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WebEx Online Classroom is the perfect tool for providing live just-in-time online instructor-led training or self-paced training to employees, partners and clients where participants can access either service from their web browser at any time from any place. WebEx Online Classroom allows for easy e-learning/e-training content creation and delivery and with the added e-commerce feature one could turn their in-house training service into a profit-earning centre. [1] Instructors are able to set up remote 'labs' for participants to practice on during any stage of the program, create polls or quizzes, receive instant feedback or track participation and attendance along the way. They are also able to record and archive. [1] WebEx Online Classroom allows for presentation sharing, streaming media or live video, interact in 'real-time' with the participants as well as passing control from user-to-user and share applications simultaneously. [1] Real-time demonstrations provide strategic advantages with respect to: [2] [3] * Rolling out new products faster * Accelerating customer usage of your products * Training new reps and partners * Bringing employees up to speed on new applications * Providing and/or improving remote support to your IT department and client base * Re-train or re-skill personnel who have been injured and/or returning to the workforce [4] The WebEx application has now been made available, free of charge, to Apple iPhone and iPad users. This means that the aforementioned training applications can be delivered to students who are on the move. It also delivers the traditional benefits of WebEx, i.e. virtual meetings and subsequent collaboration, sharing and annotation as well as individual or group chat sessions. [5]

Although predominantly marketed as a web based training tool for small-medium businesses, Webex offers a stable platform for collaboration in the educational sector. Steve Mackenzie is Distance Learning Development Team Leader in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at De Montfort University. He compares the usability and effectiveness of three web conferencing tools; Wimba, Webex and WiZiQ. He uses them as live online learning tools and his practical experience makes him well qualified to compare them. Mackenzie believes that technology should be invisible. He compares things like logging in, audio quality, whiteboard tools, feedback tools, the general environment look and feel, recording of sessions and of course support, he places more importance on the user interface and how much the tool maximises interaction. [1] Mackenzie's verdict is that Webex is the pick of the bunch providing a stable, least problematic web conferencing environment. He regards it as the easiest to log into and by far has the most appealing look and feel for participants and is easy to work with for teachers. [1] This is supported by other software review sites. [2] [3] One of WebEx's features has been its development of applications for iPhone. Users can view and join meetings and conferences from their phone, making collaboration possible away from their Internet-connected computers. [3]

References: [1] Mackenzie, S. (2009). The Three Dubya's - Wimba, Webex and WiZiQ. Learnadoodledastic Retrieved 31 March 2010, from http://learnadoodledastic.blogspot.com/2009/09/dubyadubya-dubya-wimba-webex-and-wiziq.html [2] GiveMeaReview. (2010). Webex Review. Givemeareview.com Retrieved 14 April, 2010, from http://www.givemeareview.com/online-meeting/webex.html [3] TopTenREVIEWS. (2010). Web Conferencing Review: Webex. Retrieved 14 April, 2010, from http://web-conferencing-services.toptenreviews.com/webex--review.html

GoToMeeting is a service from Citrix that facilitates online meetings between multiple people. The service not only allows for audio chat, but also desktop/screen and file sharing (Citrix, 2010). The service supports up to 15 concurrent users in a single meeting. Similar services are available for larger presentations in the form of GoToWebinar and GoToTraining allowing for 100-1000 and 25-200 users respectively depending on the level of service subscribed. At the conclusion of a meeting, GoToMeeting offers the ability to see who attended the meeting and who did not. To protect the security of its subscribers, GoToMeeting and Citrix's other GoTo products use 128-bit AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) end-to-end encryption (Citrix, 2010). This ensures that all communication is only seen by the intended recipients. AES encryption is a proven encryption algorithm and the cipher approved by the NSA (an American intelligence agency) for storing information up to the SECRET level (and TOP SECRET if a 192-bit or 256-bit key is used) (CNSS Secretariat, 2003). GoToMeeting has several competitors. The main competitors appear to be Cisco WebEx and Microsoft SharedView (successor to NetMeeting). However, competition also exists with combinations of free tools that fill the same need once combined. For example, Skype coupled with TeamViewer could be used to accomplish much the same task although not nearly as easy to use in the screen sharing combined with audio conferencing aspect. Citrix. (2010). Features. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from GoToMeeting: http://www.gotomeeting.com/fec/online_collaboration Citrix. (2010). Security & Reliability. Retrieved April 13, 2010, from GoToMeeting: http://www.gotomeeting.com/fec/secure_web_conferencing CNSS Secretariat. (2003,

