Do you like me use gmail to save your stuff, but its not so easy to find it again. its there but where?

I now use moostool.com as my paperless office in which i can organize my business and personal information.

it has better notes, desk top pics, for my family photos, and a cool alert reminder secretary,

i can set an alert to be sent to my mobile phone and remind me to pick up the wine and bread for friday night,…

oh it also has a mini daily diary for privite and super personal thoughts – its here,…

http://www.moostool.com

Ich freue mich ganz besonders, Ihnen mitteilen zu dürfen, dass der neue Kontakt-Manager noch heute freigeschaltet wird. Im Verlauf des Nachmittags (ich denke spätestens um 16.00 Uhr) wird er Ihnen dann zur Verfügung stehen.

Er beinhaltet neben der komfortablen Kontaktverwaltung auch den überarbeiteten und verbesserten Autopiloten. Zudem wurde ihm eine Newsletter-Software von unserem Chefentwickler spendiert.

Dieser vollumfängliche Kontakt-Manager ist in dieser Form sicherlich einzigartig und wird Ihnen viel Zeit ersparen und Freude bereiten. Er zentralisiert Ihre Kontaktdaten und macht die Administration Ihrer Marketing-Aktivitäten zu einem Kinderspiel. Sie finden Ihre Kontaktverwaltung samt Autopilot und Newsletter-Software nun vereint unter dem Menüpunkt “Kontakt-Manager” im GooLux Hauptmenü. Schauen Sie doch einfach zu gegebenen Zeitpunkt nach – die Bedienung ist im Grunde genommen intuitiv.

Diese Nachricht erreichte mich heute von CEO Steffen Schwarzlose von GooLux. Es stimmt zu 100% die Bedienung ist intuitiv! Ich würde sogar sagen einfach.
Der neue Autopilot ist ja eigentlich ein komplettes E-Mail Follow up System mit Funktionen die ich seleber in dem Umfang noch nie gesehen habe. Glauben Sie mir, schon alleine dieses Tool ist die gesammte Miete dieses Online Offices wert. Jeden Cent oder besser jeder Rappen.

Was aber kam jetzt neu dazu?

Kontaktmanagement. Jetzt können Sie Ihre Kontakte umfassend Verwalten. Eigene Gruppen anlegen, Kontakte mehreren Gruppen zuweisen. Dazu haben Sie immer eine Übersicht welche E-Mails der Kontakt bekkommen hat, welchen Follow up Newslettern er begfügt ist und vieles mehr. Für nur 29.95 können Sie das System vollumfänglich 30 Tage nutzen und testen. Tun Sie das doch. Risikolos und ohne Verpflichtungen. Jetzt testen!

Natürlich haben Sie umfangreiche Möglichkeiten alle Newsletter, E-Mails oder Nachrichten die Sie mit nachfolgend beschriebenen Emailsystemen erstellen, zu personalisieren. Jeder Empfänger fühlt sich durch Ihre Email persönlich angesprochen. Sein Name, Titel, Vorname kann durch einfachste Platzhalter eingefügt werden. Einmal schreiben hunderte bekommen einen persönliches Schreiben.

Follow Up Newsletter Diese Form ist besonders geeignet für Online Seminare oder zum Ankündigen besonderer Aktionen. Sie schreiben Ihre Emailserie, weisen dieser die Kontakte zu. Bestimmen in jeder E-Mail nach am wievielten Tag diese versendet weden soll – basta. Sie können auch Ihren Follow up Newsletter mit einer der über 200 im System enthaltenen Landingpages, Microsites oder wie GooLuxer es nennen, Werbewebseiten verknüpfen. Diese ist auf Sie personalisiert und Sie können diese Seite bewerben. Damit sind Sie rechtlich auf der sicherne Seite. Durch diese Funktion verwenden Sie das Double Opt in Verfahren wobei Interessenten durch einen Link in einer Bestätigungs E-Mail dem Erhalt Ihrer Nachrichten ausdrücklich zustimmt.
Na? Doch Lust auf einen Test bekommen? Klicken Sie einfach Hier….

