ProjectLounge Introduces Free Online File Sharing and Collaboration System

A free online collaboration tool is launched today by ProjectLounge, Projectlounge.com, the online collaboration specialists. ProjectLounge Lite, will enhance collaboration within project teams and enable anybody to securely share large files, ending the frustration of being unable to send large attachments by email.

(PRWEB) June 24, 2006 -- A free online collaboration tool is launched today by ProjectLounge, www.projectlounge.com, the online collaboration specialists. ProjectLounge Lite, will enhance collaboration within project teams and enable anybody to securely share large files, ending the frustration of being unable to send large attachments by email.

ProjectLounge Lite has been developed to allow users to instantly create an online portal where they can securely and easily upload any type of file that their email system might refuse to send. Project documentation can be stored securely for access by members of project teams. Users are given a username and password to access the portal and download the file using their internet browser. In addition, ProjectLounge Lite provides simple task management and calendaring capabilities that will allow users to collaborate on projects.

With ProjectLounge Lite people can work together and share information more efficiently. As the system is internet based and accessed using a web browser it is accessible anywhere and does not require expensive services, software installation or the associated IT support costs.

Kim Dowds, CEO said: “ProjectLounge Lite means that people and organisations need never be blocked from sharing files on the basis of file size alone. Lite also broadens the potential user base for collaboration software, as it is very easy to use and, in essence, free. With Lite, the commonly encountered error message, ‘Email exceeds the size established for this user’ will become a thing of the past.”

ProjectLounge Lite was developed by a team lead by CTO, Ian Connor. To keep the cost of further development low and ensure that Lite can be offered free to users into the future, the code has been released to the open source community. Ian commented on this decision: “Releasing ProjectLounge Lite under open source will allow other developers to extend and contribute, making the software better than it could be by being developed in a purely propriety manner. We really believe in the open source movement and releasing the code to the general public will do nothing but strengthen Lite’s development.”

Ian continued: “We have found many organizations with in-house IT departments prefer to write their own tools for collaboration. By releasing our code for them to use, we help them get started. We have spent a lot of effort on keeping the code easy to understand and making the user interface and installation as easy to use as possible. However, we are able to offer specific consulting and customisation services to guide and support their efforts if required.”

It is expected that ProjectLounge Lite will fulfil most people’s needs for file delivery and task management. However, should organisations need greater storage capacity or functionality, an easy upgrade route to the ProjectLounge Premium and Enterprise versions is available. The full ProjectLounge service is based on IBM QuickPlace software and is available for as little as £6 per month per user, with full 24/7 support in the UK, North America and Australia.

ProjectLounge has proved popular in marketing and human resources as well as sales, legal and accounting teams across a range of business sectors, with customers like: Dunlop Sport, General Motors, Hyatt Classic, Panasonic, Schlumberger and Toyota. ProjectLounge Lite supports the needs of any individual or organisation needing to share large files securely.

About ProjectLounge
ProjectLounge provides teams large or small, with the ability to work together more efficiently. Based on the latest in collaboration software from IBM Lotus, an online collaboration portal can be created instantly, hosted on ProjectLounge’s secure servers without incurring the set up time or fixed costs associated with purchasing servers and managing collaboration in-house. ProjectLounge offers pay as you go pricing (from $10 per user per month) with 24/7 security and technical support. Founded in November 2001, ProjectLounge is headquartered in Concord, Massachusetts with offices in UK and Australia. For more information visit www.projectlounge.com

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