First, there were wikis.  When I first learned how to use them sometime in 2004, I immediately realized how web collaboration can be possible.  But wikis didn’t become popular since people found it too geeky.  Then Google came up with its web-based Office Software.  I had the chance to play around with it through my Gmail account.  But back in 2006 web collaboration was not a popular idea.  However, with those MSOffice-like applications available on the web, one obvious possibility opened up:  one can now write a document independently of a word processing software installed in one’s computer.  The only drawback was that when one worked on the web using  an internet card and a 56k modem, it can be difficult.  Then quite suddenly, DSL became affordable. Given the fact that it has now become more economical to use one’s DSL connection often than to be sparing with it, the possibility of staying connected to the web for more than an hour gives one the opportunity of working directly with web applications.

Now comes the ZOHO Office Suite (Zoho.COM).  It is another web-based MSOffice Suite with a lot more applications to work with.  And it is free!  One can log into the website using a Gmail or Google account and one is even provided with a Dashboard-like start page from which one can go to a desired application.  One of the benefits that Zoho gives is the easy registration. One does not have to register anew to benefit from its services; one needs only an account from any of the two most popular email providers on the net.  Second, the software offered for use has an MSOffice-like interface that reduces the learning curve.  Those who already use MSOffice won’t find it difficult to use the Zoho applications.  Finally, one can easily share one’s created documents while the guarantee of privacy remains:  one can choose to make one’s documents available as a webpage or one can choose to show them to a restricted number of people.

 With the blurring of the desktop and the web, the possibility for file sharing and web collaboration has greatly increased.  When more people cease associating the web with porn, chats and entertainment and think of it as a means for increasing work productivity at a low cost, then perhaps the opportunities offered by Google and Zoho would be more appreciated.