Loop Newsletter Ein Loop ist eine Schleife, hier können Sie Newsletter oder Erinnerungen in einem von Ihnen definierten Tagesrhytmus senden. Hier können Sie eine Nachricht verfassen, die jeder Empfänger dann alle 10, 20, 12 oder 33 wiederholt bekommt. “Lieber <Vorname> Sie wollten doch mir doch alle 6 Tage berichten, welche Vortschritte Sie mit unseren Nichraucher programm gemacht haben. Morgen wäre es wieder soweit.” Dies ein kleines Beispiel für diese Funktion. Meine Frau nutzt den Loop-Letter für Ihr Figurforming-Programm immer mit dem Link auf die Website wo gleich die Daten eingetragen werden können.

Wochentag Letter Er wird immer am gleichen Wochentag versendet. Sie haben zum Beispiel ein eigenes Gewerbe und jeden Diestag ist Ihr FantaDi mit tollen Aktionen oder Sie haben ein Restaurant mit dem SchniMi der Mittwoch-Schnitzeltag mit Riesenschneitzel zum Zwergenpreis. Natrülich möchten Sie einen Tag davor Ihre Kunden auf dieses Event hinweisen.
Probieren Sie es doch gleich aus! Registireren, per Paypal oder Sofortüberweisung bezahlen und in wenigen Minuten kann Ihr Event promotet werden. Jetzt registrieren…

Jahres Letter Ich nenne das auch den Brief ans Christkind. Setzen Sie sich einmal hin und schreiben Sie doch zu jedem Festtag einen netten Gruss an Ihre Kunden oder Geschäftspartner. Sie werden nie mehr unter Druck sein. Sie verpassen keinen Feiertag mehr. Sie können Ihren Ostergruss sogar in den Skiferien im Internetcafe oder im Hotel schreiben. Er geht pünktlich raus, an alle die Sie bedacht haben. Und das beste, Jahr für Jahr!

Genauer Tag Definieren Sie ein Datum wann genau der Newsletter versendet werden soll. Sie haben ein tolles Motivations-Seminar am 23. November? Toll! Jetzt laden Sie Ihre Interessenten am 31. Oktober ein erstes mal ein, natürlich mit Frühbucher-Rabatt. Am 4. Novmeber folgt eine Erinnerung, am 13. Novmebr sind die Plätze sehr knapp geworden. Am 21. November ist Anmeldeschluss, natürlich erfährt das Ihr Interessent bereits am 20. November. Ja und am klar – Am 25. Novmeber erfahren die welche nicht daran teilnehmen konnten was sie verpasst haben und die welche dabei waren erhalten eine nette Erinnerung an einen gelungenen Tag. Da sie ja während dem Seminar ein Video gedreht haben können Sie das ja gleich mit anbieten. Jeder E-Mail können Sie überigens auch Dateien anhängen bis zu einer Grösse von 500KB.

Ja der Autopilot von GooLux kann Ihr Geschäft ebenso beflügeln wie Ihre Fantasie was sie alles mit diesem Tool anfangen können. Der Blog hier wird Sie zusätzlich mit Ideen füttern und Ihnen natürlich auch weitere Neuigkeiten von GooLux verraten.

Testen Sie doch GooLux gleich heute!

PS: Mit GooLux erhalten Sie auch ein komplette Ausbildung zum Internet Marketer und ein Fix Fertiges System zur Gewinnung neuer Kunden aus Handel Gewerbe oder Handwerk. Und Sie haben die Möglichkeit GooLux durch weiterempfehlen zu refinanzieren.

Microsoft has launched its latest salvo at Google with a free web-based version of its dominant Office software.

Office 2010 will enhance video and picture capabilities in PowerPoint

The new web offering will compete with Google’s free online Docs suite launched three years ago.

Last week Google took aim at Windows with news of a free operating system while in June Microsoft introduced a new search engine called Bing.

“We believe the web has a lot to offer in terms of connectivity,” Microsoft’s group product manager for Office told the BBC.

“We have over a half a billion customers world-wide and what we hear from them is that they really want the power of the web without compromise. They want collaboration without compromise.

“And what they tell us today is that going to the web often means they sacrifice fidelity, functionality and the quality of the content they care about. We knew that if and when we were ever going to bring applications into a web environment, we needed to do the hard work first because we hold such a high bar,” said Mr Bryant.

Microsoft said that 400 million customers who are Windows Live consumers will have access to the Office web applications at no cost.

