Group items tagged

Online collaboration requires unique group dynamic solutions, the lack of physical presence and asynchronous communication involved can create chains of emails and long lists of data that require constant analysis. The MindMeister software works like a digital whiteboard that can be manipulated by multiple users and instantly updated to reflect changes.[1] Mind mapping allows individuals to communicate to the overall objectives of the group, in a non delegate manner. Mind mapping is a very powerful methodology for structuring your own ideas but also within workshops it can be a strong tool for both learners and trainers. [2] diagrammatically communicating words, ideas and images into group visual thinking. The software has a creative and simple graphical user interface can create a hierarchical structure that can be linked and rearranged around a central theme, intuitively arranging the brainstormed concepts and ideas into groupings and assists targeting and distinguishing goals and objectives. The non-linear format allows for the creative progression of ideas with a simple history timeline to keep project teams updated on latest changes to the map, changes can be sorted by individual contributions to see how a team reached an idea and the ability to link and share ideas in real-time facilitates multi-user planning, brainstorming and project management sessions, removing obstacles of geography and time. The iPhone applications and browser extensions incorporate this creative software into standard business practice and the open source software is REST-based API allowing for simple integration into other applications and the 256 bit data encryption means that data is secure.

References: [1] MindMeister available from http://www.mindmeister.com/ [2] Top 100 Tools, Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies available from: http://www.c4lpt.co.uk/Top100Tools/mindmeister.html/ [3] Programmable Web available from http://www.programmableweb.com/api/mindmeister/

Mind maps are useful in the generation of ideas particularly in a group situtation. For a mind map, a main idea is taken and starts in the centre of the page. Key words and images are worked outwards in different directions. All words and ideas have many other ideas and concepts [1]. A Mind Map is "the Swiss Army Knife of the Brain" [3] which helps to improve your learning and thinking skills by prompting the brain with cues to help it work the left and right side of the brain [3]. A mind map helps organise information and rather than completing it on paper an online version such as MindMeister can be used for group collaboration [2]. Mind maps can be created in real time and viewed as changes are made [2]. Mind maps can be used in an organisation to plan meetings, know more about your competition, plan accounts and plan projects [2]. With MindMeister, mind maps can be worked on off-line and synchronised with your account once you are back so you can work anywhere that doesn't have an internet connection [2]. Mind Maps are private by default but can be made public if you choose so that you can share maps with people within your organisation or all over the world. All changes to the maps are recorded in a history so that you can see who did what and when [2]. [1] Creativity Web (2007). Mind Maps. Retrieved 19 April, 2010, from http://members.optusnet.com.au/charles57/Creative/Mindmap/ [2] MeisterLabs (2010). MindMeister. Retrieved 19 April, 2010, from http://www.mindmeister.com/ [3] Buzan (2009). Maxamise the Power of Your Brain. Retrieved 19 April, 2010, from http://www.buzan.com.au/learning/mind_mapping.html

Central Desktop is a SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) social technology tool that allows global online collaboration between multiple users within organisations. The flexibility of Software-as-a-Service or SaaS for short, is that it allows organisations to rent the use of developed software, without the costs involved in maintaining licensing and continual upgrading to the latest product [5]. Central Desktop offers low cost, scalable SaaS solutions, advanced enterprise security, support, secure online meetings, centralised IT and staff resources and Salesforce.com integration. In 2009, Central Desktop announced Zoho Projects as online spreadsheet partner [2]. Central Desktop offers a range of plans to cater for different industries, with a 30-free trial option. Plans are available as the Workgroup edition, the Enterprise edition and the Community edition. Central Desktop offers risk free, Upgrade Anytime and Cancel Anytime options and no cancellation fees. The upgraded 2.0 version announced in February of 2010, offers wizards, templates with drop-down menus and an online file viewer that is compatible with Microsoft Office, Adobe PDF and Photoshop, JPEG and TIF [3]. YouTube [4] offers an overview of the database features available through Central Desktop. According to Central Desktop it "is a Web-based collaboration software solution that allows users to securely organize, share and communicate from a single online location. With no software or hardware to install, organizations using Central Desktop can increase revenue, maximize productivity and improve project management. Central Desktop offers a full suite of collaboration tools, including wikis, document sharing, Web conferencing, task management and shared calendars. Central Desktop also features a fully integrated micro-blogging tool that allows users to post their status and syndicate their updates out to other social networks like Twitter and Facebook" [1].

Customers of Central Desktop include the Humane Society of the U.S., CBS, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Avid Technology, Omniture, InterContinental Hotel Group and the University of Wisconsin-Madison [1]. Central Desktop has received a range of awards and recognition from industry peers since it's founding in 2005. The latest awards received are the 2010 Hot Technology Companies and the 2010 Hot 90 Award - Southern California [1]. References: [1] CentralDesktop (2010). Retrieved April 09, 2010 from http://www.centraldesktop.com/about-press [2] CrunchBase (2010). Retrieved April 09, 2010 from http://www.crunchbase.com/company/central-desktop [3] PcWorld (2010). Retrieved April 09, 2010 from http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/189948/central_desktops_20_upgrade_focuses_on_user_interface.html [4] CentralDesktop overview (2007). Retrieved April 10, 2010 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG_ajNsJvqU&feature=related [5] What is SaaS (n.d.). Retrieved April 09, 2010 from http://www.whatissaas.net/

With 275,000+ customers……"Central Desktop is a heavy-hitter in the online collaboration arena. It's used by companies such as Sony, Adobe, J.D. Power and Associates and Greenpeace…" [1] Benefits of central desktop are: * Does not require you to download any software. It is 100% web based. * Data can be exported from CentralDesktop ®. * Three types of workspace options for teams, the company at large, and external customers. * Avoids the need of using multiple passwords, usernames, and products to share information and collaborate with teams. * 5 different levels of security and protection. * Strong support from customer base that is over 200,000 strong and received a number of awards touting the software. " [2] "Central desktop offers real-time collaboration for your team members. With the web meetings and audio conferencing features you can also collaborate with customers or partners by voice, sharing screens or remote presentation. Central Desktop also integrates with Skype (with voice supported), Yahoo, MSN Messenger, AIM, ICQ and Jabber, centralizing all your communication".[1] "Their next moves include upgrading mobile device support, and providing an enhanced API, as well as increasing the ability to customize for verticals. Recent research has indicated that collaboration will be one of the major growth uses of mobile devices so this is timely. Central Desktop also plans to set up a marketplace where customers can share templates. [3] References: [1] The Mobility Guy http://www.themobilityguy.com/2009/06/27/mini-review-online-collaboration-with-central-desktop/ [accessed April 14, 2010]. [2] Business Services Insider, http://www.businessservicesinsider.com/Web-Conference-Calling-Services/Central-Desktop-Review.html [accessed April 14, 2010]. [3] Appopedia, http://www.theappgap.com/reviews?product=Central+Desktop [accessed April 14, 2010].

