A few days ago I provided an introductory post to the forthcoming series on desktop collaboration offerings that are available as Skype Extras. In this post I simply want to mention the three offerings that will be reviewed along with some additional criteria for the evaluation.

Skype Extras for PC Desktop Collaboration:

Convenos Meeting Center: emulating your conference board room with a slide projector, video monitor, whiteboard and display adapter with screen. A key feature is Convenos' "persistence" capability that allows you to enter and leave the "board room" or conference at will without losing any of the information left in the room.

Unyte: bringing desktop sharing as complementary real time conversation mode to Skype's traditional voice, IM and video modes via a single click. Includes a "Remote Asssist" feature that allows the user to view a remote Windows platform for providing customer presentations and support to, or reviewing documents with, both Skype-enabled and non-Skype-enabled contacts.

And announced today (drum roll for Mac and Linux users): Yugma Skype: full cross platform desktop sharing (Windows, Mac and Linux). Simple swapping of shared desktops and a free offering for up to ten-participant sessions are two key features.

Criteria for evaluation include:

• User interface
  • Remote viewing: browser-based or independent window
  • Session setup and scheduling
  • Approach to handling different screen sizes
• Operating System, Web Browser flexibility
• Extent of Skype integration
• Sharing Modes
• Refresh/update speeds at remote participants' desktops
• Session/conference persistence

If you are looking for a desktop collaboration solution I would suggest you first determine what your needs are, try out all three for compatibility with your needs, identify features within the products that can bring additional productivity and value-add to your activities before making a final decision. All three products offer limited use trial versions and/or a free trial period for the full product.

Other posts in this Skype Extras Collaboration services series

• Desktop Collaboration: Ten Years Later - The Skype Impact
• Convenos Meeting Center: Your Conference Board Room on the Internet
• Yugma Skype Edition: Cross Platform Desktop Sharing

Tags: Skype, Skype Extras, desktop collaboration, desktop sharing, Convenos, Unyte, Yugma, Yugma Skype