At a conference for business partners in New Orleans, Microsoft announced an early release of web-apps to thousands of testers later this year.

At the end of the year the company expects to release a proper public beta for the software and ship a final version off to PC makers in the first half of 2010.

‘Conversion’

Analysts have mostly given the thumbs up to Microsoft for moving some of its applications to the web, even if it might cost them dearly.

Excel spreadsheets can now run in the browser

One analyst told the paper that despite such losses, it could be a canny move.

“Making sure people are still using Microsoft products is more important” in the short term than risking revenue, explained Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster.

“They need to keep people using Office,” he said.

“Microsoft is finally making the conversion through the web-based world. First, we saw that through Bing. Now we are seeing that through Office, ” said Jeffries & Co analyst Katherine Egbert.

“The software giant has woken up, ” wrote Emil Protalinksi of online blog Arcs Technica.

“It is promising to know that such a traditional software company is responding to the ‘threat of the cloud’ to its core business by embracing it.”

Investors appeared to like Microsoft’s move and boosted shares by almost 3.8% higher to close at $23.23 (£14.33).

Rivalry

Microsoft’s announcement is being seen as the latest move in a tit-for-tat rivalry between two tech giants as it and Google increasingly make efforts to encroach on one another’s turf.

When Google announced its Chrome operating system last week, the blogosphere watched and waited for Microsoft to react.

Chrome OS is seen as a direct challenge to market leader Windows

“I haven’t seen the product. I think it’s not a trivial engineering investment to go and build an operating system,” he said. “Of course it is interesting and there is a lot of talk but until we see the product, it’s hard to say what kind of impact it will have.

“We can’t afford to get wrapped up in hype or buzz or noise because really our customers depend on us every single day.”

Microsoft’s business software division, which includes Office, made $9.3 bn (£5.74bn) in profit from $14.3 bn(£8.82bn) in sales during the first three-quarters of its 2009 fiscal year.

EARLIER VERSION
SOURCE: BBC News

The Web 2.0 has arrived There were days when people were very excited with just being able to communicate using their computers on the hyper terminals .Then came world wide web and full fledged messengers working over internet protocols .There were times when Bill Gates said that hardware would become unimportant and software would take over the machines .So was thy wish and since then the windows has now become the most dominant Operating System all over .When the windows was at its peak Bill said the next generation will be dominated by devices that will be interconnected and they would seamlessly connect each other .

 Today most of the applications and databases are updated and operated in real time than offline for example the recent BPL census in RAJASTHAN used the web based application and the synchronization for compiling the various subjects under the census .It was implemented with the help from the NIC(National Informatics centre) and the technologies based on the .Net framework.(PCQUEST JUNE 2008, internet sources) Web 2 arrived and the torch bearer of this civilization is none other than your family’s favorite search engine Google. Seemingly the powers of web 2 has gradually replaced the importance of OS as the vital component of computing applications .Almost all applications can now be found integrated in your browser only with support systems based on either JAVASCRIPT or FLASH or the newcomer silverlight. Whether it is office application , Blogging ,Image editing ,file sharing ,Networking or Albums; you find numerous online applications for suiting your needs and providing the equivalent support facilities as their cotemporaries are offering now .

ONLINE OFFICE : There are host of providers working in this field the main ones being the ZOHO , GOOGLE DOCS and THINKFREE. These sites requires the user to have an ID and password to login and but that’s the only thing required these services are absolutely free (except the cost to stay afloat online ,gee!).They are just designed similar to the traditional MS office applications. Google provides the Google document , Google spreadsheet and Google presenter the contemporaries of MS word ,MS Excel and MS PowerPoint .The options to save the file are plenty , you could chose the format in which you want to save the file be rtf, open office formats, zip and word file formats .The most important and the attractive feature is that you can create and save the file in google itself and it can be edited from various location through multiple user working on it .For example , you require a file to be edited after you have last saved it then the next user can update the file and the file in the ends remains updated in real time at all locations .And finally you can publish it over web where other will be able to see it . Google spreadsheet is the contemporary of the MS Excel , in fact most of the excel features are available on it and you can readily make all your databases online .An interesting feature in the Google spreadsheet is its analogous function to the VLOOKUP , HLOOKUP ; the “Googlelookup” this function actually searches the world wide web for the value in the data field !! Zoho is equally good office provider .Interestingly Zoho works faster than the Google Docsand offers about 14 different services including the project management software, web conferencing , CRM database and reporting an online organizer as well as the chat facility .Zoho is among the few online office providers that offers online spell check too ! Here too you can save the document in various formats like word formats , sxw ,PDF ,ODT ,RTF ,TXT and HTML formats .