When pulling people together to work on a collaborative project, project management is essential. Basecamp is a popular web based, project management software application. It offers * dashboard (to control projects) * to do lists, * message boards, * file sharing, (files are actually stored on your server) * tracking milestones and * project tracking. Basecamp is used to manage teams and projects allowing you to set milestones, todos, comments, file uploads and messages. You can also organize your business in companies and invite different people for different companies. [1] [2] It works with Internet Explorer 7 or 8, Firefox 3 and higher, Safari 4, and Chrome 4 browsers.[2] Users report finding Basecamp very effective in managing projects, posessing an elegant user interface, and easy to use. [5] [6] 37Signals offer a 30 day free download to try and then you sign up for one of four available plans ranging in price from $24/month for a basic, 15 project, 5GB limit to a $149/month, unlimited projects, 75GB limit. All plans allow an unlimited number of users and you subscribe on a month by month basis with no minimum term. [3] Basecamp works with a variety of iPhone apps, third-party billing/invoicing tools, mock-up review software, time tracking tools, widgets and using Basecamp API you can create your own extras and add-ons. [4]

Project managers understand the importance of communicating effectively with both their team and clients in order to bring a project in on time and within budget. One solution is to have a central communications centre that is accessible to everyone involved in the project and easy to use. Basecamp project management software offers an easy online solution for tracking and organising all aspects of a project from start to finish. Organising and monitoring all phases of a project online can be easier to accomplish using Basecamp's internal dashboard. The dashboard facility centralises communication by maintaining task lists and a common message board to keep the project running smoothly. Files can be uploaded for sharing and review by other team members and clients can be kept up-to-date on the progress of their project. Within one central location, tasks and resources can be assigned to team members and project milestones can be set and monitored. (Reynolds, 2009) Basecamp offers a 30-day free trial, so potential customers can evaluate their needs and decide whether or not Basecamp is adequate for their online project management tasks. There are a multitude of third party plug-ins of extras and add-on tools built around Basecamp, that allow users to tailor their system to suit their own specific needs and to assist with more advanced functionality and security (basecamphq, 2010) - such as the file backup and archiving for Basecamp products that is available at http://www.centripetalsoftware.com/.

References Basecamp extras and integrations via the API. (2010). Project management, collaboration, and task software: Basecamp. Retrieved April 7, 2010, from http://basecamphq.com/extras Online Data Retrievel, Basecamp Backup - Centripetal Software. (2010). Online Data Retrievel, Basecamp Backup - Centripetal Software. Retrieved April 7, 2010, from http://www.centripetalsoftware.com/ Reynolds, D. (2009, December 18). Basecamp Software – A Review of the Online Project Management Software. Find Health, Education, Science & Technology Articles, Reviews, How-To and Tech Tips At Bright Hub - Apply To Be A Writer Today! Retrieved April 7, 2010, from http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/1726.aspx

Fuze Meeting is one of the few browser-based web meeting platforms that allows the participant to not only host web conferences from their computer but to also attend a meeting from their Apple iPhone, RIM BlackBerry or any Wi-Fi or 3G enabled device [1] Since its 2009 software upgrade, participants can now invite attendees from several e-mail and instant messaging clients such as Microsoft Outlook, Windows Live Hotmail, Google Gmail, Google Talk, AOL AIM, Skype, LinkedIn and Yahoo [2] and works seamlessly with Linux, Mac and PC. Fuze Meeting also integrates with Facebook and Twitter allowing users to announce their audio and web meetings to followers. Fuze Meeting provides high-definition, real-time synchronized desktop sharing for online collaboration of videos, images, documents and PowerPoint presentations (as well as text chat). It does this by operating solely through the browser and Internet cloud (in this instance, the Fuze servers) eliminating the need for downloads or installations. [3] Fuze Meeting's simple editing tools allow for annotations on files or video frames, drawing simple graphics or adding text. [4] Control meetings and content; invite participants on the fly or schedule in advance all through the easy-to-use dashboard. At the end of the meeting hosts are able to publish a Fuze Meeting Replay link for others to review the meeting and its content. Fuze Meeting is free for up to three web users and seven audio users however there are competitive, cost-effective pay-as-you-go, monthly and annual plans to cater for larger numbers of users (for example, at the monthly level, Fuze Meeting costs $29 compared to its competition, WebEx or Go-to-Meeting which cost $49 per month). [5]

Fuze Meeting is a web-browser based web conference service and it also provides compatible applications for Blackberrys and iPhones [1]. Fuze Meeting utilises the Flash browser plug-in to provide a useful tool with an easy-to-use interface [2]. Meetings can include up to 15 attendees and its built-in chat integrates with AOL, Google, MSN, and Yahoo's chat applications [2]. Out of the top 10 web-meeting applications OnlineMeetingReviews.com ranked Fuze Meeting one of the top two products available [2]. Comparable online meeting services include GoToMeeting [3], Dim Dim [4], and iLinc [5]. Apple's GoToMeeting provides everything that Fuze Meeting does and more but at a higher monthly fee [3]. Dim Dim provides slightly more functionality to Fuze Meeting at a lower monthly fee [4]. iLink provide the same functionality as GoToMeeting with a focus towards the high-end corporate market, and iLink's pricing is available on application [5]. All four services offer 30 day free trial offers. Overall Fuze Meeting's nearest competitor in the meeting services market appears to be Dim Dim. Fuze Meeting and Dim Dim's services received an identical overall ranking from No1Reviews.com who tested for reliability, security, usability, features, support and value [6][7]. Fuze Meeting is a product worth considering for anyone interested in using a web conferencing service. ---------------- see References below

References [1] Fuze Box Inc (2010). 'Web Conferencing, Online Meeting, Web Meeting Software | Fuze Meeting'. Retrieved April 6, 2010 from http://www.fuzemeeting.com/ [2] OnlineMeetingReviews.com (2010). 'Fuze Meeting Review - 2nd Place'. Retrieved April 6, 2010 from http://www.onlinemeetingreviews.com/reviews/fuzemeeting/ [3] Apple Inc. (2010). 'GoToMeeting'. Retrieved April 6, 2010 http://www.gotomeeting.com/fec/ [4] Dimdim, Inc. (2010). 'Easy, Open and Affordable Web Conferencing and Webinars | Dimdim'. Retrieved April 6, 2010 from http://www.dimdim.com/ [5] iLinc Communications. (2010). 'iLinc | Web and Video Conferencing | Online Meetings | Virtual Training | Webinars | eLearning'. Retrieved April 6, 2010 from http://www.ilinc.com/ [6] No1Reviews.com. (2010). 'Fuze Meeting | FuzeMeeting.com Review'. Retrieved April 6, 2010 from http://web-conferencing.no1reviews.com/fuze-meeting.html [7] No1Reviews.com. (2010). 'Dimdim | Dimdim.com Review'. Retrieved April 6, 2010 from http://web-conferencing.no1reviews.com/dimdim.html

