Wordpress hosting
WordPress is a web software that can be effectively used for powering websites as also for creating blogs. WordPress is a software that 
comes for free and its features make it priceless. The numerous plugins and the themes that are available help in transforming and customizing the site the way the one wants. WordPress was started in the year 2003 with negligible amounts of users with single bit of code for improving the typography of writing. Since 2003 it has grown and is one of the biggest blogging tool already having users to the tune of almost 25 million who are happily using this software to create their websites and blogs.
WordPress has been created by a huge community of volunteers so there is a scope for innovation. Everything right from the documentation to the code has been created by the people and for the people. It is an Open Source software giving access to thousands of people all over the world. Anyone from anywhere is free to use this for creating their homepage for free without paying any kind of licence fee.
WordPress hosting requirements
WordPress 3.2 particularly requires a PHP version of 5.2.4 or higher and the MySQL version of 5.0 or higher. WordPress 3.1 requires PHP 4.3 and MySQL 4.1.2. The server that has been recommended is Apache or Nginx for running this software smoothly. These servers are recommended as they are feature rich. But any server that supports PHP and MySQL can also do.
WordPress initially started as a system for blogging only. But over the years it has evolved into a full-fledged content management system. The sites can be fully customised thanks to the availability of a huge number of themes, plugins and widgets. WordPress has a web template system that uses a template processor. Users have the options of re-arranging the widgets and also can switch between the various themes. It also provides the users with the options of advanced customizations by editing. Thus you can personalize the site the way you want.
WordPress also gives various options to the bloggers. The posts can be protected by passwords. Passwords can be also given to individual posts so as to hide them from the public. There is also an option of private posts that have a restricted access. WordPress also has a user registration system which is in built and can by choice allow people to be register on the blogs as also maintain their profiles. They also have options of leaving authenticated comments on the blogs. There are plug-ins that do not allow the lower level users to read certain posts. Access of non registered users can be completely restricted and restriction can also be put on their comments on the posts. WordPress comes with a highly advanced system that allows as much as 10 levels of users to work at a time, who are at different levels and who have different privileges with regard to publishing and editing content and also other options.
Searching for real WordPress hosting providers is a taunting task, especially if you have high expectation for your website. Finding just a provider that meets the technical requirements isn’t enough. You must spend time in research. A true WordPress hosting plan will not only offer you diskspace and bandwidth, but most importantly support, tutorials and guidance. It must know the platform inside out, it must understand what are the extensions, which much be installed in order to strengthen your websites security, it must understand that your blog is an essential part of your company or meets your needs for expression. Look for the most reliable WordPress hosting services not the chepest ones!
More info:
Official WordPress site
Free blogs based on WordPress platform