BLOGGING: Blogging can be defined as : A portmanteau of Web and log-blogs are simply personalised Web sites that are as good as an online diary. This has become a transforming and most proactive phenomena in the web lately these days you even find the Indian bollywood stars hooked to blogging .This has been the mouth piece of the internet’s democratic character . Infact many a times the blogger have brought a real insight into the happening of the areas against the biased reporting . Blogger and WordPress are unarguably the best of blogging providers .Blogger was an independent company earlier but it has now been taken over by Google , so your google Id can work here too . Besides the blogger also supports the OPEN ID so that you may use you’re the same id across the various supporting sites .The blogger provides a lost of gadgets that you can apply to your blog like photos , links, RSS feeds ,videos ,polls ,labels or your own javascript or the HTML. There are a lot of templates to choose from in the blogger index ,still if you are the kind who is very keen to details a lot of sites provide free templates for the blogger site like the www.bloggertemplates.org , www.finalsense.com/services/blog_templates . Another good feature in the blogger is seamless integration with the youtube videos ,you can easily add your youtube videos for sharing in the blogger. Now the questions is if blogger is so good what’s different with the wordpress? WordPress is the favourite choice of the geeks .It provides the ability to put plugins-downloadable windgets that improve the functionality and tweaks in the weblog .With a few tweaks on the blog the blog just looks as if professionally designed website. Besides you have excellent facilities to export or import the blog from and to wordpress.

ONLINE IMAGE EDITORS : And finally the image or graphic editing part that catches the fantasy of every kind on the block and even of the great engineers working on it .Online graphic editing has not evolved so much as the offline ones but the start has been really commendable .However the image editors come with a pre requisite that you machine must have been installed with the JAVA-virtual machine or the flash plugins . The contenders in the fray include www.picnik.com , www.pixenate.com , www.snipshot.com and www.splashup.com . These site have the integration with the flickr , webshot , photobucket or other photo sharing sites. You can choose the image to be edited and get started with the editor right away .You can set the light , intensity , size , hue saturation ,cropping and various other aspects of the picture with the tools provided. My favourites include the splashup site , it has an easy interface and the most advanced features of the her pack. The interface resembles the interface of Adobe photoshop and would be a little intimidating to the people who would just want to crop or resize the pic but the splashup site offers many powerful tools .

SOCIAL NETWORKING: Most of us are aware of the social networking sites and the greatest fad of the young surfers in the net ORKUT. These come under the social networking sites. The largest of social networking sites is the FACEBOOK and it offers a host of services under its website.It has host of its own as well as third party windgets and applications that you can add to your own page and interact with others .

 MASHUPS: In technology, a mashup is a web application that combines data from more than one source into a single integrated tool; an example is the use of cartographic data from Google Maps to add location information to real-estate data, thereby creating a new and distinct web service that was not originally provided by either source. Content used in mashups is typically sourced from a third party via a public interface or API (web services), although some in the community believe that cases where private interfaces are used should not count as mashups. Other methods of sourcing content for mashups include Web feeds (e.g. RSS or Atom), and screen scraping. Many people are experimenting with mashups using Amazon, eBay, Flickr, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and YouTube APIs, which has led to the creation of the mashup editor. The architecture of Mashup web applications is always composed of three parts: – The content provider: it is the source of the data. Data is made available using an API and different Web-protocols such as RSS,REST, and Web Service – The Mashup site: is the web application which provides the new service using different data sources that are not owned by it. – The client web browser: is the user interface of the Mashup. In a web-application, the content can be mashed by the client web browsers using client side web language for example JavaScript

Overall the focus has now shifted to the internet and the coming decades are seeing the rise of this new space with Google is grabbing with both hand at every chance it sees .(Read the acquisitions of blogger, youtube and host of other web companies, besides of course spoiling the sweet adventure of MS with Yahoo by playing the spoil sport. Playing the influences in US govt policies on 3G and other technologies).Lets wait and watch ,the century saw the rise and fall of IBM, MICROSOFT and now may be GOOGLE is awaiting to take over.