Online project management tools such as AJAXWorkspace facilitate team collaboration by eliminating delays from miscommunication or uncertainty over job roles. Effective online project management helps to keep teams on task and projects on budget. AJAXWorkspace uses a common Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (Ajax) workspace as the foundation for an online collaboration workspace. (Myerson, 2009) AJAXworkspace management software provides more than 10 powerful online project management and collaboration tools such as document management, task to-do list, notepad, file sharing, discussion board, news, polls, graphical reporting and more. (AJAXWorkspace) The project expenses feature in AJAXWorkspace allows users to manage all team expenses associated with a project. Team members can submit their expenses for approval online for the project manger to either approve or reject. Approved expenses can be deducted from the project budget and team members can find project expenses Key Performance Indicators (KPI) under the project's dashboard feature. (AJAXWorkspace) The dashboard feature exhibits a workspace summary of recent news, activities and tasks, as well as upcoming events, documents list, graphical reporting of pending tasks and bookmarks. AJAXWorkspace allows the creation and tracking of many projects in the one workspace. Is easy to use from anywhere that a computer and Internet access is available. (van Bavel, 2010) Using a common central Ajax workspace, team members can collaborate on one or more projects at individual, departmental, and corporate levels. Different templates can be created for each level and also for both private and public use. The central workspace provides technical support, training, network monitoring, and data security. (Myerson, 2009) AJAXWorkspace offers superior, flexible project management services that support financial and personal accountability by tracking expenses, monitoring budgets, and regulating resources.

References Myerson, J. (2009, October 20). Manage tasks with common Ajax workspace. IBM - United States. Retrieved April 7, 2010, from http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/web/library/wa-aj-workspace/?ca=drs- Project management and online collaboration features: AJAXWorkspace. (2010). Project management software, online collaboration & task software: AJAXWorkspace. Retrieved April 7, 2010, from http://www.ajaxworkspace.com/project-management-features/ van Bavel, I. (2010). Internet Business Tool, Internet Business Idea, Starting Online Business. Internet Business Tool, Internet Business Idea, Starting Online Business. Retrieved April 7, 2010, from http://www.internetbusinessinfo.net/

"Secure project management software which consists of an integrated suite of collaboration functionalities. Organize your tasks, manage projects and coordinate well with your entire enterprise, colleagues and team members within a central location". [1]
"It helps you in effectively organizing your tasks, managing projects and coordinating well with your project members or colleagues within a centralize location. It is an ideal tool for any kind of project management, whether you are working in an organization or a freelancer from home" [2]
Advantages of AJAXWorkspace:
"The online workspace services consist of the following criteria: * Cost effective, No Hardware or Software to Buy * It's a Free Services * Rapid Setup and Deployment with no client-side implementation * Access your data at anytime, from anywhere in the world. * Secure and Reliable which available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. * Free Automatic Upgrades Services * Interactive, fast and high usability with latest MS AJAX Framework". [3] References:
[1] Project Management and Collaboration Software, http://www.web-based-software.com/project-management/index2.asp [accessed April 14, 2010]. [2] Earn money online from home, http://netstrive.blogspot.com/2009/02/indiaspeaksnet-get-paid-for-survey.html [accessed April 14, 2010]. [3] Online project management software and collaboration workspace, http://ajaxworkspace.wordpress.com/2007/12/15/ajaxworkspace-implementation-plan/ [accessed April 14, 2010].

This issue tracking software is for used for project development and allows participants to collaborate on a variety of projects, such as tracking fixes waiting for QA or urgent issues, ideally suited to software developers through a customer support application. [1] The simple user interface allows large and small groups to quickly create efficient workflows and automatically organize specific tasks by creating, assigning, tagging and resolving project issues. The insertion of milestones helps to plan features and establish release dates and agreed deadlines and the ability to share documents and images directly to tickets, so anyone within the project team can find them. As a customer relationship management tool, Lighthouse is efficient at managing a company's interactions with its clients and involves using technology to organize, automate, and synchronize business processes, which are essential within sales, marketing, customer service, and technical support by creating time-saving functionality.[2] As a case study Croogo [3] is a free, open source, content management system powered by CakePHP framework, and distributed under the MIT License. And uses lighthouse to create and reply to tickets and review the status of all projects in a simple overview that can be followed along with feeds, creating exceptional user support , as participants can create new Lighthouse tickets directly from Tender [4], Lighthouses specialized customer support service. To reduce the costs of planning and implementing software initiatives and increase the support from user base, enterprises are required to automate processes according to best practices. Using Lighthouse's email integration team members can utilize email to reply to tickets directly from inbox and as it is a web based application, it means that support can access critical information on the move, such as using the iPhone optimized interface, manage tickets through the email system, or subscribe to pro

References: [1] Lighthouse http://lighthouseapp.com/ [2] Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customer_relationship_management [3] Croogo PHP http://bakery.cakephp.org/articles/view/introducing-croogo-cms [4] Tender http://tenderapp.com/ [5]Neath, K. (2007) "Lighthouse: The bug tracker you've been looking for" retrieved on 11th April 2010 from: http://warpspire.com/tipsresources/web-publishing/lighthouse-the-bug-tracker-youve-been-looking-for/

"Communication, Collaboration, and Bugs: The Social Nature of Issue Tracking in Software Engineering" (Bertram, Voida, Greenberg, & Walker, 2010) This article, written by the Department of Computer Science, University of Calgary, is a qualitative study of a group of software development teams that make use of one or more formal issue tracking systems and examines the social aspects that reside within the software engineering and bug tracking process. They argue that an issue tracker is not just a system for tracking bugs but becomes a focal point for all stakeholders of the program including engineers, users, designers and owners. The collaborative knowledge and shared journey of tracking bugs and designing software is a social process as much as it is a design process and the tracking system should be able to facilitate and archive the exchange of information and ideas. From the study of up to 15 participants spread across 4 North American software teams they were able to articulate various real world practices for examining issue and bug tracking software. The paper enunciates the main features of an issue tracking system and what the main considerations should be when designing or implementing one. References Bertram, D., Voida, A., Greenberg, S., & Walker, R. (2010). Communication, Collaboration, and Bugs: The. Retrieved April 16, 2010, from DSpace: http://dspace.ucalgary.ca/bitstream/1880/47309/3/2009-IssueTracking.Report2009-933-12.pdf

Google Code is a project hosting and collaboration service based around the Subversion (SVN) and Mercurial (Hg) version control systems. The service provides issue tracking, file hosting and a wiki (Google, 2010). Google Code can only be used by open source projects and only if they use one of the pre-approved open source code licenses (Google, 2010). Version control aids collaboration by ensuring that each developer in a team has an up-to-date version of the code base and by managing conflicts. After making a change, adding a feature or fixing a bug, the developer commits and pushes their changes to a central server (Google, 2010). When a conflict occurs - due to two developers making a change to the same file at the same time or a developer making changes offline without being able to synchronize their repository - the version control system will attempt to merge the changes however in some cases conflicts occur (Raymond, 2003). In such cases' the version control system will highlight the conflicts and point them out allowing the developer to address them before committing their changes (Raymond, 2003). Google Code offers issue tracking that allows developers to track current project defects, and planned enhancements. Each issue can be assigned to a developer and tagged with labels which may indicate things about the issue that may be useful to the project developers (Google, 2009). Google Code also contains a wiki allowing the project documentation and planning process to be collaboratively created and edited (Google, 2010).

