Online Collaboration Solutions:

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1 ThisIsCable for Business Report Series Online Collaboration Solutions: A Sampling of Online Communications and Data-Sharing Solutions Designed for the Small Business Community Comparison Report Produced by BizTechReports.com Editorial Director: Lane F. Cooper Research Assistant: Will Frey

2 ThisIsCable for Business Reports are designed to demonstrate how new technologies enabled by cable providers help small business owners and managers address key challenges, solve problems and achieve mission critical objectives. More resources can be found at thisiscable.com/business.

3 page 3 Online Collaboration Solutions: A Sampling of Online Communications and Data-Sharing Solutions Designed for the Small Business Community In this companion report to the This Is Cable for Business Online Collaboration Strategies for the Small Business Market report, the editors of BizTechReports.com have assembled a sampling of offerings that have been specifically configured to address the needs of the small business community. NOTE: This is not an exhaustive survey of all available offerings. It is meant to provide readers with an idea of the solutions that are available. Solutions Listed in Alphabetical Order While it is not an exhaustive report, it does provide small business owners and operators with a fair idea of the types of offerings that are available to this important segment of the market. This is a document that we will periodically update to include new offerings and solutions as we become aware of them. The small business solutions described in this report cover a wide range of solutions that range from the basic ability to share information, to very sophisticated and integrated suites that combine project tracking, calendar sharing, team collaboration and client management. The solutions in this category work well on their own, but the editors have found the solutions are not mutually exclusive. Indeed, the relatively low price point of many solutions in this report, combined with the fact that they are web-based technologies create an opportunity for small business owners to pick and choose the features and functions they like best, and then use them to manage relationships with colleagues and customers. See how small businesses are approaching collaboration in our broader report on the subject, which is available at

4 page 4 37 Signals Business organization, contact tracking, group chat and project management for small businesses Backtrack Permits information sharing across all users; enables sharing of documents, discussions, and schedules in one place. Base Camp Allows file sharing, tracking of assignments and centralization of feedback. Campfire Enables real-time chat, file and code sharing among user teams. Highrise Tracks past conversations, calls, s and future meetings. Cisco index.html Web-based presentation and document sharing WebEx Offers real-time desktop/file sharing with phone conferencing for up to 25 people simultaneously. Users can connect via a PC, Mac, iphone, Blackberry or any other wi-fi or 3G-enabled mobile device. DropBox Web-based file hosting that enables users to store, share and synchronize files over the Internet File Sync Allows users to synchronize files on personal computers with colleagues and customers online automatically. Offers 2GB of online storage for free, with up to 100GB available to paying customers. File Sharing Allows file sharing so that several people can collaborate on a set of files by setting up a public folder that links directly to Dropbox application on PC. Online Backup All files in Dropbox application on PCs are effectively backed up online in an automated manner. Service can restore previous versions of your files and provides 30 days of undo history, with unlimited undo available as a paid option. Web Access A copy of all files in the Dropbox application on PCs is stored on Dropbox s servers online, allowing users to access files from any computer or mobile device.

5 page 5 HyperOffice collaboration-suite Small business suite for calendar, contact management, document management, , intranet/extranet, project management Database Management Enables users to create Web forms, contact databases, lead tracking, support ticketing systems and more. Discussion Forums Help spur communication and discussion within and across company boundaries for teams, departments, partners or customers. Outlook Synchronization Allows access and management of Outlook account on any PC, Mac or mobile device. All changes are automatically synched, updated and mirrored. Task Manager Centralizes assignment, management and tracking of multiple tasks. IBM A collection of integrated, online collaboration solutions and social networking services Connections Enables storing and sharing files, management of team activities and chatting with colleagues. Engage Hosts meetings online with integrated tools, such as networking and file sharing. inotes Simple administration with flexible storage quotas, as well as transparent, demonstrable security and data management practices that satisfy the requirements of most businesses.

