Ceros builds on the work the group's e-publishing division Applecart has done with e-zines and e-catalogues.

"We've been evangelising the e-edition for three years, but it's only in the last year publishers have run with it," said Fresh Media Group marketing director Dominic Duffy. "We didn't understand the business issues of printed magazines, but we do now."

To address distribution and auditing reader response and use of the e-zines, Applecart teamed up with UK e-marketing specialist Adestra. The move allows publishers to use the controlled circulation model, including third-party accreditation by the BPA.

Initially targeted at B2B magazines, it can also be used for consumer magazines, catalogues and books.

An existing e-zine customer will begin side-by-side testing of Ceros with the existing system next week. 

Developed from the ground up based on client's wish lists, the system takes print-ready PDFs and "chews" them to create on online edition with the look of the print version that also allows full text searching.

A CMS allows publishers to control the appearance and features of the e-zine as well as the advertising.

Ceros was previewed this week at the Technology for Marketing Show.