GoToMeeting is a "popular online meeting application" (Ramachandran & Beeram, 2009) that is used to "collaborate online, give presentations and for online training." (Ramachandran & Beeram, 2009) This easy-to-use application allows collaborating with anyone, anywhere, saving businesses time and money particularly with traveling expenses. (Business Wire, 2009) GoToMeeting is used by small and large businesses; with the ability to "host an online meeting with up to 15 people". (Online Meetings, 2010) For $US49 a month and an Internet connection, it can be operated on Mac or PC, and now on the iPad. An App for the iPad was created, due to the "need for more mobility in our work styles." (Citrix Online, 2010) This creates more opportunity to collaborate remotely, without the need to be in the office. Online meetings can begin with a simple click of a button. Members can be invited to join by phone or a link in an email or instant message. (How It Works, 2010) Members can join quickly and start collaborating, using their computers microphone and speakers or by calling in via telephone. (Ramachandran & Beeram, 2009) Some feature of GoToMeeting are listed below: * Display presenters screen - The presenters screen is shown, displaying the desktop, an application or document. The presenter can change the screen shown to view another members screen. This helps members visualize. * Drawing tools - encouraging interactive collaboration. Highlighting and drawing using the pen, highlighter, arrow or spotlight tool * Record Meetings - meeting can be reviewed at a later date. Recording can be posted on the company website for other employees to listen to. * Mouse and keyboard controls - can be given to other members in the meeting, allowing members to collaborate.

* Security features - Creating a safe and secure environment. "SSL-encrypted Web site, End-to-end 128-bit AES encryption, Automatic inactivity time-out" (Security & Reliability, 2010) GoToMeeting is a quick and simple meeting tool that is effective for small and large businesses and allows employees to collaborate with each other on a daily basis. Reference: Business Wire. (2009). Retrieved April 17, 2010, from http://www.gotomeeting.com/fec/images/pdf/caseStudies/GoToMeeting_GoToWebinar_cs_Business_Wire.pdf Citrix Online Launches GoToMeeting App for iPad. (2010). Retrieved April 17, 2010, from http://www.citrixonline.com/pr/pressRelease.tmpl?FileID=040210& SourceTemplate=expertcity%2Fpr%2FpressReleases.tmpl How It Works. (2010). Retrieved April 16, 2010, from http://www.gotomeeting.com/fec/web_meeting Online Meetings Made Easy. (2010). Retrieved April 16, 2010, from http://www.gotomeeting.com/fec/online_meeting Ramachandran, K. & Beeram, S. (2009). Supporting Enterprise-Grade Audio Conferencing on the Internet. Lecture Notes In Computer Science, 5448(2009), 143-152. Retrieved April 16, from SpringerLink database. Security & Reliability. (2010). Retrieved April 16, 2010, from http://www.gotomeeting.com/fec/secure_web_conferencing

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].

