InnerPass’ Blog

As the downturn continues it will be interesting to see the effect on Skype useage. I’m betting that companies will be looking to reduce Communications costs. They’ll be more willing to try something new.

We’ll see.

Skype could do wonders for your business.

The new Skype Era has benefited millions with the ability to have free international computer to computer internet calling. This ability has opened a gateway for software developers to directly access an enormous user base through a single community. Developers have created programs to enable screen sharing, conference calling, document storage, and document sharing among many others. Yet, none have so effectively tackled the need of an all-in-one user friendly collaboration tool, until now… InnerPass a Framingham, Massachusetts based company has provided a free for ever version that enables a user to create an online document meeting room (DMR) or more simply put as a virtual conference room. This DMR allows you to not only share documents, but also provides the capability to share your screen, chat, and hold an online conference call while being fully integrated with Skype.

If you asked Bill Trail InnerPass’s EVP of Sales and Marketing what their goal has been for the year he would say “To be the world’s best file sharing and collaboration Skype Extra.” Well, it looks like they are on the right path. The product boast’s a powerful collaboration system with a user friendly “Skype Environment.” It looks and feels like you’re in a room with Skype. The system was created to eliminate the need to e-mail files. Instead you have a persistent document meeting room which allows you to share and/or discuss with a plethora of individuals from wherever they have internet or phone access.

InnnerPass launched their Skype Extra in June of 2008, by mid November of 2008 they already had over 90,000 users of their Skype extra. In October just four months after launch they officially became a member of the select few products that are not only certified but known as a Skype Premium Extra.

Want to know how the extra works? Simple! Create a room and add guests from your Skype contacts that are instantly available. Drag and drop any files, videos or links that you feel pertinent. Send the invitation through Skype chat or outlook and you have a fully functional collaboration meeting. Not only is it simple, InnerPass provides features and functionality to get the most out of their product. Host’s can grant guests additional privileges such as adding their own files, contacts, etc. A benefit to the user is the persistence of the meeting rooms. The meeting rooms can be available as long as needed; for days, weeks and even months. That means that the host and the guests in the room can access the files and collaborate with each other as long as needed. Meetings can be made reoccurring or scheduled, and there is a history of all activity by the room’s members. If you’re a small business owner and feel that you want more? Yes, Innerpass has that answer too, they provide the option to upgrade to a full document management service.

What does the future of InnerPass hold? Well, they seem to know and are very enthusiastic. Just recently Om Malik of GigaOM.com had an interview with Josh Silverman the CEO of Skype where he went on to discuss the future of his company:

“Now if you think about the spectrum of communications, it goes from very short twitter like communications, in our case we call that a “mood message” to chat, to voice, to video, to file transfer and online collaboration. A whole set of different modes you want to talk in all tied together by some common services for example one common address book, common set of presence. And what consumers want and need is that core set of services that follow them from device to device everywhere they are. We think Skype is uniquely well positioned to capitalize on that, in fact we think that is the future.”

Following a similar roadmap, InnerPass plans on implementing more Skype integration such as video for group meetings. Furthermore, they plan on carrying their services across other major medians such as the iPhone! Did I say enthusiastic? The two companies have similar plans for the future. Not a bad idea when you want to be the World’s best Skype Extra!

The productivity of inside sales people just took a huge leap forward. When you are in SFDC all your phone numbers are highlighted. With a click of the mouse you can dial anyone. If the prospect has a Skype name it’s free. If the prospect is overseas then the cost is a few pennies per minute.  If the prospect has a Video Cam you can have an instant “Face to Face” call.

This is my first attempt at Blogging. So here goes. I became enamored with the concept of delivering business application over the Internet in mid 1999. Back then it was called Application Service Provider (ASP). It was my first time to get hooked on a technology at the very beginning. I got in at the very beginning of the “Hype” phase and actually started believing the revenue forecasts. Well 2 years later we had were down in the “Trough of Disillusionment”. ASP were folding and the forecasts were dire.

But out of the ashes rose companies like SalesForce.com, Rightnow and others. I spent 1999 thru 2006 working for SaaS enablers such as Progress and NaviSite. In 2006 I joined one of my clients, Innerpass. We are focused on making enterprise class document management available on a subscription basis. Our clients are mainly in Commercial Real Estate and Financial services. In 2007 we decided to build a Collaboration app to provide the first integrated Document Management and Collaboration SaaS application.

It’s great to see the initial vision of ASP come to reality after several perturbations. I firmly believe SaaS is the only way small to mid sized companies will be able afford information technology in the future. Here’s a link to a very good article on the subject. The title is ” All SaaS, All the Time”.

http://www.bmighty.com/services/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212001557

So I have been struggling with what the content should be for our company’s first official blog post. Writing and rewriting again the usual elevator pitch I realized this is not the environment to be pushing information at someone and would encourage readers to run away instead of subscribing. Following others examples such as chrisbrogan, Social Media for Small Business – Powered by Dell, and ducttapemarketing I have learned that entering the social blogging atmosphere is similar to joining a dinner party full of people that I have never met. So I would like to start off by introducing myself and the company.

First and foremost the company: InnerPass Inc. is a young web-software company that started off by specializing in document management solutions but has now broken into online collaboration and virtual meeting rooms along with being fully integrated with Skype. Like I said, I don’t want to pitch you if you are interested in learning more about our company you should click the link to our website here: www.innerpass.com.

As for myself I am a 26 year old graduate from Quinnipiac University class of 2006 with a BA in entrepreneurship and small business management. I came to work for InnerPass because of my passion for the entrepreneurial field, the intrigue I had with their innovative products, as well as the excitement and responsibility of helping a company grow to maturity.

There are multiple reasons why the InnerPass team and I have decided to venture into the blogosphere. But there are no reasons as prominent as wanting to develop a more personal relationship with our customers by trying to understand who they are, what they want and how we can help them be more successful with their ventures.

So what content should you come to expect from here? Our blogging team (who will introduce themselves in the future) and I will provide you with interesting and helpful information regarding: our company and its products; our industry and its developments; blogs generated by you our listeners questions and comments; as well as my experience and learning process through joining this social media world.

All of us at the InnerPass team wholeheartedly would like to encourage you to join the conversation and leave us any comments, questions or feedback that comes to mind including constructive criticism. We welcome anything that is of appropriate manner and look forward to hearing from you!