Intranet Basics:
Intranet Advanced:
Intranet Tips:
Intranets and Google:
Hosted Intranet Options
You don't have to worry about buying an application, owning a web server, and deploying software if you don't want to to have a vibrant, viable intranet for your business or organization. There are many externally hosted intranet options available when it comes to operating an intranet off-site, and I want to list a few for you to review and consider. Personally, I like the control of a locally installed intranet, on my web server only, and secured locally. But for a small company or global organization, a local installation without secure access just may not make as much sense as an outsourced one. And updates are easy with an externally hosted site, since you never have to worry about those either. They would come automatically with your intranet package. You can check out the potential benefits on my hosted intranet benefits page, but in the meantime, here are some intranets that are worth consideration.
1) Web Office (www.weboffice.com)
WebOffice is brought to you by WebEx, who have been helping folks coordinate web conferencing for over 10 years online. WebOffice is a collaboration tool, allowing you to share documents, coordinate calendars, hold web meetings, manage tasks, build web databases, follow discussions, make announcements and run your business online. You can control access to sensitive files while allowing your guests to view public ones, take polls, and manage expense reports. WebOffice boasts a customizable interface, in that you can upload your logo to help personalize your web space, but you can't really change the fundamental structure of the pages, so there are limitations. Try their free demo to see if you feel this functionality is what you are looking for. They have many online tutorials to help you get up and running. Pricing is based on a per-user fee.
2) HyperOffice (www.hyperoffice.com)
HyperOffice has a number of features that can help provide you with a good fit for your group or business. Their
Business Email Service allows you anytime, anywhere access to email with your Internet connection, with virus and spam protection. You can continue using Outlook as an email client and even keep your current email address.
More Features:
- Online Document Management. Manage your document review process with version control, overwrite protection, commenting and document locking.
- Online Calendar & Online Contact Management. View and manage your calendars over the Internet, using any Web browser. Manage meetings and events by checking schedules and sending invitations through their online interface. Share contacts with a convenient online address book.
- Task Manager. Manage tasks and projects via the Web. Delegate tasks and get access to project status, milestones, and incomplete tasks with online project management.
Pricing is on a by-user basis, and currently with a 30 day free trial.
3) IntraLite (www.intralite.com)
IntraLite looks like a great entry level intranet for small business and organizations. Many "intranets" are branding themselves as online web collaboration tools these days, and this is no exception. But that being said, this tool does have a focus on communication and features relevant to an intranet that other web collaboration tools can be lacking in. Features include a personal desktop, webmail, document management, multiple calendars and contact lists, discussion forums and collaborative group areas all with a simple management console.
Pricing is by the user, and there's a 30 day trial available as well.
Closing Comments
This is a space that is shifting rapidly online, and if you have any suggestions to add to the externally hosted intranet page, I am happy to hear them. A few of the solutions I reviewed even a year ago are now rebranding themselves with an alternate focus. I'll post more as I discover them!
