The Technology Trends of Enterprise Collaboration and Virtual Teams

• Actai Networks released c2call, a browser-based voice-over-IP service. “It works without installation with any recent Windows, Mac or Linux Browser. You can make free internet calls like writing web based emails, just log into http://www.c2call.com and you can make calls from anywhere, home PC, office system or public terminal. More than that, since there is nothing to install, you can send an call invitation to anybody you want to talk to, just send an email directly from the http://www.c2call.com applet. The receiver can click on the link and is instantly able talking to you.” Available immediately.
• LearningTimes signed up with Qwaq to provide 3D virtual meeting places for onilne conferences. “LearningTimes, whose clients include major education institutions, nonprofits and corporate trainers, used Qwaq Forums within the Illinois Online Conference for Teaching and Learning (IOC), which was held February 13 to 15. In addition to using Qwaq Forums as an alternative to virtual classrooms, LearningTimes has begun pilot programs with library, museum, and public education institutions, and plans to host an entire online conference in Qwaq Forums later this year.“
• Zimbra released Zimbra Mobile Edition (ZimbraME), a Java client for access to email and calendaring data in the Zimbra Collaboration Suite. “ZimbraME source code is available to the Zimbra community (www.zimbra.com) for feedback and enhancement, as well as to implement ZimbraME on the devices of their choice. Popular mobile devices supporting ZimbraME include the BlackBerry 8800 and 8820 series; the Motorola RAZR2; Nokia E61 and N73 handsets; the Sony-Ericsson W950i handset; and the Samsung SGH-E900 handset, adding to Zimbra’s longtime support for wireless platforms that includes Symbian, Windows Mobile, Palm and iPhone. Additionally, Zimbra supports native sync to BlackBerry handsets via the BlackBerry Enterprise Server.“

Insights on Being Productive and Effective as an Individual

• The two most common ways of interacting with others–meetings and email–are also the most maligned. When we interact face-to-face within meetings, we realize that good communication and good meetings are hard. Ditto for email. Perhaps that’s the reason for the continual interest in new-new ways of interacting … we’re hoping that they’ll be easier. Thoughts? (see also Jessica)
• A better way of structuring a presentation: (1) address their interests, (2) paint a picture of how things can be, and (3) give them a compelling reason to respond.
• Great example of being a professional that cares: “Each week, no matter the condition of the weather, the color of Ethan’s mood ring, or the extra hours it will take to meet our deadlines, we call each of our clients. We check in, ask how they’re doing, and give them an update on the activities surrounding their project. We call every week throughout the project, and even two to three weeks past the time we’ve delivered our work—all to make sure the client doesn’t have any last-minute needs, or has run into any problems. That’s how we roll. We care like that.” (hat tip, Matt)