1. ISYS 363
Group Collaboration Tools
Fall 2013 | Section 01 & 02 | Patriots

2. Group Collaboration Tools Expectations
● Seamless integration with various devices
○ For instance, changes made on the pc should synchronize instantly
onto the mobile phones.
● Regular updates
● Multitasking
○ For instance, chatting with members while working on the project.
The ability to edit by members in real time.
● Cloud Storage Function
● No additional software necessary to download
○ The simpler the steps, the more convenient and faster the usability
is.

3. Our Criteria and Concerns
● Privacy and Security is our utmost concern.
○ Some projects in business are confidential and
the tool that they use must be very secure.
● Market Leaders for group collaboration tools are:
○ Cisco, IBM, Google, Microsoft, etc...

4. Skype - Video Conferencing Tool
Pros Cons
Free Face to Face Video/telephone calls
in real time.
Free video chat is limited to one person at one time.
Monthly subscription of $4.99 is charged for
premium service, which allows people to chat with
more than one people.
Can be used for business communication
tool as it allows up video chat with 10
people instantly.
Requires Internet connection during usage.
Free instant messaging, only for people
who created an account.
Text messages with phone lines will be charged.
Have file sharing functions
User friendly.
Reliable Service, as the application is
available for free download across
multiple platform and devices.

5. Dropbox - Cloud Storage Service
Pros Secure and
have private
file sharing
feature.
Convenient and fast
access to all files from
multiple devices - thanks
to the free apps available
in various platforms and
devices.
Eliminates the process of
saving data and important
files with flash drive,
which can be lost or
stolen easily.
No restriction on
file format, which
Microsoft
Skydrive
apparently does.
Cons Free storage
comes with
2GB - can be
expanded
upon monthly,
semiannually,
or annually
subscription.
Files uploaded via
website, according to
dropbox.com, “is limited
to 300MB”. So, one
would need to install a
dropbox app on the
device, sign in with the
user account and transfer
the desire files into that
dropbox folder,in order to
upload larger files.
The sharing process
involve two separate
steps, uploading and
downloading. Therefore it
double the transferring
files time between one
computer to the other
compared to direct
transfer.
Not intended for
processing
documents, and
have no features
that allow to
communicate
with other team
members.

6. Google Docs
Pros Cons
Can upload files of any format Documents can’t exceed 1GB, images
2MB each, and spreadsheets have limits
on the number of columns, cells, and
sheets
Provides free 5gb storage Occasionally needs a Google user sign-in
Has a chat function and enables collaboration
with multiple people
No notifications for changes on the
documents
Google Docs itself along with the majority of
file-sharing services are free.

7. Moxtra
Pros “Multi-media
collaboration Binder”,
which allows user to
access all digital files
and edit fast.
Does not require user to
create an account.
Team members can
join from any device
/browser.
Strong Privacy Feature:
“Share a view-only link to
people outside the group,
when needed”.
Cons A user from android
play store comments
that the app push
notification is not
working properly,
which prevents one
from knowing what
other members are
doing.
Many functions available
but not a good
multitasker; cannot video
chat and edit documents
on mobile apps at the
same time.
The mobile app is not
stable because it is still in
the beta version.

8. Social Cast by VMWare
Pros Cons
Free for up to 50 users For over 50 users there is a fee
You can stream projects, conversations (in
group or in private), files or ideas all in one
place
No voice or video conference
You can work on this software through the
computer or through a data phone (such as
an iphone)
When using the app crashes may occur

9. The Champion: Google Docs
● It meets our expectation, criteria and concerns.
● Allows for our group members to meet on the
Google Doc if schedules do not match.
● It offers variety of software to work on.
● Push-Notifies when members comment, chat and
edit the documents.
● Every member who is shared have complete
control on their documents, so they can modify as
they wish, making the project really innovative.

10. References
Skype
http://www.skype.com/en/
Dropbox
https://www.dropbox.com
Google Docs
https://docs.google.com
Moxtra
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.moxtra.binder&hl=en
Social Cast by VMWare
http://www.socialcast.com