Four Technology Resources You Need to Know

Track the Best Shipping Rates Around the Globe

ShipGooder.com, a free, online, courier-shipping-rate comparison site, now provides international shipping costs for major courier companies, in addition to the previously offered local, regional, and national shipping-rate comparisons. ShipGooder’s courier directory helps visitors compare shipping rates by entering the origin zip code, the destination country’s zip code, and the package weight. Shipment options can be changed to retrieve the competing results, and rates are downloadable in spreadsheet formats, as well.

SMS without the Phone
Text-to-web programs hold quite a few benefits for business owners who want to increase their communication channels with employees and customers. With at-home employees, frequent off-site meetings, and transient sales staff, the 9–5 office structure has evolved to a 24–7 one, and communication tools must follow suit. Text-to-web software can help you easily connect with people who are away from their PC, especially the Gen Y-ers, who are most apt to give quick responses through electronic mediums.
Globaltel Media has developed Cherple, software that enables users to send and receive text messages (SMS) without the use of a mobile phone. Cherple allows users to text to cellular devices through a web-based application (Mac and PC compatible). As an added benefit, the program offers free downloads (though standard SMS usage rates for the mobile phone receiver do apply). The global market is easily within reach without the excess costs of international phone calls—just as long as your clients text back. A desktop version is also available for use, and a live Internet connection is necessary to enable global, web-texting capabilities.
Cherple also allows users to embed its software into personal websites, and is working on similar versions for Facebook and MySpace. For a free download, visit cherple.com/downloads.asp. Late last year, Google developed a similar text-to-web service—Gmail SMS Service (a Google Labs feature)—that temporarily shut down in late June due to glitches.
SCORE Launches Online Social Network
SCORE recently joined forces with PartnerUp, an online entrepreneur community, to launch an online social network (scorecommunity.org) aimed at connecting businesses with business resources, opportunities, and advisors. Users can locate people within the network, join groups, find and post opportunities, locate businesses through the resource directory, find local properties for sale or lease, participate in forums, and read articles—kind of like a one-stop-shop for busy business owners looking to network and build relationships, promote their business, and find interesting opportunities.

One of the goals of SCORE’s online community is for business owners to mentor and provide guidance to other business owners and entrepreneurs (peer-to-peer networking). Visitors can also search for potential hires, partners, suppliers, vendors and commercial property leases. SCORE’s site will make direct connections between experienced entrepreneurs to help them with the issues they face every day.
Entrepreneur to Give Away Free Online Advertising

JansDeals.com, an online venue connecting clients with local business discounts, is offering to give away $3.74 million in free, small business advertising courtesy of the site’s creator, billionaire and entrepreneur, Jan Stuart. JansDeals uses zip code searches and business listings to connect customers with local business deals. Once a listing is created, businesses can list special, local deals for clients. The $299 subscription fee for the site will be waived for a three-month period for the first 50,000 small businesses that register. To see if your business qualifies for the free trial, visit jansdeals.com/help2009.