Google. (2009, September 19). IssueTrackerFAQ. Retrieved April 19, 2010, from Project Hosting on Google Code: http://code.google.com/p/support/wiki/IssueTrackerFAQ Google. (2010, April 8). FAQ. Retrieved April 19, 2010, from Project Hosting on Google: http://code.google.com/p/support/wiki/FAQ Google. (2010). Project Hosting on Google Code. Retrieved April 19, 2010, from Google Code: http://code.google.com/projecthosting/ Google. (2010, February 04). WikiFAQ. Retrieved April 19, 2010, from Project Hosting on Google Code: http://code.google.com/p/support/wiki/WikiFAQ Raymond, E. (2003, September 19). Chapter 11 Tools - Version-Control Systems. Retrieved April 19, 2010, from The Art of Unix Programming: http://www.faqs.org/docs/artu/ch15s05.html

Office Interactive is an online Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software designed for small to medium sized business. The software contains everything you need to run and streamline your business. It is easy to use by simply dragging and dropping to customise your own business application [1]. Features of the Office Interactive software include: Collaboration: This module is used to share and communicate with all your team members on one page. It is an essential tool for organising your businesses day-to-day activities. Sales: This module is an easy to use Sales Force Automation (SFA) system. It is a total solution for small to large sales teams. Customer: This module allows you to see absolutely everything in relation to a customer including all correspondence and sales. It is also a centralised system to store data such as customers Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and how to deal with customer complaints. Marketing: This module allows you to keep track of where your leads and customers are coming from. It can also be used to send marketing emails to your customers. Billing and Expense: This module is a full financial solution to keep track of your income and expenses [1]. CRM is extremely important for most businesses. Using a centralised system such as Office Interactive allows all staff to access data from any location [2]. CRM also allows you to put the customer first by making the most of your customer relationships as it allows you to keep in touch and personalise communications with customers easily [3]. [1] Office Interactive (2010). Simple, Powerful, and Revolutionary CRM Solution. Retrieved 16 April, 2010, from http://www.officeinteractive.com/ [2] e-Business Guide (n/d). Planning - Researching the Opportunities - Customer Relationship Management. Retrieved 16 April, 2010, from http://www.e-businessguide.gov.au/planning/researching/crm [3] Martin, J.A (2010). Put Cloud CRM to Work. Retrieved 16 April, 2010, from

Backpack by 37 Signals. Backpack is a product created by 37 signals which allows the user to store information, documents, discussion and schedules with your workforce in a secure online environment which is accessible all the time. 37 Signals states that "Over 3 million people use our web-based apps to get things done the simple way." One of the features of Backpack is its interaction with email. When file attachments are sent to Backpack they automatically update on your pages. The backpack pricing plan allows you to start out small and upgrade your package when your business grows. This allows flexibility in the pricing system to suit your business needs at any given time. Backpack can also work with other applications like Google Calendar and a variety of other devices such as iphone apps, third party desktops and widgets. The Backpack accounts are protected with password protection with SSL security that ensures your information is safe at all times. Backpack capabilities are described by Gomez de la Torre as follows "1. Important scheduling information 2. Shared and easily modifiable check list of things to do 3. Personal knowledge and experience of prior dealings with clients 4. Identification of files necessary for the meeting 5. Repository for other tacit knowledge" Backpack creates a powerful user interface which allows workers to be in touch and informed whether they are office based or mobile. Backpack has been reviewed by a number of sources some of which can be perused in the reference section. Richard Cobbett from Pc Plus sums up Backpack as "Backpack allows you to manage all your data across multiple PC's with ease. Backpack is hands-down the most flexible of the online organisation tools, and it just keeps evolving. " Further information can be found about Backpack at http://backpackit.com/

References: Cobbett, R. (2009, March 3). 37signals Backpack review from TechRadar UK's expert reviews of Other software. TechRadar UK | Technology News And Reviews. Retrieved March 31, 2010, from http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/software/utilities/other-software/37signals-backpack-34109/review De la Torre, V. G. (2005, December 8). Knowledge Management Systems Research Paper: Knowledge Management Systems and Web 2.0 Tools & Technologies. The University of Texas at Austin School of Information. Retrieved April 1, 2010, from www.ischool.utexas.edu/~i385q/archive/gomez_web2.0.pdf Intranet, Group Calendar, Small Business Organizer: Backpack. (n.d.). Intranet, Group Calendar, Small Business Organizer: Backpack. Retrieved March 31, 2010, from http://backpackit.com/ Kelly, W. (2007, July 1). PC Today Article - 37signals Backpack . PC Today - Your Mobile Computing and Wireless Authority. Retrieved March 31, 2010, from http://www.pctoday.com/Editorial/article.asp?article=articles/2007/t0507/24t07/24t07.asp&guid= Schmidt, A. (2006). PRODUCT PIPELINE.. Net Connect, 131, 18-19. Retrieved April 1, 2010, from the Business Source Premier database.

Backpack is quite similar to Microsoft's SharePoint Services in that it allows for files to be uploaded and shared in the one place; allows the sharing of information and calendar events (Backpack, 2010a). As Backup is hosted online and offsite, stress can be alleviated in the event of fire or theft. SharePoint on the other hand is stored on internal servers hosted by the business. This may incur an expensive fail safe back-up plan. It seems that Backup is more user friendly than SharePoint and will work well in an online collaboration environment. Both SharePoint and Backup allow for allow for a whole range of third party extras and add-ons (Backpack, 2010b; SharePoint Solutions, 2010). This allows businesses to customise their intranet and use the tools that work for them. 37signals, the company behind Backup, also design other products that help businesses achieve their goals, these include: Highrise, Basecamp and Campfire (37signals, 2010). Although 37signals offers that Backpack has the ability to add-in extras, they do not however take any responsibility in the event that something goes wrong. "Note: These apps and integrations are not endorsed or tested by 37signals. 37signals does not assume responsibility or liability for any issues caused by the use of third party products." (Backpack, 2010b). More importantly, solutions that allow users to read, reflect and collaborate also take more time than a conventional face-to-face meeting/ discussion. "Computer-Mediated Communication not only takes longer than a face-to-face communication, but they produce more ideas and produce greater opportunity for each person to participate." (Bordia, 1997, p99) This can be said for all solutions that offer users time to "think" on events that they have been asked to collaborate on. 37signals (2010). 37signals Retrieved April 1, 2010, from http://37signals.com/ Backpack (2010a). Backpack Retrieved April 1, 2010, from http://backpackit.com/ B

Scribblar is a fun, free, multi-user online collaboration tool that is especially effective for online training and brainstorming in an e-learning environment, with the sharing and exchanging of image and text files. Scribblar, developed in 2007, is the brainchild of UK-based muchosmedia.com, providing the online collaboration market with a social interaction tool that acts as a whiteboard with live audio, text-chat etc. Muchosmedia has been recognised by Adobe as global experts in developing Flash applications, serving on Adobe' industry advisory board [5]. Scribblar PRO is also available to users for a fee, allowing the integration of your own logo and customised features onto your website without the hosting and bandwith costs. With instant access to audio, video, live chat and powerful drawing and editing tools, Scribblar PRO can easily be incorporated within any website design with varied access and privilege levels [1]. Mainly, Scribblar is a great, flash-based education tool and has been designed to allow multiple users to interact simultaneously, without interruption. A major feature of Scribblar is the facility to upload an image for enhancing, editing, commenting or collaborating by multiple users, by utilising its drawing, text and sound tools [2]. A review done by a media library specialist, Kathy Pierce [3], highlights the interaction and educational value of integrating Scribblar in schools. For a comprehensive tutorial, visit YouTube [4] for a step-by-step explanation of each tool available on the Scribblar whiteboard for online collaboration. References posted below.

