Smart Communities utilize readily available internet technology to establish and host their online constituent dialogues (virtual meetings and forums). The Economic TeleDevelopment Forum (ETF) recommends the following collaboration tools that can be used at little or no cost. However, the companies offering these products and services have no affiliation with the ETF. We encourage you to recommend additional collaboration software or services to be added to this page by sending us your suggestions.
AOL Instant Messenger -- free instant messaging software and service
MSN Messenger Service -- free instant messaging software and service
Yahoo! Messenger -- free instant messaging software and service
Trillian -- Connect to ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger, MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger and IRC in a single, sleek and slim interface with free software
Jabber IM -- free open-source instant messaging software and service
Windows NetMeeting -- free online meeting software, and list of hosting services
Conflab.com Meeting Centre -- free service enabling direct and private PC to PC voice, video and data connections worldwide (requires Windows NetMeeting or other T.120/H.323 compatible clients)
Topica Exchange -- free service to create and manage your own e-mail discussion groups
QuickTopic -- free easy to configure an use single-topic web bulletin board service that's also fully email-enabled (retrieve and post messages via email)
Free-Conversant -- free web site hosting service, designed for creating email-enabled weblogs, and more
Conference Connection -- free telephone audio-conference calling service (each participant incurs long distance call charges to access the conference bridge)
Google Web Directory: Collaboration -- comprehensive list of collaboration software and services
We use and highly recommend the following additional internet related software applications and services that are invaluable for all non-profit organizations (or anyone with limited finacial resources). Once again, the companies offering these products and services have no affiliation with the ETF.
uReach.com -- free all-in-one unified communication service
AVG Anti-Virus System -- free virus-protection software and virus database updating service
ZoneAlarm PC Firewall -- free PC internet firewall protection software
Copernic Agent Basic -- free meta-search tools software suite with multi-language support
Atomica GuruNet -- free software with online reference service including multi-language support
1-800-555-TELL -- free voice-activated information services delivered over any touch-tone telephone