Today the Google Analytics Blog announced the release of Urchin Analytics Software now available to the public. Urchin will initially be released in beta but once Urchin comes out of beta, you'll be able to purchase it for $2995 through the Urchin Software Authorized Consultants.



Google features the following upgrades from Urchin 5, among many others:

• Additional goals and funnel steps
• Cross-segmentation options that allow you to view metrics sliced into dimensions such as by referring source, keyword, country, city, browser type, and more.
• Improved user interface is presentation-ready Flash-based graphics instead of SVG
• More robust log processing engine
• E-commerce and campaign tracking are included, no more module additions
• Vastly improved embedded scheduler to more easily and smoothly arrange processing and re-processing jobs
• Numerous security enhancements including an updated Apache webserver
• Improved translation interfaces in all languages
• Configuration database now uses standard relational backend (including MySQL and PostgreSQL)
• Improvements to clustering capability

How is Urchin Software from Google different from Google Analytics?

There are many differences between the two products. Urchin Software from Google is an installable software product that requires server side configuration and log processing. Maintaining Urchin may require significant technical overhead since engineers will have to monitor log files, backup data and perform product upgrades. In contrast, Google Analytics requires little if any technical maintenance. It is a hosted, or on-demand, free ASP model which users access using their Google Account. While it is a major upgrade from Urchin 5, Urchin Software from Google does not have the ease-of-use or feature improvements of the new version of Google Analytics (released in May 2007). However, Urchin Software from Google does offer you a high level of control and customization since it is housed on your own server.

Labels: Google Analytics, urchin