Communicate online as easily as talking on the phone...
View the complete feature set
In the plans: Users will be able to change Collaborate's look with a variety of wild graphic "skins" and a Collaborate Developer's Kit (CDK) will be offered allowing software designers to create plus-ins to enhance the program.
 Have a question about it?
 Email a friend
|
Collaborate
Collaborate™ is a dynamic conferencing and instant messaging software system that merges the best of many communication technologies. Whether you are a single user or a member of a large corporation, Collaborate™ offers users a diverse collection of tools geared to making interaction easier.
Now, whether you are conducting a meeting with 30 people, presenting a concept online, walking a client through a website-based demo, coordinating a project between teams, or just chatting with your friends, Collaborate™ has the power and convenience to enable you.
At its core, Collaborate™ is based on OMIT Duplex Packet Messaging (DPM) using network UDP protocols. Its basic functionality is similar to the two-way communication structure of the telephone system. Because of DPM, users are not required to employ a cumbersome server/client configuration; people can send and receive messages simultaneously using the same application. Building on this architecture, Collaborate™ adds: instant messaging features rivaling that of AOL and MSN, co-browser navigating, Microsoft® Outlook® integration, address book, Internet search tool, voice chat, a Whiteboard which allows graphical annotating of documents, opt-in meetings, project management tools, remote desktop, alerts and announcements, file transferring and data sharing, chat log recording, internal image viewer, and full encrypting.
| These features are provided in an intuitive interface that gives you the control, flexibility and stability to conduct meetings, present demonstrations, offer better client support, and communication as easily as talking via telephone. |  |
Software Feature Set
Multiple Chat Modes
Whether you choose between keyboard or voice chat, talking to other collaborators is as easy as conversing over the telephone. Both online users (those actively running Collaborate™ or using the Collaborate iServer™) and offline contacts are displayed in the Contacts List.
- Keyboard or voice chat using Duplex Packet Messaging
- The chat log may be recorded to Word or HTML format for later viewing
- 255-bit message encryption (eCrypto-based) secures your conversation
- Add emoticons (graphics which represent a variety of emotions) to your keyboard chat messages or alerts. By installing free emoticon upgrades, users can augment their choices
Add your photo and emoticons for a personal touch
Users can send a photo of themselves to fellow collaborators. This personal photo is stored in the internal database and is subsequently made available to all collaborators. Your colleagues will see you in their Contact Lists as well as beside your name in the Message Log when you send messages (user adjustable). No more asking, "Who's 'Rebaman'?". Touch up your messages even more with ever-popular "emoticons".   
- User photos can be loaded from any graphic file (size restricted) and submitted to fellow contacts.
- Photos are viewed in both the Contact List and next to the user's name in the Message Log.
- Add emoticons to outgoing messages and alerts.
- Download new emoticons from our library. You can never have too many.
Dynamic File Transferring
You've just put together a fantastic Excel® spreadsheet outlining sales performance, or you have a design, that needs feedback. No problem! Just locate the file, choose the recipients, and send it. Files can also be transferred straight from Windows® Explorer™ with right-click "Send To" menu integration.
- Send any file type to any contact
- No need to share Windows folders or know of their existence before sending a file
- Unattended file transfer
- Right-click "Send To" menu integration allows instantaneous file transfers directly from Windows Explorer®
- Drag-and-drop files
- Sound, image, or file broadcasting to any or all collaborators
- Send files via standard email to offline contacts
Collaborate WhiteBoard™
This innovative feature combines the capabilities graphic annotating software such as Adobe Acrobat® with the ease of sending data using Collaborate™. Users can open graphical documents, annotate them with easy to use tools and send the annotated file to any number of collaborators. The file is received and quickly loaded into the recipient's WhiteBoard where they can in turn markup the document and retransmit.
- Annotate on any graphical document native to Windows® (JPEG, TIFF, GIF, PCX, BMP...) using text, shape and distortion tools
- Send the modified document to other collaborators via Streamed File Parceling. No need to wait for a file to be delivered. It is transferred silently.
- Save the annotated document as a Collaborate Whiteboard file (CWB). Annotations remain separated from the underlying graphic so they can be edited later. CWB files are recognized exclusively by Whiteboard.