References: [1] Walsh, K. (2009). Online Interactive Whiteboards. EmergingEdTech Retrieved 14 April, 2010, from http://www.emergingedtech.com/2009/04/online-interactive-whiteboards/ [2] theDAILYAPP. (2008). Scribblar - Online Collaboration Design Room. Retrieved 14 April, 2010, from http://thedailyapp.com/media/photos/scribblar-online-collaboration-design-room [3] Ferris, B. (2009). Collaborate simply, graphically, with Scribblar. Retrieved 14 April, 2010, from http://blogs.learnnc.org/instructify/2009/10/20/scribblar-collaborate-mindmap-brainstorming/

References: [1] Muchosmedia (2010). Retrieved April 11, 2010 from http://www.scribblar.com [2] Free Technology for Teachers (2008). 'Creative Collaboration with Scribblar'. Retrieved April 11, 2010 from http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2008/09/creative-collaboration-with-scribblar.html [3] Library Media Musings (2009). Retrieved April 11, 2010 from http://librarymm.blogspot.com/2009/11/collaborate-online-with-scribblar.html [4] YouTube (2009). 'Scribblar Demo'. Retrieved April 11, 2010 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByZenKhLVRg [5] Haschke Ink (n.d.). 'Muchos Media Content'. Retrieved April 11, 2010 from http://haschkeink.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/Muchos_Media.46100818.pdf

Zoho Projects is another multi-user project management tool with planning and reporting capabilities. It offers * task management including setting task dependencies; * Milestone setting and managment * ability to schedule team meetings, gather notes, post slides and manage project from a central location * ability to centrally post and share files; * create a project "intranet" with the built-in Wiki; * a discussion board; * online group chat; * Gantt chart reporting; * time tracking and ; * integrated invoicing; Zoho have a comprehensive portfolio of over 20 apps including an impressive list of office suite applications in which Zoho projects was added in 2009. Several have won industry awards. They have a reputation of regularly developing and adding to this suite. Pricing is very affordable ranging from free for a personal use trial version to $80/month for unlimited use. They appear to have out in practice good physical security of physical property, network and people processes ensuring continued operation in the future [1] With full integration with Google Apps, you can login using your Google profile. [3] Although a relative newcomer to the collaborative project management tools market, it seems a logical progression along the development of Zoho's integrated office products. [2] [1] Zoho Corporation (2010). 'Project Collaboration and Management Done Right'. Retrieved April 1, 2010 from http://projects.zoho.com/home.na [2]McCue, T. (2009). Review of Zoho Projects: Project Management Tool Small Business Trends Retrieved 13 April, 2010, from http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/09/review-zoho-projects-project-management.html [3]Miller, R. (2009). Zoho Projects integrated with Google Apps. Fierce Content Management Retrieved 13 April, 2010, from http://www.fiercecontentmanagement.com/s

Although Zoho Projects does lack in features compared to online collaboration software such as Central Desktop, it's ease of use and the integration of task tracking does set it apart from it's counterparts [4]. Computer users new to online collaboration will find the limited features easy to master and is perfect for small to mid-size companies whose employees regularly telecommute. While Top Ten Reviews [2] gave a less than glowing review for it's resource management and budget features, another review by actual users [1] gave it five stars for it's project management facilities, gnatt chart, calendar integration, document sharing abilities and wiki. Zoho Projects make use of integrated group chat, discussion boards and utilising Project Wiki, webpages can be uploaded with embedded media such as video. The 'Project Stream' shows the latest update of project activity, live chats and live collaboration with Microsoft project files. A video is available on Life Hacker that shows the Zoho Projects in action [3]. Zoho Projects' users are updated by email or rss feeds, without them having to be signed-in to be kept in the loop. Users of Zoho Projects can also benefit from including Zoho's other products such as Zoho Writer, Zoho Planner and Zoho Invoice.

References: [1] Google Apps Marketplace (2010). 'Zoho Projects' . Retrieved April 12, 2010 from http://www.google.com/enterprise/marketplace/viewListing?productListingId=2533+16735307238406892037 [2] Top Ten Reviews (2010). Retrieved April 12, 2010 from http://online-project-management-review.toptenreviews.com/zoho-projects-review.html [3] Life Hacker (2009). 'Zoho Projects keeps teams focussed and in touch'. Retrieved April 12, 2010 from http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2009/07/zoho-projects-keeps-teams-focused-and-in-touch/ [4] Bright Hub (2009). 'Review of Zoho Projects'. Retrieved April 12, 2010 from http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/reviews/27487.aspx

SugarCRM is an open source database management system. It is important to be able to manage customer databases without having to collate numerous spreadsheets of customer information. With SugarCRM it simplifies being able to organize and track people, companies and sales opportunities [1]. Another advantage of SugarCRM is the ability to measure and report customer information across your company [2]. SugarCRM Community Edition is a free application and it is open source so the software can be altered to suit the users' needs. Not all companies have the same requirements when it comes to implementing a CRM, so the advantage of using SugarCRM is it gives users the flexibility to modify the source code [3]. To gain greater benefits of SugarCRM there is a professional edition for US$360 per licence or the Sugar Enterprise Edition for US$600 per licence [4]. A CRM solution will focus on automating and improving current processes and practices mainly supporting sales, marketing, customer service and support as Gupta & Shukla (2002) attest [5]. Implementing a CRM can be a risky business according to Bohling, et al (2006) [6]. Depending on the size of the organization and the current CRM system in operation, if any, implementing a CRM requires plenty of planning and preparation. Also, once a system is up and running, it is important to evaluate the success of the CRM and continue to refine and develop the CRM. References [1] Organise & Share Customer Information. Retrieved 12 April 2010 from http://www.sugarcrm.com/crm/resources/crm-new [2] Measure & Report Across your Company. Retrieved 12 April 2010 from http://www.sugarcrm.com/crm/resources/crm-advanced [3] Open Source CRM. Retrieved 12 April 2010 from http://www.sugarforge.org/content/open-source/ [4] Sugar Editions. Retrieved 12 April 2010 from http://www.sugarcrm.com/crm/products/editions.html [5] Gupta, M.P., and Shukla, S. (2002). Global Business Review 2002; 3; 99. Learnings from Customer Relationship