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

Burst SMS is a pay as you use web based instant messaging service that is marketed as a 'private label SMS marketing tool' for responsible mobile marketing and advertising [1]. The service can be accessed remotely from any external online source and offers instant messaging facility in both single and multiple SMS sending modes, to just about anywhere in the world [2]. It is a system that can be rebranded to fit any companies profile and is touted as being wholly SPAM compliant with a built in industry compliant opt-out system [3]. The system has the following features: · Web based SMS delivery to one or many recipients · Cheap SMS rates - within Australia 8.8 cents per SMS. Elsewhere in the world 7.2 - 15.8 cents per SMS. · Marketing application - offers up to 250 SMS messages per minute, within 10 seconds. Includes an opt-out code. · Delivers reports · SMS reseller offering, with a white label web SMS system · Provides quick and easy communication within a business - facilitates team communication. · Unlimited number of contacts · Use of a keyboard to send messages rather than a predictive text pad. · Personalise text messaging to multiple contacts by using the [firstname] variable [4]. · Sits as a bookmark in your toolbar - no login required · Multiple personalising features - schedule reminders, favourites list, use personal mobile number identifier to elicit a response. · Sends out updates, alerts, reminders, promotional messages, confirmations etc. · Sends pictures, video's and audio. The value of using such a system for collaborative purposes is found in its ability to contact, and send personalised messages to, multiple people at one time in order to relay updates, new ideas, and changes in schedules simply and effectively, which saves time, money and concern [5].

References for BurstSMS: [1] CrunchBase (2008) Burst sms. Retrieved on 13th April 2010 from http://www.crunchbase.com/company/burst-sms [2] BurstSMS (2010) Web SMS Service. Retrieved on 11th April 2010 from http://burstsms.com/home [3] MobileMarketing Magazine (2010) Burst SMS Offers Opt-out Advice. Retrieved on 13th April 2010 from http://www.mobilemarketingmagazine.co.uk/2010/01/burst-sms-offers-optout-advice.html [4] BurstSMS blog (2010) 10 ways the Burst Web SMS Bookmarklet can make your text messaging life easier. Retrieved on 13th April 2010 from http://blog.burstsms.com/10-ways-the-burstsms-bookmarklet-can-make-you [5] MattE (2010) How a school kept parents happy using SMS. Retrieved on 13th April 2010 from http://www.plusone.com.au/diary/2010/03/17/how-a-school-kept-parents-happy-using-sms/

Diigo is a social bookmarking tool that has practical research applications, for both personal and enterprise purposes. Diigo is a self-described "collaborative research platform" [1] and has been lauded as an effective research tool by a number of sources [2] [3]. Diigo allows users to bookmark and annotate links, adding tags and private commentary much like many other social bookmarking tools (e.g. Delicious). However, Diigo extends this functionality with a browser add-on that includes a highlighting tool and the ability to attach one's annotations in the form of a "sticky note" [4]. Provided the user is logged in at the time, any subsequent return to annotated pages in the future results in the presentation of those annotations. In this respect, Diigo could be a valuable knowledge management and research tool for corporate needs. Given the functionality to create and manage groups, Diigo is applicable to an enterprise that undertakes regular research and sharing of collated information [2]. Diigo has also been suggested as a useful academic collaboration tool, particularly for group work [5]. Keep up to date with Diigo developments on the Diigo blog at http://blog.diigo.com/

While traditional methods for information gathering are still popular (i.e. physical libraries and cataloguing), today's preferred method of research however, has moved to the web with business and professional practices integrating social tagging as part of their independent information sharing and distribution [3] and is especially popular among the younger generation whose "basic assumptions about information today have changed" as they expect everything to be on the web. [1] According to Wikipedia, social book-marking (also known as 'social tagging') "is a method for Internet users to store, organise, search and manage bookmarks of web pages on the internet with the help of metadata" [2] and can be tagged "according to their own terms or definitions". [1] As this information is stored in the bookmarking cloud, it can be searched for and retrieved from any computer with access to the Internet or through a Diigo iPhone application (where you can download web pages for offline browsing). [4] For this reason, Diigo helps in overcoming the isolation felt caused by the distance barrier and breaks down communications barriers and engages interaction between management and remote project teams as well as between off-campus students and their tutors [1] and turns research into a social collaborative activity. Create personal networks consisting of people who share the same information categories through the 'MyNetwork' feature. This feature helps foster discussions around the content you are researching or are interested in. Build a knowledge-management, knowledge-sharing group or community online and enhance team collaboration with Diigo. Receive email alerts of new posts, hold threaded discussions and comment both on or off the article of interest. [4] Diigo is a free online collaboration tool and supports all major browsers such as FireFox, Internet Explorer7, Google Chrome, Opera and Safari there is no installation of softwa