6 page 6 Mavenlink Small business collaboration tools for sharing files, tracking projects, invoicing and payments Change Orders Centralized workspace enables all appropriate parties to quickly analyze and agree on changes to price or schedule. Online Payment System Enables customization of payment plans for each project and simplifies invoicing. Project Tracker Provides clear insight for every milestone, task, and deliverable is clear from the start to end of every project. Microsoft SharePoint en-us/default.aspx SharePoint for small business Information Distribution Allows users to share common files to be posted on the intranet. This enables a centralized store of information that employees can access at anytime. Document Management Allows users to implement version controls, security, collaboration and approvals for documents. Project Management Gantt charts and collaborative virtual workspaces designed specifically for small businesses. Collaboration Allows users to track and share thoughts on concluded or upcoming meetings, events, projects, direction, in an interactive manner.

7 page 7 MyClient Spot Online project management and time tracking Task and Time Tracking Users can manage budgets across multiple projects, and create time reports then export to accounting software for invoicing. Files and Calendar Sharing Users can upload files and create online documents and revisions, and keep a shared calendar of project and task deadlines. Project Collaboration Users can assign project owners and track progress against deadlines, and share information securely with team members and/or clients. Client Data Management Users can correlate project progress with client data, documents and correspondence. OfficeMedium Live chat, user profiles, polls and calendar tools Client Integration Clients using these special accounts are allowed to submit items such as tasks, events, and files, and are only allowed to see content and data that is meant for, or created by them. Instant Filtering, Searching All content sections and components feature desktop-like, instantaneous filtering, searching, and paging, meaning that they can be performed without having to reload the entire page. Social, Communication Functions Enables users to implement social functions found on popular networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter. Task Management Users can submit tasks, with due dates, time frames, priorities, status and attachments to track their own work and that of colleagues.

8 page 8 PBWorks Shared workspaces to link colleagues, clients and partners Audit Trail Tracks all changes to enable full accountability of all users, and enables reversal of changes with a couple of mouse clicks. Dashboard Provides a single, up-to-date, personalized view of all tasks for user and team. Live Editing All users can see edits as they appear in real time, and can use in conjunction with Voice Collaboration to eliminate the need for Web conferencing tools. Voice Collaboration Automatically dials desired participants, adds participants and records calls for later review. Project Spaces Workspace and extranet tool to help connect, share and collaborate Announcements Notifies users via RSS and notifications. Calendar Enables users to track events and locations on a shared calendar. Documents Comment on, manage, share and store documents in a single, shared location. Socialtext Solution for group productivity, microblogging channels and activity stream filtering. Connect Integrates events from enterprise applications, creating a social layer that spans departments, geographies and systems. Microblogging Controls membership, content and company policy, and includes rich profiles and social networking. Workspace An enterprise wiki that reduces by one-third the time staff spends searching for information, speeding up cycle times across the organization.

9 page 9 WizeHive Solution for sharing files, managing projects and tracking activity in a private, secure workspace Activity Window Enables users to track all activity in one or more workspaces, to enter notes, attach files and upload files. File Sharing Allows users to upload, comment on, store and share an unlimited number of files from within each workspace. Task Management Enables user to see all tasks grouped by person, group, list, project or any other criteria. Workspaces An unlimited number of places for users to share information with others. Zoho Project management, collaboration and issue tracking solution. Bug Tracking Combines clean interface to organize issues with customizable workflows, set business rules and fix project bugs. Project Chats Feature is always on to enable everyone on the project to quickly come together to discuss important topics and make decisions more quickly. Project Reports Visually represents how a team is progressing against pre-defined goals while tracking time spent on different tasks. Time Tracking Records working hours; exports data and generate reports quickly with timesheets on time.

10 About BizTechReports.com BizTechReports.Com is an independent reporting agency with offices in Washington, DC and the San Francisco Bay Area that analyzes user trends in business technology. BizTechReports.Com explores the role that technology products and services play in the overall economy and/or in specific vertical industries. For more BizTechReports.Com white papers, case studies and research reports, visit About This Is Cable ThisIsCable.com Business Report Series is an initiative of CTAM, the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing, which is dedicated to helping the cable business grow. Cable companies supporting the initiative include: Armstrong; Atlantic Broadband Business; Bend Broadband Business; Bright House Networks Business Solutions; Cable One Business; Charter Business; Comcast Business Class; Cox Business; Insight Business; Mediacom Business; Optimum Business; Rogers Cable; Suddenlink Business and Time Warner Cable Business Class. Small business owners can learn about the initiative at