In comparing SugarCRm to another similar product - 'TigerCRM', these are the results:
SugarCRM Advantages " Sugar Suite is an excellent choice due to its advanced features, and is convenient to organizations from all sizes and industries. The installation of SugarCRM, as well as the installation of additional modules and language packs is quite easy and trouble-free, and the admin area offers a great variety of options and tools." [1]
SugarCRM Disadvantages "While providing more capabilities and reliability, Sugar Suite loads slower than vTiger CRM and is not so easy to use. Problems may also arise if a user doesn't lock the Installation after finishing it. Contrary to vTiger CRM, some of its add-ons are not free for installing and should be ordered additionally. Another disadvantage of SugarCRM is the very resource-consuming upgrade process. A SugarCRM upgrade can rarely be completed successfully on a shared server because the upgrade times out." [1]
But the latest release of version 6, raves about the following:
"SugarCRM has completely re-written a new user interface that places a premium on speed, simplicity, and interoperability with other web applications and mobile devices. Larry Augustin, CEO of SugarCRM, said "Sugar 6 delivers a look, feel and user experience that consumers of popular social networking and other collaboration tools will appreciate." [2]
"SugarCRM has also moved its mobile application to Appcelerator Titanium so it could have one version of its application run on Apple, Google's Android, BlackBerry, Palm, and other devices without the need for their engineers to build completely different versions. " [2] References: [1] SiteGround, http://www.siteground.com/sugarcrm_vtiger.htm [accessed April 14, 2010]. [2] SugarCRM announces release of ver

Skype was founded in 2003 and is now a well known worldwide application on the internet. Skype has voice and video calling, IM and SMS systems and operates on a wide variety of mobile systems and differing operating systems. Skype uses a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system. Skype Business concentrates on allowing businesses to operate effectively by means of effective and fast communication whilst saving money on communication. Skype offers a Business Control Panel which they state that "You can allocate and manage your employees' Skype Credit balances centrally, plus keep track of their, and your company's, expenditure with built-in reporting tools." Skype offers a business version of the Skype Application which main features are "Main features * Free Skype-to-Skype calls. * Free video calls. * Free instant messaging. * Call phones and mobiles, send SMS. * Voicemail. * Forward calls to a phone when you're offline. * Screen sharing * Send contacts " Myhill et al sums up Skype by stating "Calls between Skype users are free and with a standard broadband internet connection, it is a simple matter to run other Web 2.0 applications (e.g. Google Documents) and Skype at the same time - so that collaborators can talk to each other in real time and even work on the same documents simultaneously. Skype has well-over 300,000 million accounts worldwide and is a very popular facility. In the context of the VRE, Skype offers additional, global communications benefits which take the researcher well beyond other, less-intrusive means such as e-mail or wikis." Brkan states that "Collaborating or doing business with different parts of the world is far easier when you can speak to people in realtime, without worrying about the phone bill." For online collaboration such as conferences Skype is a cheap and accessible alternative to other options.

References Brkan, B. (2090, September 22). 5 Ways Skype Helps Your Business | FreelanceSwitch. FreelanceSwitch | Freelance job listings, freelancers directory, resources and thousands of articles.. Retrieved April 11, 2010, from http://freelanceswitch.com/working/5-ways-skype-helps-your-business/ Myhill, M., Shoebridge, M., & Snook, L. (2009). Virtual research environments - a Web 2.0 cookbook?. Library Hi Tech, 27(2), 228-238. Retrieved October 10, 2010, from the Emerald Group Publishing Limited database. Skype for Business - solutions. (n.d.). Skype " Make free calls and great value calls on the internet. Retrieved April 11, 2010, from http://www.skype.com/intl/en/business/solutions/

As has been examined, Skype is a very useful tool for business in relation to both collaboration and the reduction of communication costs . InnerPass further extends Skype's reach in the area of collaboration. [1] Virtual meeting rooms and screen sharing are the main added areas of functionality, with the service offering a free plan for person use. The need for increased meeting rooms and increased data transfer storage attract business rates from $4.95 to $14.95 a month. As Mashable state "InnerPass is most useful for small or medium sized businesses that have a lot of travelling, presenting, or telecommuting built in" [2] References: 1. https://www.innerpass.com/ 2. InnerPass turns Skype into a Virtual Business Collaboration Tool retrieved 18th April 2010 from http://mashable.com/2009/04/07/innerpass/

Mindjet [5] is best known for its mind mapping software but with the introduction of Catalyst [5] in October 2009 Mindjet released the power of their mapping software to the web. Catalyst is an online mapping tool that is delivered on a subscription service across the web. It enables team members to co-edit a map in real time. Members can brainstorm ideas, design business process, store their documents in a secure and centralised workspace and keep a work log of all changes. Catalyst also augments the support of social networking tools to help share the vision [1]. Currently the service is delivered as a subscription service charged at $25/user/month plus an extra $25 for web conferencing moderators. Catalyst runs on all major browsers [4] but it must have Adobe Flash Player 9.0 enabled. "We think better in picture than text and how that can that be related to business process" Scott Raskin CEO of Mindjet (Howlett, 2009). "Catalyst team members can simultaneously video-conference while modifying a shared document on an online " (Chapman, 2009). While this online collaborative mapping tool is impressive an area of consideration is the fact that it does not alert team members of asynchronous changes [3] via IM or email. Alerting team members of change during a project is an important feature for collaborative tools as discussed in the research study by Daniela Damian M. Sc. [2] which looks at how real projects actually use collaboration tools and what were their main areas of use and importance are. However, with the inclusion of social networking tools like Facebook and Twitter this oversight could be overcome with good project management practices.

References [1] Chapman, G. (2009, Oct 8). Mindjet boosts online collaboration with Catalyst. Retrieved April 13, 2010, from Google (AFP): http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jAtF77pDeYcjJL7H5N3Z7ykx4n3w [2] Damian, D. (2010, Feb 1). Case study of feature based awareness in a commercial software team and implications for the design of collaborative tools. Retrieved April 16, 2010, from UVicDSpace: https://dspace.library.uvic.ca:8443/dspace/handle/1828/2133 [3] Howlett, D. (2009, October 6). Mindjet takes on Cisco with Catalyst. Retrieved April 16, 2010, from ZDNet: http://blogs.zdnet.com/Howlett/?p=1377 [4] mindjet. (2010). Catalyst - Technical Requirements. Retrieved April 16, 2010, from Mindjet: http://www.mindjet.com/products/mindjet-catalyst/requirements [ 5]Mindjet. (2010). Catalyst. Retrieved April 16, 2010, from Mindjet: http://www.mindjet.com/products/mindjet-catalyst/overview [6] Mindjet. (2010). Mindjet. Retrieved April 16, 2010, from Mindjet: http://www.mindjet.com/

Codaset is an online collaboration environment for software developers who use the Git source code management system (SCM). The service supports version control, source code browsing, issue tracking, milestones, wiki and blogs (Develop with Style, 2010). Codaset is built around the Git source code management tool which is a distributed version control system developed by Linus Torvalds and hundreds of other developers (Chacon, 2010). The software allows developers to track changes between versions and other milestones (Wesley, 1998). The changes are shown in the form a 'diff' that can be created between any two revisions or between any two revisions of a specific file (Git Diff, 2010). Projects hosted on Codaset can be public, semi-private or private (Develop with Style, 2010). The first private or semi-private project is free while Public projects have all information stored within them available to everyone and are open for forking and collaboration with all who wish to work on the project Develop with Style , 2010). Semi-private projects have all aspects of the project available to the public except the crucial source code (Develop with Style , 2010). Private projects on the other hand are completely hidden from the public and only those selected by the creator of the project can participate (Develop with Style, 2010). Codaset projects each contain a wiki which can be used to document, and plan the direction of a project. Like source code management, this wiki is also versioned (Develop with Style, 2010).