Conduct Meetings Better
Expanding on Collaborate's instant messaging functions, users can announce, convene and host opt-in meetings to an unlimited audience. Meeting announcements and agendas are handled by an intuitive interface.
- Meeting announcements (including date, time, log-in code, subject and agenda) are sent via meeting alerts or email messages
- Both the meeting Host and Participants can record the meeting agenda in Collaborate™ by default or schedule it in their Outlook® Calendar
- The Host can send Reminders to Participants at a preset time prior to the meeting date
- Non-participating Collaborators may "opt-in" to the meeting at any time during the meeting, of course with the Host's approval. The Host has overall control of who may opt-in and when to lock the meeting. Furthermore, Participants may "opt-out" of the meeting at any time
- During the meeting, Participants may "call-out" to gain momentary control of the meeting to present files or WhiteBoards
Web Page Navigating
Users have the ability to interactively navigate collaborators around the Internet by directing them to specific Web pages through Collaborate™. This form of "soft push" technology allows users to instantly share web page experiences without having to send the web link via email.
- Push Technology web page browsing allows users to share their Internet experiences
- The recipient can accept or decline requests at their discretion
- When sending a web page address, users can have the address stored in the receiver's favorites list
- Web page addresses are recorded for future reference
- "Push" browsing is completely platform independent. Works with all browsers.
Remote Control
Not only can users send captured images of their desktop or running applications, they can initiate a remote desktop session where they gain control of another user's desktop. This activity is monitored and cancellable by the client user.
- Ideal for helping other users with technical problems or demonstrating a specific function of a program
- Sessions may be aborted at any time by either and independent of the other party
- Clients may ban certain operations such as: opening Windows Explorer®, formatting drives, printing, opening the default browser, accessing the Control Panel, or shutting down Windows
- Keystrokes (other than control-key combinations like CTRL+ALT+Delete or ATL+F4) may be sent to whichever application or control has focus
No Server/Client System Required
Unlike other IRC or socket chat programs, Collaborate™ does not employ a server/client structure. Each occurance of Collaborate™ is able to send and receive data simultaneously, much like a telephone. All is required is an active network connection (if using Collaborate iServer™, only a browser is needed.)
- If using a Windows® Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) network and the server quits, don't worry: Collaborate™ only needs a valid IP number registered to your computer to work within the network (However, Internet access is only possible if the ICS server is running)
- Virtually unlimited simultaneous contacts can be accommodated in the chat room, meeting or project conference. Traffic is only limited by your network allowances.
Windows® and Outlook® Integration
With Microsoft Outlook®, users can import contacts or email addresses from the Outlook Address Book. Scheduling meetings is just as flexible since they can be added to the Outlook Calendar.
- Import contacts and/or email addresses right from Outlook into the Collaborate Address Book
- Users are able to either instruct Collaborate to update or mark matching contacts. Marked contacts may be updated from Outlook at a later time
- By simply dragging and dropping highlighted text from one application to the message box, users can quickly send notes without having to use the keyboard or cut-and-paste
- Right-click "Send To" menu integration allows instantaneous file transfers directly from Windows Explorer®
- If set, the entire application may be reduced to a system tray icon which sits beside the clock, thus reducing task bar space
- Along with the above, the application can be set to automatically minimize after a preset amount of idle time and/or when first started
- Collaborate can be automatically launched when Windows® starts, and restored by the press of a customizable hot-key combination
- CWB files are associated immediately with Collaborate Whiteboard
Seamlessly Works With Your Network
No one likes a program that interferes with firewalls, proxies, Internet Connection Sharing, permissions, or anti-virus programs. Well, Collaborate™ was designed to behave within the constructs of a network environment without adding any burden. Network administrators will be happy that they won't have to reconfigure settings or deal with issues.
- Firewall friendly: obeys any rules set by firewall systems
- Anti-virus safe: Collaborate does not interfere with any anti-virus processes
- LAN, WAN, NAS, intranet or Internet connectivity. All it needs is an active network connection. If all you have is dialup modem access to the Internet, that will work too.
Unlimited Capacity
Limited only by your hard drive space, network traffic allowances, your tolerence for chat "noise", and how many friends you wish to make, Collaborate™ will keep sessions running as long as you want.
|
