Small businesses can take advantage of free levels of several online services. Freemiums let small businesses level the playing field with online meetings, customer relationship management tools, project management and more.
5. What is cloud computing?
Browser-based
Data stored online.
Examples: Dropbox, Box.Net, Amazon Cloud Services, Gmail,
Microsoft’s SkyDrive
6. What is
Software as a Service?
Also browser-based
Fees are based on usage needs or size.
Data stored online.
Examples: Salesforce.com, Mail Chimp, Google Apps, NetSuite,
Microsoft’s Office 365
8. Desktop Productivity software including documents, spreadsheets and
presentations.
Meeting Management
Web and video conferencing
Project Management
Forms, surveys and databases
Online storage and ftp
Email marketing
10. A full suite with docs, spreadsheets, presentations
Branded with your own domain
Individual gmail accounts, shared contacts and tasks
Add intranet-style sites for training, communications,
projects
Google Apps
11. A larger suite of applications including CRM, invoicing,
online notebooks, web conferencing
The spreadsheet app supports many advanced data
functions of Excel including macros and pivot tables.
Integration with popular programs like Quickbooks,
Outlook, Mail Chimp.
Zoho
12. Installed software, local to each user’s desktop
No online component
Includes database software, spreadsheets, presentation
building, a scientific math calc program, documents and
drawing.
Open office
17. Conferencing
Small number of attendees - meeting generally under 5; some only 2
Needs are limited to basic desktop or presentation sharing.
Don’t need immediate support
Can handle some occasional bumps in the road.
21. Skype
Free one-to-one
$5/month group calling for up to 10
22. Oovoo
Free for two participants
Prices escalate based on how many users you want in your meeting.
Clarity and quality. Display options in the meeting are a plus
For 35 years, I worked in the newspaper industry. The last 25 I worked for this company – Gannett – which owns USA Today and, among others, the Greenville News. I also worked for a very large private media company – Conde Nast – at their flagship newspaper in NYC.Before I started my own business in the fall of 2009, I never really concerned myself with how much it cost to put software tools on everyone’’s desktop, private sales software, accounting mangement, CRM and other key tools to our staff. If we needed another license for Office or InDesgn or Sales Force – we just got it.
Bilo , Virgin American, jagjuar
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