If u need a forum for your community go for phpBB 3, it is the best opensource, free Forum package. It is on par with commercial packages like IPB and vBulletin

If u need a blog, then go for Wordpress, this is the best Blogging Platform available for free.

If u need a CMS, then Mambo or Joomla makes a good option, you can also try ModX

Communication is the process of sending and receiving messages. However, communication is effective only when the message is understood and it stimulates or encourages the receiver to think in new ways. Your ability to communicate effectively increases productivity, both yours and your organization’s. With good communication skills, you can anticipate problems, make decisions, coordinate work flow, supervise others, develop relationships, and promote products and services. You can shape the impressions you and your company make on colleagues, employees, investors and customers.

You can also consider phpbb forum software available http://www.phpbb.com/downloads/?sid=c6164d...d31ea429ea27eb5.

It is also very good and i have been using it for few days now.... Also its free of cost, so you might consider it for some normal usage... If you are looking for more support and other stuff you should probably go for other paid forum softwares....

Joomla is a Content Management System, that means you can create websites with it and have forums, blogs, galleries and other sections to it.

Whereas vBullitein is a Messaging Board or Forum. It cannot be used as a full fledged website.

You can integrate Joomla and vBulltein



Actually Invision Power Board or IPB is a based on vBulltein. It is a good software and has a lot of plugins and modules. But it is a paid software. If you need a free alternative go for phpBB 3 or SMF.

I have used Joomla in the past and preferred their software over VBulletin any day. However, Joomla is a content management system, used for building websites from scratch using modules. VBulleting is just a message board system and as many other members have said, you cannot build a website with VBulletin. I recommend you use Joomla as your content management system and integrate either VBulletin or PHPBB3 (My Recommendation). However, I recommend you use VBulletin 1.5 instead of 1.0. Joomla uses modules which allow you to add dynamic web programming with ease. Now some modules are free while others will cost money. But, you will can build an awesome site with many of the free modules and with some HTTP,XML, CSS experience.