huddle.net (thing)

Huddle.net is website that allows for the creation of an online workplace for one to collaborate with other members of a group or team. Huddle was established in November, 2006 and is based in London, UK. Huddle also acts as a social networking, project management, and document/file sharing tool. The site offers both free and paid services, which included extended personalization and storage capabilities. The market for this online software solution of workspaces is brands, marketing companies, teams, consultants, and other organizations in need for online collaboration.

Huddle is offered with different levels of service from free for limited users, to an enterprise package. The Huddle online application is developed with .net and is cross-platform based with a light front-end, and heavier back-end for database clustering. Included with Huddle is a desktop widget for managing document uploading and downloading.

Features like this use Web services API. Huddle has published it's API for third-party development on the huddle platform. Recently, Facebook has added an application that allows for synchronization between Huddle and Facebook users.

The Company

• Co-founders are Alastair Mitchell and Andy McLoughlin
  
• Established in November of 2006 in London, UK
• Major customers are John Lewis, Mastercard and Boots
• Top 20 UK Web 2.0 Company
• Over 250 companies using software
  

What is in the package?

Group Collaboration

• Whiteboards, (like wiki's)
• Whitespaces
• RSS Feeds
• Email alerts and tracking systems
• Dashboard for multiple workspaces

Online Project Management

• Creating, storing, and sharing of documents and spreadsheet
• Calender and task manager
• Workspace creation for each project
• User permissions

Security, storage, and support

• 1GB free space for files
• SSL Secure, backed up data center
• Online, email, and telephone support
• No footprint

How features increase the user experience?

• Connect globally to members of an organization or group without physically meeting
• Being entirely browser-based allows for instant access without the need for training.
• Accessibility to multiple groups in one portal increases efficiency of work
• Accommodates students and business workers by allowing integration to Sharepoint and Facebook
• Users can review, insert comments, and add new information to documents
  
• Users can set deadlines and co-ordinate tasks
• Any changes are saved and stored with version information
• Audit trails allow for managers to see progress in a project