Training and Support

A critical aspect of developing any successful business is the training and support one receives to accomplish their goal. Our Franchise Owners are provided all the training and support needed to accomplish their goals:

highlight_science

1. Franchise Owner Manual – an in-depth step-by-step guide on building a successful franchise.
2. Franchise Office – an online office that allows Franchise Owners to effectively manage their growing
   

   womanphone

   business.

3. Franchise Training – informative conference calls with some of the industry’s most successful Franchise Owners.
4. Franchise News – weekly, comprehensive e-newsletter regarding the latest trends and tips.

Access to leading-edge training and development is key to building a successful enterprise. Each our Franchise Owner receives the support they need to achieve their business objectives.

usecomputerApply

Apply Now

Adobe’s Acrobat.com is a great new online app for people who don’t have the money to buy Adobe’s Creative Suite, or who just want to get the job done quickly. Acrobat.com comes with Buzzword, ConnectNow, the ability to create PDFs, and a file storage service, also ConnectNow, which helps you connect with coworkers and etc. 

The most useful aspects of acrobat.com are Buzzword and The File Storage, buzzword is a full office-style online word processor, and one of the best out there today. For a free website, you can’t go wrong with acrobat.com, and be sure to check out Adobe Buzzword, which is a smart alternative to the writer application of Google Docs.

Overall, Acrobat.com is worth your time. Take the 5 minutes to set up a free acount and try it out, if you dont like it, just forget it. If you do like it, keep using it.

The world of computing is getting together on the web (or should I say cloud). We have loads of free web based applications that provide competitive features as compared to desktop applications. Online, we now have Email Clients, Messengers, Web OS, Media Players, Office Suites, Image editors, Development Environments etc. all of which run inside your web browser without the need of installing any application(ofcourse you need to have browser plugins to run most of them). Most of these apps even provide free web space to save your documents online so that you may access them from anywhere, anytime. Or if you have Live Linux CDs or Asus Express Gate(Splashtop) powered motherboard you dont even need to have an OS installed to access all these apps.

Most apps in the beginning were implemented through AJAX and many now have transited to Flash/Air. And with the increasing competition between JavaFX, Flash and Silverlight we can say that there is much yet to come.

List of several applications grouped by categories are currently being googled. Will soon publish the result .

Sehr umfangreich und vielversprechend hört sich die Online Office Lösung ZOHO an. Ein Account ist in einer Minute eingerichtet, 1 GB Speicherplatz stehen frei zur Verfügung. Der Test von verschiedenen Tools ergab viele Ähnlichkeiten zu google-docs, jedoch stehen in ZOHO mehr Möglichkeiten zur Verfügung. Anbei ein Screenshot der Angebote, nachdem man einen kostenlosen Account angelegt hat.

ZOHO

search with the most powerful search engine

it is very simple all you need to do is to check if you have any of the listed
check here or Simply Buy the upgrade CD and Download the trial of MS the version you want and use Upgrade CD Product key … SIMPLE it is a hack of microsoft office 2007 what I did was I bout the online iYogi Tech Support after i bought there one year Subscription that was for $119.99 and too for complete one year and unlimited support after I purchased the upgrade CD from Microsoft

Office Professional 2007
Suite Includes:
• Microsoft Office Access 2007
• Accounting Express 2008
• Microsoft Office Excel 2007
• Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 with Business Contact Manager
• Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007
• Microsoft Office Publisher 2007
• Microsoft Office Word 2007
$499.95
Do you want to buy it with in USD $ 200???

Office Home and Student edition 2007
Suite Includes:
• Microsoft Office Excel 2007
• Microsoft Office OneNote 2007
• Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007
• Microsoft Office Word 2007
$149.95
Do you want to buy it with in USD $ 200???

Office Standard 2007

Suite Includes:

• Microsoft Office Excel 2007

• Microsoft Office Outlook 2007

• Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007

• Microsoft Office Word 2007
$399.95
Do you want to buy it with in USD $ 200???