Git Diff. (2010). Retrieved April 18, 2010, from learn.github: http://learn.github.com/p/diff.html Wesley, R. (1998). Version Control and the Single Developer. Retrieved April 18, 2010, from MacTech: http://www.mactech.com/articles/mactech/Vol.14/14.06/VersionControlAndTheDeveloper/index.html Chacon, S. (2010). About Git. Retrieved April 16, 2010, from Git - Fast Version Control System: http://git-scm.com/about Develop with Style. (2010). Retrieved April 18, 2010, from Codaset: http://codaset.com

Share. Collaborate. Communicate. [1] Glasscubes is all about file sharing, intranets, contact management and document management. [1] It is an application that is ideal for maintaining customers, employee relations and dealing with issues in a real time collaborative feed. The 'cubes' part refers to workspaces where access is assigned to various individuals or departments within and external to the company. Glasscubes is a UK company with the highest audience base, as per Alexa.com, from South Korea, India, United Kingdom and United States [2]. The application allows for real-time editing of office, pdf and image files online so that users know they will be editing the latest update. Users can share calendars, if they require, and in March 2010 Glasscubes announced its calendar synchronization for active employees. "Glasscubes... announced that its online-based collaboration software now allows users to synchronise calendars directly with Google Calendars, or to view (read only) events in other calendaring applications that support the iCal format"[3]. Adding to this announcement Glasscubes has also been accepted into the "Google Apps Marketplace" [4].

Glasscubes brings together a multitude of features specifically intended to help small and medium sized organisations share files, collaborate on documents, and manage key elements of their online operations securely. (Miles, 2009) Each Cube is a workspace with a dashboard providing a comprehensive summary of activities within the Cube and a secure area for documents. Every Cube also has its own calendar that can be merged with other personal or business calendars for a full overview and to ensure bookings and deadlines do not clash with each other. (Harris, 2009) Glasscubes requires no add-ons and files are backed up daily, but it falls short of Basecamp's (http://basecamphq.com/ ) robust and structured method of document management and sharing and there is no support - either included or as add-ons, for milestones, reporting and analytics. (Harris, 2009) Like Basecamp, Glasscubes was designed for small businesses and is limited when it comes to working with large clients and teams that have multi-level, frequently changing tasks that don't require all members to see everything at all times. For larger organisations, Salesforce (www.salesforce.com ) can be scaled up for customer relationship management and offers more functionality, such as email support. (Harris, 2009) As an online service for small businesses, Glasscubes is a competitively priced Web-based project management tool with ample collaborative features to help link up with colleagues and clients anywhere there is an Internet connection. Unlike many customer relationship management tools, Glasscubes is simple to use even without extensive training or technical knowledge. (Miles, 2009)

References Glasscubes: Online intranet, workspaces and simple CRM. (n.d.). Share. Communicate. Collaborate. - Glasscubes: Online intranet, workspaces and simple CRM. Retrieved April 8, 2010, from http://www.glasscubes.com/ Harris, C. (2009, November 13). Glasscubes Review | Business Computing World. Business blogging and technology reviews - Business Computing World. Retrieved April 8, 2010, from http://www.businesscomputingworld.co.uk/?p=1512 Miles, S. (2009, December 26). Glasscubes ‚ Facilitating Communication and Collaboration - Reviews by AppVita. AppVita.com - Discovering web-based applications that just make life better. - Reviews by AppVita. Retrieved April 8, 2010, from http://www.appvita.com/2009/12/26/glasscubes-%E2%80%93-facilitating-communication-and-collaboration/

Virtual servers, Cloud computing and Software-as-a-service,(SaaS), are all pioneering new innovative value-adding utilities. Gmail, Hotmail, YouTube, are a few SaaS tools already known to most people, but now the Internet is exploding with collaborative services and applications. With peer pressure from Google's Google docs and other web-based software developers, giant software companies like Microsoft, Adobe, SAP etc are all launching into web-based applications. [1] Microsoft's (Light) Office app will be available for free with Office 2010.[2] Even hardware technology are pointing to "slim-down" operating systems like netbooks that have little data storage capabilities, no moving parts and only connects and rely on the internet [1] CRM, Customer Relations Management and ERP; Enterprise Resource Planning are the most popular applications that companies are taking up as web-collaborative applications. ***Now Engineering design are available in the cloud. SolidWorks CEO, Jeff Ray says the one prevailing advantage to all customers is cost. [4]

[1] Patrick Stafford 2009 How cloud computing could change your business and save you thousands. Retrieved on 4/4/2010 from:http://www.smartcompany.com.au/ [2] Lia Timson 2010 Word, Excel, Powerpoint-free on the web. Retrieved 4/4/2010 from: http://www.watoday.com.au/technology/ [3]SolidWorks website. Retrieved on 4/4/2010 from: http://www.solidworks.com/sw/products/free-cad-software-downloads.htm [4] Johnson, A. 2010. CAD moves to the clouds. Retrieved on 4/4/2010 from:http://www.manmonthly.com.au/Article/CAD-moves-to-the-clouds/514146.aspx

SolidWorks offers improved collaboration between CAD team members as they can share designs with one another and external partners. Another important feature is the SolidWorks User Group Network (SWUGN) [1]. The SolidWorks User Group Network is arrange geographically and offers users a valuable resource, the ability to network with local peers and partners helping businesses become more productive. It also connects global users, assisting them with improved understanding of SolidWorks features and SolidWorks related products. Users are able to network with peers to share experiences and technical queries and methodologies. [1] SolidWorks User Network Group, available from: http://www.swugn.org/swugn/benefits.htm

