comments are great and make it easier to facilitate coherent discussion, but that's not why this announcement really matters. 

What really matters is that enhanced comment systems like Disqus and IntenseDebate were built with social aspects in mind.  Here's how it works:

• Users create one account with IntenseDebate, that can then be used across any blog using IntenseDebate for its comment system.  This benefits the user, since they no longer need to sign up at each blog individually to comment, or enter in any increasingly rediculous CAPTCHA codes to verify they are not a spammer (something as a Usability student that boils my blood).  This drastically reduces the user's barrier to entry when making a comment.
  
  
• Users are automatically logged in at any blog using IntenseDebate, and can easily leave a comment.  This comment is aggregated to their IntenseDebate profile, which then displays the users last 5 posts on any IntenseDebate enabled blogs, along with who they're following (similar to Twitter). 
  

Why You Should Really Care About IntenseDebate

The power of a socially enhanced commenting platform of IntenseDebate lies purely in how many sites actually implement it.  The more sites that adopt it, the more users are introduced to it, and sign up.  The more users there are, the greater pool of IntenseDebate commentors there are to benefit all publishers using IntenseDebate for their comments.  Now that IntenseDebate will be included in WordPress by default, the choice is clear.  Publishers no longer have to struggle to decide which platform to install.

I made the decision to adopt and support IntenseDebate for The Wiire's comment system back in November, 2007 after deeming its user interface better than the competition (a belief I still hold now).  The reason I'm such a big supporter of it, promoting it on my weekly podcast and getting sites like Kombo and AeroPause to adopt it is for two main reasons:

1. It's a great platform that will enhance the user's commenting experience 900% from what they're used to.
2. It has the potential to drive boatloads of traffic  to my site, as more users/sites adopt it.

And that, my friends, is why you should really care about IntenseDebate.