References: [1] Redden, C. (2010). 'Social Bookmarking in Academic Libraries: Trends and Applications'. The Journal of Academic Librarianship. ScienceDirect. DOI: 10.1016/j.acalib.2010.03.004. Retrieved from URL - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6W50-4YR8B2D-2/2/6f8737ad459312295b39c7b1a8c40b43 [2] Social Bookmarking. Wikipedia. Accessed from URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_bookmarking [3] Abbas, J. et al. (2007). 'Who is tagging information?'. Proceedings of the American Society for Information Science and Technology. Vol. 44, No. 1, pp 1-4. Wiley Interscience. DOI: 10.1002/meet.1450440120. Retrieved from URL: US: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/meet.1450440120 [4] Diigo. Accessed April 14, 2010 from URL: www.diigo.com

The Cisco WebEx Meeting Centre [4] provides a secure, scalable and cross platform online meeting environment that allows people to collaborate and brainstorm online. The features of WebEx Meeting Centre allow people to participate in virtual meetings, talk to each other, video conference and conduct presentations in a secure online environment. The introduction of the iPad[2] from Apple Inc [1] provides another opportunity for Cisco to extend the capacity of mobile collaboration to people that are not necessarily sitting behind a desk. WebEx was first available on the iPhone and Cisco were one of the first software providers to release their application on the iPad [3] [5]. The Webex Meeting Centre provided by Cisco for enterprise online meetings has been available for sometime on the iPhone via the iTunes app store. IPad users will be able to participate in online meetings and view shared presentations, applications, view the meeting participant list, see who is talking and talk privately with someone else in the meeting. Cisco is delivering the app free from the iTunes store. References [1] Apple Inc. (2010). Apple Inc. Retrieved April 10, 2010, from Apple: http://www.apple.com/ [2] Apple Inc. (2010). iPad. Retrieved April 10, 2010, from Apple: http://www.apple.com/ipad/ [3] Bradley, T. (2010, April 1). Must-Have iPad Apps for Business Professionals. Retrieved April 10, 2010, from PC World: http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/193235/musthave_ipad_apps_ [4] Cisco. (n.d.). Cisco Webex. Retrieved April 10, 2010, from Cisco: http://static.webex.com/fileadmin/webex09/files_en_us/pdf/data_sheets/mc_ds.pdf [5]iTunes. (2010). iTunes Store. Retrieved April 10, 2010, from Cisco WebEx Meeting Center: http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/cisco-webex-meeting-center/id298844386?mt=8

WebEx video conferencing software operates on multiple platforms such as Windows, Macintosh, Solaris and Linux. WebEx provides users with quality, interactive meetings and provides data, voice and video seamlessly through the MediaTone Network [1]. Free trials allow businesses to evaluate the online collaboration services and with the added support for PC-to-Mac, Mac-to-PC and Mac-to-Mac and iPhone, WebEx proves to be an excellent remote access solution. With a growing Mac customer base, Cisco WebEx aims to provide the same support as what their current PC users receive. Director of product management, Ilan Kasaan said in a 2008 interview: "You can't deny that the Apple Mac is becoming more prevalent in businesses; in fact we have seen Mac usage double in last year…and as with all of our solutions, we are consistently upgrading to meet the demands of our growing user base" [2]. With the introduction of the Apple iPad, the WebEx Meeting Center (downloadable free from the Application Store) provides online collaboration to users by email and calendar invitation. The WebEx app also features a private chat option and audio conferencing and data sharing. Says Debra Chrapaty from Cisco Collaboration Software Group: "When a powerful collaboration solution like Cisco WebEx Meeting Center for the iPad is combined with an intuitive and WiFi enabled user experience, businesses and users both win" [3]. With the offering of the WebEx application free to Apple iPad, Cisco ensures support for their online collaboration software, allowing users to continue interaction via their networked computers and mobile devices [4].

