The AdvertPro plugin is still being tested :) I don't know what the planned release date is.
But I just got to see AdvertPro 3.5 (I had been working with 3.3 sites) and the 3.5 version is really, really slick.
Advertpro and Adcycle are in different classes. AdvertPro is overkill for a single site, getting low to medium traffic. Adcycle probably is not enough for the larger site network, needing fine tuning and higher end serving.
Also, AdvertPro is moving to a java-based server package in the next year, which means higher ad serving potential, but also some back-end server issues you'll have to work out. Check their site.
I don't think either program is "better" for every situation. Look at your needs, and your _PLANS_ and decide.
I guess if I had to come up with a way of recommending one program or another, I would say AdvertPro is designed for "growth" in a network. If you have big plans, and really expect to grow your site, maybe add sites, and create a very large or medium to large enterprise, go with AdvertPro. If you are planning to run a small to medium site (which most links sites are), target a niche community so content (not size over all) is the key, AdCycle might be a better choice.
It's really hard to try to explain the differences, but AdvertPro has bigger plans, and is designed for a general banner/ad serving function across sites, across areas, and with an eye to growth in banner/ad serving. It's a program/entity in and of itself. It has it's own suite of plug-ins to add functionality and features.
AdCycle is not quite a stand-alone entity. It will work with you to develop your site, and probably could be customized and integrated into a specialty use more easily (this is a guess, not for certain).
AdvertPro is more all-encompassing, while AdCycle is more single-minded.
Determine your needs, then evaluate which program will do best for you.
I really don't think AdvertPro is the answer for everyone. It might be bigger, better and "badder" but it's also probably extreme overkill for probably 50% of the Links sites, and over kill for another 25% of them. Especially with their move to Java, it might mean running two servers, or licensing an ad server to run the code. While this has _REAL_ benefits and I'll probably be ready to use it by the time the code is released, many (most?) of the sites I've been asked to look at in the past would be fine, and possibly even better off, running AdCycle.
With these two choices, GT has made available the two best options for all their site customers. It's up to you to decide which is the better option -- FOR YOUR NEEDS.
AdvertPro is impressive, but so is the price :) AdCycle is good, and the price is much more right for most people. Both programs do what they say, and what needs to be done. It comes down to YOUR needs, and plans, as to which is the better choice.
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