Photo credit: steph nic

1. Instant messenger with video enables you to make voIP calls and share your screen across the Internet
2. Mobile messaging service allows instant group communication via SMS
3. Web-based group email application allows you to send email to a group and manage them online
4. Online file storage and sharing service allows easy-to-do file uploading and organizing
5. Online spreadsheet editor allows you to share your files and edit them in real-time

Here is the second issue of Kolabora Picks, a weekly update covering new tools, services and software facilitating online collaboration activities.

File sharing, P2P, social networking, web and video conferencing, online collaboration, privacy and security, groupware, instant messaging, e-learning, are the key interest areas on which I will keep my reporting sensors active.

The tools and services I select are either free or extremely cost-effective, highly usable and ready to be adopted without needing to have a whole IT department for you. If you are looking for large conferencing and enterprise collaboration systems this is probably not the best place to get your info.

But if you are a small business owner, an online publisher, a trainer or a professional in search of the shortest route to interact with your contacts online, this is where you will find the tools you can adopt immediately to start discovering this fascinating new set of opportunities.

Here the details:

1. iGlance
   
   iGlance is an instant messenger with video feature that allows you to make voIP calls and share files across the Internet. iGlance also provides you with the ability to show your screen -- all at once or a window at a time -- to a buddy over the internet. You can also decide to interact with your buddy by giving him control over your mouse and keyboard. iGlance is free to use and currently works only on the Windows OS.
   http://iglance.com/





2. txtGroups
   
   txtGroups is a mobile messaging service that allows instant group communication via SMS. Once you register, you can join groups and create your own to instantly connect with friends, family and business clients. After creating a group, you will only need to send one SMS to a specific number and txtGroups will deliver it to the whole group. You can create public groups and private groups. Alerts and group messages you receive on your mobile phone or device from the txtGroups service cost $0.25. Standard wireless carrier fees may apply for sending text messages to the txtGroups service. The txtGroups service is active across Canada, with plans to launch in the United States within 2006. Free sign up.
   http://www.txtgroups.com/





3. 9cays
   
   9cays is a fully web-based group email application that enables you to start a conversation between a group of people. The conversation can be viewed and managed via their web application. If you don't want to sign up to 9cays, you can instantly start a conversation with up to three participants right from the homepage. If you signup, you can invite more people into the conversation and expose other features. 9cays is free to use.
   http://9cays.com/





4. Putfwd
   
   Putfwd is a free online file storage and sharing service. Putfwd offers 1GB of free storage and 5GB of free bandwidth per month. Putfwd allows easy-to-do file uploading and organizing: you can mark files private, share them with friends, family and other groups, or set them public for all to see. Putfwd also enables you to send files by email without attaching the file itself (faster, and more reliable for large files). You can publish your files as blogs, podcasts, photo galleries, and more. Putfwd offers two basic accounts for free:
   
   1. 1GB of storage
   
   
   2. 5GB of bandwidth per month
   
   Plus and Pros plans are available.
   http://www.putfwd.com/





5. EditGrid
   
   EditGrid is a service that allows you to edit, store and access your spreadsheets from any computer with a browser. You can import from and export to common formats, including MS Excel, CSV, Gnumeric and OpenOffice's Calc. EditGrid supports Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla FireFox (Safari coming soon). Free to use.
   http://www.editgrid.com/home