Category: Technology Author : JR Posted: August 5, 2008
Tags : central desktop, google apps, sharepoint, web collaboration
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Central Desktop Ups the Ante on Web Collaboration

Central Desktop is boosting its Web 2.0 collaboration platform with a handful of new features announced today.

The utility — a clear competitor to offerings such as Microsoft SharePoint and Google Apps — adds a database API, time tracking options, and an integrated help desk feature into its summer release. Existing features such as e-mail, instant messaging, and interactive calendar functions remain constant from previous versions.

“We do feel that a lot of customers really want a lot more functionality within a single app,” CEO Isaac Garcia told The Inquisitr.

Central Desktop is trying to carve its niche by focusing on the small- to mid-sized business markets — the area Garcia believes SharePoint is leaving behind as it targets larger enterprises.

“I don’t think we’ll move nearly as high enterprise as they are. We see lots of opportunity in that mid-market area,” he explained.

Central Desktop first launched in 2005 and is headquartered just outside of Los Angeles.

Our vote: Central Desktop offers a strong alternative to the big players in this field. As the relative underdog in the competitive landscape, the company has to fight to pull customers from the marquee names — and its efforts are apparent. The database API strikes us as the most significant of the new version’s additions, with its ability to build custom searchable fields and also to integrate and dynamically link to third-party data. For smaller businesses not connected to a massive corporation, Central Desktop is an option well worth investigating.

mitchgroup

I've been a CentralDesktop user since it began. The solution has grown according to customer and market demand but somehow these guys have managed NOT to lose focus on their market. It's very easy (as we've seen by the umpteen competitors that have tried to unseat CD) to come in and attempt to take share away with a "me too" app. But CD has grown and received a decent round of funding recently in spite of the attacks. CD is one of those "magic" solutions that actually pleases its target audience, grows with new features and functionality...but doesn't bog down the "minimalist" user, or I'd call them the "Basecamp junkie" with superfluous UI goodies.

I've been solicited at least 10 times by the me too guys that have read my supportive comments about CD in the past. Most are very thin attempts with "local funding" from Angels that believe in the me too management teams' abilities to enter the space and compete. I wish them all luck against this powerhouse.

Anyone who's done the "sharepoint" dance knows where that fits...and it's not in the small to mid-market if facts are confronted. Great work CD. Keep the mojo coming.

Alice

It's good to know applications, such as Central Desktop and Wrike are constantly improving. Wrike has just released its enterprise version, it means the tool is ready to be adopted by big corporations. In fact, it is already adopted by global companies, like Capgenimi. Wrike offers robust planning and scheduling options, but what is truly unique about this tool is that it can provide your team with different views on your project and you will have an integrated project plan that includes all the views.

Kit

what new features? is it as comprehensive as HyperOffice ?

Tia

Wow! It seems like they come out with new features every month. They're really shakin' and movin' because I just found them on Facebook and Myspace. I think Central Desktop is the best collaboration software available today. We've been using if for over a year now and it's really saved us time and $$$.

http://www.myspace.com/centraldesktop

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Centra...

Tia
tia@the-hustle.net
www.the-hustle.net

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Central Desktop Ups the Ante on Web Collaboration

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