Web2 has seen the rise in online social networks like MySpace and Facebook, Ning is different because it allows you to create your own social network to share with a few people or with the world [1]. Project managers, activists, educators or anyone interested in starting-up an online community have the opportunity to create their own free Social Network with Ning [1] [2]. With your own Social Network you can share and discuss projects, form workgroups, collaborate and meet over any cause or topic of interest [1]. Members can ask to join a created Social Network, the administrator and network friends can invite other members to join [3]. Your Social Network can be a public, globally accessible network or it can be a private, select group of approved members only [3]. Ning is a feature-rich Social Network and with the Ning Apps directory, members can add extra functionality to their personal Ning page [4]. Ning network administrators can pick and choose from many features to customise the look and feel of their social network and their members' experience [5]. Your network's members can upload photos to their own photo gallery, they can chat, create conversation topics, upload videos and customise the appearance of their profile page [6]. The searchable Ning Blog [7] has a series of FAQ and help articles to assist new users and network administrators. Your Ning Network can be set up so it appears under your own domain name [8]. Since it commencement in 2005 Ning's co-founders Marc Andreessen (from Netscape fame) & Gina Bianchini have been the brains behind developing the platform for the 20 million visitors who currently use Ning today [9]. see References below

Ning is an online social collaboration tool which brings together networks of people with similar interests and passions [1]. Ning submits information into categories to ensure content is accessible for users. The categories include: sports, causes, education, art, politics, entertainment, networking and music [1]. It is about creating a customized social network and inviting people to join or joining social networks already created with topics of interest. Ning integrates different applications like blogs, wiki, forums, photo galleries and calendars [1]. Ning's main competitor in the online social network space is SocialGo with Facebook and MySpace offering a similar service however not as tailored and unique [2]. As at 12/11/2008 Ning had over 4 million visitors a month [4] after its launch in 2005. In a recent article, McCracken (2009) [2] revealed that Ning has announced it will no longer provide free networks, which means network creators will either have to switch to a paid plan or leave Ning and move elsewhere. It is a brave move and with other competitors offering a similar service for free, it will be interesting to see if creators will remain with Ning or move on. However as Ramirez (2009) [3] points out, according to the 'ownership rights' which is part of the 'Terms of Services', "Ning owns all right, title and interest, including, all intellectual property rights, in and to the Ning Technology". So depending on what Ning is to be used for, it is important to read the terms of service for any online collaboration tool. References [1] Ning: Create and Discover. Retrieved 16 April 2010 from http://www.ning.com/ [2] McCracken, H. (2010). Ning: No More Free Networks. Retrieved 16 April 2010 from http://www.pcworld.com/article/194379/ning_no_more_free_networks.html [3] Ramirez, N. (2009). Ning Review. Retrieved 16 April 2009 from http://www.thecommunityarchitect.com/2009/06/01/ning-review/ [4] Nations, D. (n.d.). What is Ning? Retrie

References continued .... [7] Ning Inc. (2010). 'Why You'll ♥ Ning'. Retrieved April 2, 2010 from http://about.ning.com/ [8] Ning Inc. (2010). 'Extend your brand by using your own domain'. Retrieved March 30, 2010 from http://help.ning.com/cgi-bin/ning.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=3640 [9] Parr, B. (2010). 'Ning CEO Gina Bianchini Stepping Down. Mashable - the social media guide'. Retrieved April 2, 2010 from http://mashable.com/2010/03/15/ning-ceo-gina-bianchini-stepping-down/

Salesforce http://www.salesforce.com/au/ Salesforce.com is a sales and service, customer relationship management (CRM), cloud computing operation. To date, 72,500 Companies have made Salesforce Sales Cloud, Australia's most-popular collaborative sales application. Some corporate customers are: BlueScope Steel, Crocs, Langdon Ingredients, Mission Australia, Australian air Express and many more. Features of the application: Accounts and contracts: An abridged customer overview. Marketing and Leads: Manage multichannel campaigns and turn prospects into sales. Opportunities and Quotes: Real time quote, product tracking, sales process, schedule automatic email reminders to keep teams up to date. Approvals and workflow: Eliminate redundant tasks, modify workflow, respond to order requests, define, administer and analyse territories and alter boundaries easily. Email and productivity: Synchronise or embed Salesforce with Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, Google Apps, Microsoft word and Excel address book, calendar and email. Personalize email with templates. Genius: Share best practices, sales tools, supporting material, case studies, and similar deals from mentors. Content Library: Integrated content library with web features like tagging, search and ranking, find the latest presentations and information and marketing tools. Analytics and Forecasting: Dashboard graphics to display performance indicators at a glance. Generate reports and forecasting from valid data. Partners: Collaborate with partners in real time, sharing leads, opportunities and tasks towards greater loyalty. Mobile: Salesforce comes with free Mobile Lite or upgrade to the full version. Get instant access to vital information and dashboards. Service Cloud: The platform for modern customer service. Service cloud is a Call centre, a customer portal, integrates with Twitter and Fac

Cloud computing and businesses seems to be a perfect match. With a report found on Sales Force's website, Predicts 2010: Customer Service Meets Social CRM (Maoz, Jacobs, Davies, & Thompson, 2009), finds that tapping into social networks improve marketing, sales and service processes; when planning social networking projects, consideration about the dominant social networking sites needs to be addressed; and by 2011, all customers will be able to perform their own self-service functions on CRM packages. The report Predicts 2010: Customer Service Meets Social CRM relates to what louwnaw (2010) comments on about social networking integration: "Service Cloud: The platform for modern customer service. Service cloud is a Call centre, a customer portal, integrates with Twitter and Facebook." To in enhance productivity, Sales Force also allows itself to integrate into other products (louwnaw, 2010). Being a cloud service means that it can be accessed by anyone with an internet connection, and as Sales Force promote, no software to be installed. As "it all runs online, in the cloud, you avoid the expense of infrastructure and headaches of software." (Sales Force, 2010c). The real time chat feature allows for any user to communicate and collaborate with one other, encouraging dynamic interactions between people and groups (Sales Force, 2010a). With a great deal of success stories, it is not hard to see why so many companies have chosen this product (Sales Force, 2010b). louwnaw (2010). Salesforce.com Australia Retrieved April 3, 2010, from http://groups.diigo.com/group/net-308-at-oua Maoz, M., Jacobs, J., Davies, J., & Thompson, E. (2009). Predicts 2010: Customer Service Meets Social CRM. Retrieved from http://pointonemedia.com/app/portal/mm/customerservice-meets-social-crm.pdf Sales Force (2010a). Chatter Retrieved April 3, 2010, from http://www.salesforce.com/au/chatter/ Sales Force (2010b). Customers Retrieved April 3, 2010, from http://www.

Twitter has a more open platform than Facebook and present opportunities for businesses to tap into the online conversations of their customers and initiate micro-interactions with them. (Schindholzer, B 2009) David Markus from Smartcompany .com says functionality, ease of use, stability, price, support, level of integration with other tools and security for cloud computing are the criteria to evaluate web-based collaboration technologies on. Countless case studies confirm that Salesforce.com meet these criteria. Reference Sales Cloud Features Datasheet.( 2010) Retrieved on 1/4/2010 from: http://www.customer-experience-labs.com/2009/06/11/five-use-cases-to-leverage-twitter-for-your-business/ Markus, D.(2010)Retrieved on 30/3/2010 from: http://www.smartcompany.com.au/