We sorted through the vendor presentations from TechCrunch and DemoFall to find ten services that are worth a look for small business owners.
(To be fair, TechCrunch is much more consumer-oriented -- though it doesn't necessarily have to be, given its focus on Web 2.0-driven products. Demo, on the other hand, has long had at least partial (less sexy) focus on small biz and enterprise products and services).
But without further adieu -- company names with conference in parentheses:
Loudtalks (TechCrunch) :
|
Loudtalks is a free download that brings "Nextel-style" push-to-talk service to the PC. Such "walkie-talkie" services are used by many small business owners to communicate within a group. Loudtalks aims to move such communications to the desktop.
Xobni (TechCrunch):
|
Inbox spelled backwards, Xobni has created a Microsoft Outlook assistant that ferrets out social network relationships and conversation threads from within your email box. Not specifically small biz-targeted, but such a potentially huge productivity booster that any small business owner that relies on Outlook should consider downloading it.
TripIt(TechCrunch):
|
Many Web-based travel planners seem most-targeted at helping a family plan that next trip to Disney World. TripIt takes travel-planning to the next step by automatically creating master itineraries with not only travel plans but other info like weather, maps and driving directions. Consider it your own personal travel assistant.