Office Small Business 2007

Suite Includes:
• Accounting Express 2008
• Microsoft Office Excel 2007
• Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 with Business Contact Manager
• Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007
• Microsoft Office Publisher 2007
• Microsoft Office Word 2007
$449.95

Free Alternative Downloadable Desktop Based Office Suites

• 
  OpenOffice.org
• 
  StarOffice
• 
  IBM Lotus Symphony
• 
  GNOME Office
• 
  NeoOffice
• 
  Kingsoft WPS Office
• 
  Softmaker Office

Online Web-based Office Applications or Suites

• 
  Google Docs
• 
  ThinkFree Office Online
• Zoho Office Suite
  

Free Alternative for Microsoft Outlook (PIM)

• 
  Novell Evolution (Windows
  version)
• 
  Mozilla Thunderbird

Free Alternative to Microsoft Project

• 
  OpenProj
• 
  dotProject

http://www.mydigitallife.info

Few days ago I tried first time India based Zoho and truly I was surprised! The service portfolio is amazing. Usability is simple and when exporting presentation to PowerPoint format, everything worked very well. This is how they describe what they are all about:

Zoho is a suite of online applications (services) that you sign up for and access from our Website. The applications are free for individuals and some have a subscription fee for organizations. Our vision is to provide our customers (individuals, students, educators, non-profits, small and medium sized businesses) with the most comprehensive set of applications available anywhere (breadth); and for those applications to have enough features (depth) to make your user experience worthwhile.

Zoho is a division of AdventNet Inc led by Mr. Sridhar Vembu. According to recent article in The Economist he is confident that “In the world of corporate IT, the low-cost revolution is very much unfinished business.” And he is right.

Now the latest rumors tell that General Electric is planning to adopt some of the Zoho’s services to its employees’ desktops worldwide. If the rumors are true, about Zoho can add 400,000 individual users to its customer list. That would be something, wouldn’t it?

I have had been using the Google Docs for some time and frankly, couldn’t get a hang of it. I couldn’t complain since its “Free”. Recently my friend introduced me to Think Free. At first it is a bit of pain, as it uses JVM for all its awesomeness. Anyways after all the hard labor and 40 MB Desktop Download. Its quite simply brilliant and really use full. I can now

• Seamless OS transition.
• No more converting file formats
• Backup of my Ideas
• I find ThinkFree is more feature-rich and user-friendly.
• Post documents directly to your blog without any conversion
• Create powerful Web presentations using a familiar interface
• Convert your existing documents to PDF format

There is absolutely no other online presentation software that comes even close. Do try it. It has a Web Based UI and a  Desktop Client.

Web GUI

Starting a new business can be quite tricky and expensive especially when you have to think of overhead costs. Setting up a law practice is no different; it is a business in the true sense of it. Therefore, when there are limited resources, other options need to be explored. One of such options, is the virtual office. This is Part I of a 3 Series article. Watch out for the other parts.

What is a Virtual Office?

A virtual office is a work environment, which is not tied down to a specific location. It has been defined as an environment that enables a network of co-workers to run a business efficiently by using nothing other than online communication technologies. It is also a common term for shared office services, which normally includes business address, mail & courier services, phone services, fax services, answering services, web-hosting services, and meeting & conference facilities.  (Answers.Com).

What do you need to set one up?

Technically, your virtual office is wherever you are; it could be in your home, inside your car, on the beach, anywhere you find yourself. You are not tied down to a specific address. However, you might find it necessary to create a workspace at home, where you can work uniterrupted. If you are running your office from home, you might not want your business to have the same address as your home. So what do you do? There are a few options: you could either rent a post office box for your business, use a friend’s office address or use a Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (I do not know how readily available these are in Nigeria).

If you decide to operate this way, you will require certain equipment to successfully run your virtual office.

• Computer: If your work involves a lot of traveling, you might consider getting a laptop computer. Laptop computers range in price from the brand names like HP to Dell and other home grown computers like Omatek and Zinox. However, if you do not do much traveling, a standard Destktop system will do the job.

• Internet Connection: A very good internet connection is imperative. With a USB flash drive, you could probably go to a cybercafe and get all your work done. But with the high rate of cyber crime, it is not expedient or even wise to expose highly confidential material, such as you will be dealing with. You need some degree of security and that will be guaranteed – to some extent, by getting your own private internet connection. In Nigeria, there are a couple of ISPs; the most affordable seems to be the Starcomms broadband. However, I have used DOPC (Direct on PC) provided by Unwired for several months now and I’ve found their services satisfactory but they are only available in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt.