References: [1] the Mac Observer (2003). Retrieved April 12, 2010 from http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/WebEx_For_OS_X_Now_Shipping/ [2] Cisco (2008). Retrieved April 12, 2010 from http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2008/prod_032608.html [3] CBR Mobility (2010). Retrieved April 12, 2010 from http://mobility.cbronline.com/news/cisco_unveils_webex_app_for_apple_ipad_050410 [4] TECHblips (2010). Retrieved April 12, 2010 from http://techblips.dailyradar.com/article/cisco-brings-webex-to-the-apple-ipad/

Officemedium is an online collaborative package for business which offers centralized collaboration, client integration, security, organization and social platforming. One of the features of Officemedium is the client integration which allows the business to create user accounts for their clients which allows them to access only the information meant for them. The software is simplistic and centralised. According to Officemedium their product is "Unlike most business software, our application is easy to use and stripped of over-complicated, unnecessary clutter." Officemedium uses a concept of Clients, Employee and Super User which allows differing levels of access and integration. Whereas there are many business applications that are similar, ReadWriteStart which is a resource guide for first time businesses, describes officemedium as "Topping their list is Officemedium, a service we profiled last fall which provides a wide variety of collaborative features wrapped up in an elegantly designed interface." Business Pundit lists the advantage of Officemedium as follows: "Features: * Client integration * Contact information management * Task management * Event coordination * Personal and group calendars * File sharing and storage * Resource and document management * Shared blogging * Real-time chat * Private messaging * Status updates * User profiles * Polling * Searching and tagging * Email updates and notifications Continued...............

OfficeMedium is a "web-based intranet and social collaboration software" (McCue, 2010) allowing businesses to bring together their daily business and communication needs in one central location. OfficeMedium is targeted towards small and medium businesses, (About, n.d.) providing an application that is simple and easy to use. Since OfficeMedium provides a working environment online, it is accessible remotely (OfficeMedium, n.d.) and takes away the need for servers, installation and upgrade of software and data backups. (About, n.d.) The software provides "file sharing and storage, event and task management, contact and company information storage". (About, n.d.) In doing this, it places all data in a central location, avoiding dilemmas of misplaced data from unorganised methods of communication such as email, phone or instant message. These forms of communication can sometimes make it difficult to monitor and locate data on a particular project. Progress of all projects and anything related can be viewed through a simple dashboard which offers real-time collaboration. (OfficeMedium, n.d.) Some features include "task and event management, personal and group calendars, contact management, to file sharing and storage". (McCue, 2010) Managers, staff and clients can access and input information in these areas, depending on their user level. OfficeMedium allows three levels of users. (McCue, 2010) These levels determine the amount of access a user has. They are: Client: Allows least access. Can allow client to view and give feedback to documents. Employee: Greater access than client. Able to view a greater amount of data and can input content. Superuser: Has full access. Is able to see and manage all areas

Reference: About. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2010, from http://www.officemedium.com/about McCue, T. (2010). Small Business Collaboration Software: Office Medium. Retrieved April 17, 2010, from http://smallbiztrends.com/2010/04/small-business-collaboration-software-office-medium.html OfficeMedium. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2010, from http://www.officemedium.com/

