The latest in collaboration tools…

The last few years has seen a gradual yet dramatic change in the quality and popularity of online collaboration tools available and affordable to the mass public. With the recent financial crisis looming over everyone’s heads, its no surprise that companies are looking for ways to cut costs in any shape or form. This has subsequently spurred on demand for such tools and brought about rapid innovation. We take a closer look at how these services have evolved over time and the major incentives for corporations as well as entrepreneurs to adopt their use. We also delve deeper into analyzing key features and looking at what the future holds in store.

The virtual collaboration space began with independent tools/services such as chat clients, terminal services, Voice over IP (VOIP) services and primitive combined tools such as NetMeeting which were only great for one purpose or too difficult to configure. There were also larger corporate offerings through Cisco and HP which required significant investments in facilities and equipment to setup customized conferencing centers. However, cheaper bandwidth and storage have now brought down prices enough to make these tools a mass market product. Updates to web standards as well as the new role of the browser as the central point of interaction/client have also allowed disparate services to be brought together to offer greater usability and interactivity for conversing parties. The latest tools let users simultaneously, chat, draw on a virtual whiteboard, talk, share files as well as share a desktop all in one location.

Corporate jet setting executives are beginning to realize the benefits of actually getting more work done since online collaboration tools are reducing the need to travel for meetings. Employees are also able to benefit through more flexible work schedules Entrepreneurs and small business are also now able to leverage resources located remotely while some are doing away with offices completely.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the cool features of one of these services, DimDim.

• upto 20 simultaneous users for free! – perfect for startups and small group projects
• Share desktop screen, webpage, presentation/document, or whiteboard – great for brainstorming, demos
• Either use computer microphone/speakers or dial into meeting – you can be on the road or at your desk
• Chat functionality – always a great backup
• Mashups with other web-based products – examples include Moodle, SugarCRM
• Record meetings – finally do away with meeting minutes

As we have seen with DimDim, there is a lot of innovation happening around connecting collaboration tools with other relevant web services. The aim with these mashups is to make it intuitive and seamless for the user to use the collaboration tool as if it were an included feature. Some other tools that it could be integrated with include, project management software, recruiting tools, planning software and customer support services.

Going Coco Nuts?

So I was in Fort Lauderdale recently for thanksgiving and I was desperately craving some fresh coconut to drink and eat. We stopped at this roadside shack(an American version..with coconuts in refrigerators). The lady at the counter tells us that the guy that cuts the coconuts is not around...so we get the brilliant idea to cut it ourselves with a 'machete.' Its at this point in my life that I realize that I've never actually cut a coconut myself. You will notice on the picture that one side of the coconut is in pretty bad shape..a result of the haphard hacking. Suffice to say that the fruits of my efforts definitely tasted sweeter.

Inspiration

I haven't posted for a while, but today definitely warrants one. I just got done with a conference today on Entrepreneurship and the new market landscape organized by Entrepreneur Magazine. Firstly, I was amazed that this event was FREE! Yes, thats right, FREE! This was done through just a single sponsorship by 'The UPS Store'. Just to get you a feel of the flavor of the event, the keynote speech was given by none other than Robert Kiyosaki, author of 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' (the bible/Quran of any entrepreneur/investor). There were a bunch of sessions on marketing, sales and money management and off course there was a lot of networking going on. I met quite a few interesting folks, some just getting started on the road to paradise (not getting told what to do) while others were already ready to launch their products. We all shared a common drive though, the drive to succeed, to become our own bosses and off course it wouldn't hurt to make some green in the process. I came away from the conference more inspired and energized than I already was and with some handy tips to put to use straight away in my life and business.

Funny joke I heard: When an entrepreneur starts a company, the company PBX(phone system) might say something like 'For Sales press 1, for marketing press 1, for Customer service press 1...

Globe Trotter - by Taha Jiwaji

We begin our journey at home
A quite suburb of Dar-es-Salaam, on the edge of the city center
Traces of development; finally a tarmac road outside my gate
The exploration, the adventure begins
What’s next on the itinerary?

The souks of Dubai are bustling with activity
Gold litters the windows I pass
On the horizon gigantic glass skyscrapers
A perfect mesh of east and west, tradition and modernization

An overwhelming stench as soon as you step out of the airport
Flyovers zig-zag this bulging, bulging city
Mumbaites cram the local trains
I pass the corner store with the mouthwatering ‘mithais’(sweets)
Ancient temples next to glitzy malls, says it all

Next stop, Piccadilly Circus
People of all shades flock to watch the jester
A short nap in Hyde Park on a beautiful summer day
Grab the tube, I’m late for tea with the Queen.

The Big Apple, just woke up
The Wall Street types swarm the city
But wait, a quick stop at Starbucks for overpriced coffee
The Nigerian cab driver doesn’t have a clue where I want to go

My first steps on Latin American soil
Replace the Spanish with Swahili and you’d be mistaken it’s Dar.
Water for the people of Yoro!
Stomach get ready, it’s a heavy dose of rice and beans.

I can see why the Spanish conquered these lands,
The balmy winds, the white beaches, cascading waterfalls
There’s more public holidays then weekends in Puerto Rico
If only our journey weren’t about to end.

The best of Honduras

Pure fun!

They're so excited by the camera

Magnificent backdrop: Bahai Temple, IL, USA

love the composition!!!