• Printer: A black and white 600-1200 dpi laser printer if your final documents require crisp, high quality black and white output. Laser printers also provide the fastest output, so if you know your volume will be high you should also consider a laser printer. A color laser printer if your documents need high quality color illustrations, photos, or charts. These are quite expensive so make sure you compare the print quality with a less expensive ink jet printer. An inkjet printer if you need good quality text, color charts and graphs, or photos. With ink jet printers, the paper that is used often makes the biggest difference in the print quality. Get paper that is best suited for the job you are doing. Also, try to get a test print from different models to compare quality before you buy. Ink jets can provide very good quality but are not as fast printing as laser printers. (How Stuff Works)

• Scanner/Copier/Fax Machine: You will need all of these at one point in time or the other. You can request the soft copy of documents from your clients, but there are certain others that you will need to photocopy and maybe scan, such as Court processes, Leases and other such documents.

For the same reason, you will need a Fax Machine. This is because, a good percentage of your clients are people you will most likely never see. This affords them an option to scanning. In the alternative, there are several fax to email services on the internet such as eFax, which enable you for a minimal fee, to receive fax messages as emails. Free Fax to Email, like the name implies, offers free services.

• Alternative Power Supply: Let’s not forget that this is Nigeria we are talking about. You cannot afford to rely on the National Power supply (Power Holding Company of Nigeria). They are erratic. Your clients reside in different time zones and countries, they would find it hard to understand that you did not meet a deadline due to a lack of power supply. Therefore you need either a generator or an inverter; or in most cases both.

Software:

• An email address: This definitely goes without saying. There are several free email services on the internet such as Yahoo, Hotmail and GMail.

• A website/blog: This is your presence on the internet. It is where your clients will find you. Read this on how to create a blog.
• A word processor: The most popular is Microsoft Word. But this is quite expensive. A lot of people use Lotus, however, I personally use Star Writer by Sun systems. It works just fine for me and because it is open source, it is also free.
• Spreadsheet and database programs: Microsoft Excel, Intuit QuickBase and Star Base, which is free.
• Presentation Software: Microsoft PowerPoint or Star Office
• Antivirus: This is necessary to protect your system from harmful virus especially since you will be connected to the internet. Some good ones are Norton Antivirus, Mcafee and Avast.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader:
• Graphics/Image Editor:
• Internet Browser: You can use Internet Explorer but my personal preference is Mozilla Firefox.

This is it for now. In the next part, the following questions will be answered:

How do you hold meetings? What if you need an assistant, how do you employ?

Let me know if this article was useful to you. If there is anything you would like to know about Virtual Offices, drop a comment and I’ll blog about it.

If you would like to download the free Open Office suite, click here.

salesforce.com has designated ShareMethods’ on-demand service ShareNow as an AppExchange Essential. This honor is reserved for a select set of AppExchange applications. salesforce.com explains their AppExchange Essentials as follows:

 “[AppExchange Essentials are] here to help users of different departments, verticals, and segments quickly locate apps hand-picked to meet their specific business needs and objectives.

Salesforce.com’s in-house experts have made these app recommendations based on five criteria: user ratings, feedback from customer interviews, pre-integration on the Salesforce platform, simple and intuitive user interface, and ability to address top business needs for the particular department, vertical, segment, or use case.”

salesforce.com selected ShareNow as an AppExchange Essential and our new app ShareOffice is built on the foundation of ShareNow (so its even better…). Click on the image below to learn more about ShareNow.

ShareMethods is excited and proud to have salesforce.com recognize its documents on-demand solution as one of the top applications in the AppExchange. The designation as an AppExchange essential follows previous endorsements by salesforce.com including their lead Customer Success guru Wendy Close, previously Gartner Group analyst in her post “Cool Tools Heat Up the AppExchange”. And App of the Week for ShareOffice too…

Thank You salesforce.com!

Plus, we should also let you know that InsideCRM noted ShareNow as one of the Top 20 apps in the salesforce.com AppExchange. Click on the image below for the article.