Dabbleboard is a Flash-driven (Beyond Google, 2009) "collaborative whiteboard application" (Tour, 2009) which mimics a whiteboard and can be used for business or education purposes. It allows users to easily visualize and collaborate ideas on an online canvas. (Karaoglu, 2010) Users can draw freehand shapes, insert images and input content. With a computer and Internet access, anyone can access Dabbleboard. There is no need to signup, although signing up will allow images to be saved and accessed at a later date. Two different accounts are available when signing up. Free Accounts, which allows a user to draw, share with an unlimited amount of people and save the image as a .PNG file. Pro Accounts, which may suit businesses can cost from $8US to $200US a month, (Pricing, 2009) depending on the businesses needs. Pro account allows the same access as Free Accounts with the extra features of no limit of documents or images created, secure sites using SSL/https encryption, images are downloaded as SVG files offering "greater data portability", (Pricing, 2009) customizable layout with ability to add business logos and program support is also offered. A benefit is its ease of use, allowing users to draw "simple shapes that automatically are detected and transformed into rectangles, circles, diamonds, and triangles, straight and curved lines." (Dabbleboard, 2010) Users can click and start typing without the need to change tools. Its ability to detect simple shapes and text can save time and frustration. (Tour, 2009) Also objects used regularly can be saved and accessed from the library at any time creating greater efficiency. (Lowensohn, 2008) Images can be shared by sending links to emails and chat in Dabbleboard. Images can be shared with invited members or made public so anyone can view and edit them. (Tour, 2009) --Continued Below in Anamaria R comment--

Within an organisation, a whiteboard is ideal for visual brainstorming sessions but with many companies being global it is difficult to get all employees together for such a session [5]. Even in local business it can be difficult to get co-ordinate staff [1]. Dabbleboard is an online application that allows you to draw as naturally as you would on a real whiteboard [1]. A whiteboard makes it easier to visualise ideas and the collaborative nature of the internet makes it easier for others to comment and offer feedback. [1]. With the online whiteboard users can draw freehand diagrams and sketches and write notes plus their is a library with ready made objects for piecing together pictures, charts, designs or maps [3]. All shapes and objects can be resized, moved or copied and the whiteboard is compatible with most illustration programs[4]. Users can watch changes being made to the whiteboard in real time or be notified of changes by email [1][3]. All changes made to the whiteboard can be saved for later use and users can come back and add to it or comment at a time convenient for them [1]. Currently Dabbleboard is working on a new product called AlmostMeet which will be an online service for collaborative group meetings. It is currently in the beta stages and will have many web conferencing features available for remote group meetings [2]. [1] Dabbleboard Inc (20100. Dabbleboard. Retrieved 19 April, 2010, from http://www.dabbleboard.com/ [2] Dabbleboard Inc (2010). Almost Meet Beta. Retrieved 19 April, 2010, from http://almostmeet.com/ [3] Lifehacker (n/d). Dabbleboard Collaborative Whiteboard. Retrieved 19 April, 2010, from http://lifehacker.com/5058459/dabbleboard-collaborative-whiteboard [4] AppAppeal (2010). Dabbleboard. Retrieved 19 April, 2010, from http://www.appappeal.com/app/dabbleboard/ [5] eHow (2010). How to Use an Electronic Whiteboard for Visual Brainstorming Sessions. Retrieved 19 April, 2010, from http://www.ehow.com/how_21657

--Continued from Above in Anamaria R comment-- Dabbleboard allows users to collaborate with others in real-time using communication features such as instant messenger chat and 3rd party application 'tokbox' voice and video chat, (Tour, 2009) which allows and encourages group collaboration making this tool a great asset for both business and education needs. Reference: Beyond Google Docs: 7 Web-Based Collaboration Apps; Along with the search-engine giant's popular collaboration tools, we look at Zoho Writer, Pastebin, Dabbleboard, Dimdim, Yugma, and Bubbl.us. (2009). pNAInformationWeek. Retrieved April 15, 2010, from http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.scu.edu.au/itx/start.do?prodId=EAIM Dabbleboard. (2010). Retrieved April 16, 2010, from http://www.appappeal.com/app/dabbleboard/ Karaoglu, O. (2010). Web tools for enhancing collaboration. Technology & Learning. Retrieved April 15, 2010, from http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.scu.edu.au/itx/start.do?prodId=EAIM. Lowensohn, J. (2008). Dabbleboard saves your sketches, time. Retrieved April 15, 2010, from http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10057647-2.html Pricing & Signup. (2009). Retrieved April 14, 2010, from https://www.dabbleboard.com/pro Tour. (2009). Retrieved April 14, 2010, from http://www.dabbleboard.com/tour