Do You Need Remote Help Too?
I had always wanted to write a post on providing technical support through remote desktop sharing. Infact, I had even placed an e-PostIt on my desktop to remind me that I need to blog on this subject … !
Why this urge?
Because it is an amazing proof of technology at its best. And, it can be a very good business model for entrepreneurs trying to break into specific technical niches. Infact, hardly a week goes by without some friend or relative calling me up for some help with some pesky ‘technical’ issue. Until a few months back, I relied on IM or phone to help them out, but after I started using Remote Desktop Sharing I have never even thought twice of anything else. It proves to be a great time saver - because I don’t have to explain unnecessary stuff to the other party(beneficiaries include my uncle, dad an few other friends) and they can do some other work while I mend their PC’s ! (although most of them end up watching how I go about solving the issue)
Now, a good question would be - If remote desktop sharing has been around for quite some time now, why did I start using it religiously only a few months before?
Very simple, I wasn’t aware of the right tools. Till a few years back, the only tool that came to our mind when someone said remote desktop sharing was Microsoft’s NetMeeting. Although, there were a few browser based applications, they weren’t free !
But not anymore ! I have recently come across two fabulous tools which have made life much more easier. And here they are …
1. TeamViewer - Awesome application, works in 3 modes. Has a unique concept of TeamViewer ID which saves the non-techies from looking for their IP’s, etc. I absolutely love this app. Go check it out at TeamViewer Remote Desktop Sharing. The only downside here is, it is not completely free. If you want to use the free version you have a ‘Stay Alive’ session limit of 30 mins. But, overall its a must see tool ! (I am yet to see a single non-techie who had problems using this tool !)
2. Vyew - I first read about Vyew on Guy Kawasaki’s blog. What made me check out the application was Guy’s positive feedback.
Here is what Guy says …
“If most venture capitalists weren’t liars, we’d tell you that if we had the opportunity to fund Google, we would have passed. Seriously, who would have thought the world needed another search engine in 1995?
Fast forward to 2006. Does the world need another web conferencing product? Maybe. Check out Vyew.
Vyew is a free browser-based conferencing and “always-on†collaboration platform that provides instant visual communication without the need for client downloads or installations.
Vyew’s multimedia workspace enables real-time shared viewing of presentations, files, photos, and one’s desktop. Included are tools for whiteboarding, annotating, text chatting, and phone conferencing.
With Vyew’s “always-on†configuration, users can leave, permit others to enter and make revisions, and return–knowing that all content and annotations will remain intact.
Vyew has a growing set of plug-ins, such as Yahoo maps, Google search, diagram tools, notepad, games, and photo slideshows.”
Commentary : The upside Vyew has is clearly the added number of features and that it is completely free. What also interests me is allows for a ‘Always On’ configuration, which was a shortcoming with the free version of teamviewer. I did check out the tool and its pretty slick. Do check it out at Vyew.
So, go ahead use the tools and let me know what you loved and what you hated !
[tags] remote desktop sharing, remote help, technical support, vyew, teamviewer, cool technology [/tags]
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5 Comments so far
Stall The Ball
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November 30, 1999
Kedar
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These remote desktop sharing tools are very handy. I say this because I was on the receving end of the help. This was the time when I was having some trouble understanding and implementing the trackback function on my blog.
Saumil, the good samaritan that he is, not to mention the techie worm in his head, helped me out with a remote desktop sharing tool. Troubleshooting and learning is so easy when you can see what to do, and when the learning is happening live across 5000 miles, it gives you kicks… hehehe
June 3, 2006
Nirali
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We use remote desktop sharing very often in our company. However, it is always thru net meeting.. I am going to recommend ur post to my IT guyz in the company to c if it can help em coz the features u describe will surely benefit us who need help all the time :)
June 16, 2006
Stall The Ball - Good web apps are like buses
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[...] Hot on the heels of the Meebo widget I strike across a post from Saumil. [...]
August 2, 2006
teamviewer.com - How popular is teamviewer.com? (://URLFAN)
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August 21, 2007
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