Virtual Communication Tools

chillibreeze writer — Shreeja Narayanan

"Going global" is a term best supported by virtual collaboration. A strong desire for an efficient global workforce, cost cutting, audio-visual communication between team members, clients from different time zones, outsourcing, and the need for fast execution of multiple projects have increased the demand for virtual collaboration tools worldwide.

Virtual collaboration tools use the internet as a base for all activities ranging from video conferencing, desktop sharing, document editing and creation, online file sharing, project management, work flow management and asset management. Here’s a look at the best and most popular virtual collaboration tools today.

Basecamp

Basecamp is an online project management and collaboration tool developed by 37 signals.

Features

1. Manage multiple projects online.
2. Create to-do lists, assign due dates and schedule projects.
3. Share and upload files, documents, pictures, audio and video.
4. Track project schedule and progress.
5. Put up messages on a virtual message board and view comments.

Basecamp is cross-platform and is available in about a dozen languages. Basecamp is custom designed for different mobile phones and devices. Mobile users can directly access Basecamp without any specific applications by simply typing basecamphq.com on their mobile phone browser. Basecamp has several add-ons with which users can synchronize projects with Google Docs and Dropbox storage.

Skype
Skype is a leading VoIP software originally developed by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friss. Currently owned by Microsoft, Skype ranks above other web phone and VoIP software currently available in the market.

Features

1. Video call your friends and family anywhere in the world.
2. Make absolutely free Skype to Skype calls.
3. Send documents, videos or photos with no limit on the size, for free.
4. Group Video conferencing with different clients or employees at the same time.
5. Access Facebook wall and update status, call Facebook contacts on mobile or landlines and even instant message your Facebook contacts.

Skype offers many basic and important features for free. It has different pricing plans that are much more affordable than its competitors offering VoIP service.

WizIQ
WizIQ is a virtual collaboration tool specifically meant for online teaching in virtual classrooms. Developed by WizIQ Inc., it is a virtual learning and teaching platform for students and teachers.

Features

1. Share your desktop and content files easily.
2. Record an entire class including the teacher's audio/video inputs.
3. Integrate with your own website.
4. Show your own brand in the virtual classroom.
5. Whiteboard tools to write and draw.
6. Talk face to face and hear voices of other students in the classroom with live audio and video communication between teachers and other students.
7. Easy text chat is also available.
   

ProofHQ
ProofHQ is a collaborative, web based proofing solution for the creative services industry.

Features

1. Clients can create proofs from web, print and audio-visual files.
2. Team members can see the reviewer's comments in real time and reply, thereby reducing revision cycles.
3. Add contacts, organize contacts into groups and share proofs with them.
4. Ask reviewers to review proofs and get notified of their decisions in real time.
5. Integrate ProofHQ with Workflow applications, project management systems like Basecamp and Central Desktop and asset management systems like Microsoft SharePoint and Xinet WebNative Suite.
6. Create proofs from over 50 file types.
7. You can easily upload files from your desktop using desktop uploader or easy drag – drop operation.
8. Share proofs with users without having them to login, a simple email link will do the job.
   

There are many more tools used for virtual collaboration tasks that can be categorized as per their applications as in Knowledge Management Systems, Enterprise Bookmarking, Application Sharing, Data Conferencing, Electronic communication, conferencing tools and the like.

 

 

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Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in October, 2011. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.

 

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—About our writer: Shreeja Narayanan is a Mumbai based freelance writer, with a keen interest in article writing and web content writing. She also works as an independent software consultant and has over 5 years in the software industry. She regularly writes on different topics like parenting, interior design, technology to name a few.She also writes stories for children.

 

 

 

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