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DeskAway is intended to simplify collaboration and project management. Users can collaborate no matter where each member of the team is located, even in different time zones. The site uses eye-catching colors and an organized layout to help users monitor milestones and project progress, create task lists and schedule recurring tasks, send messages to the team, and design project templates that can be reused for similar projects. DeskAway can give teams’ greater control and maximize communication.

Sahil and Sitanshi Parikh returned to India from the United States with a significant amount of development experience under their collective belts. They decided to begin their own venture and formed Synage Software. The pair wanted to find a better way to manage projects and keep the process transparent, emphasizes the accountability of each team member. The result of this need is DeskAway, which was launched into beta in 2007.

DeskAway does what many other project management applications do. It brings together a collection of tools that a team needs to stay focused, in touch, and on time. Desk Away does this well and presents many helpful tools that the creators knew were necessary through their own experience. Since DeskAway was built out of an actual need felt by the company that created it, the application presents many desirable functions that can streamline the project development and execution process.

The grey yellow and blue icon and logo of DeskAway help express the site’s professional character. Vibrant colors are used throughout to highlight and divide items, both on the site and through the tools it offers to users. This helps make each new function very easy to use. The site contains minimal clutter so the user enjoys a relaxing experience that encourages focus on the project rather than the site it is being managed through.

A visitor that wants to join DeskAway can do so by clicking the green “Choose Plan and Signup” button. Users are given a free 30 day trial, but will have to pick a membership plan to continue. After selecting the corresponding green “Sign Up” button, the user is asked for a first name, last name, email address, company name, preferred login URL, username, password, and time zone. After checking the terms of service and privacy policy agreement, the user can submit the information. The page will direct the user to the actual login area so they can begin using DeskAway.

After the 30 day free trial, users are billed for the plan they selected when signing up. The three options begin with the Professional membership, which runs about $25. With the Professional, members are given up to 35 active projects, unlimited users, 2 GBs of file storage, up to 10 project templates, and other standard features. Plus is the next membership plan which costs just under $50. This membership upgrades to include up to 100 active projects, 10 GBs of storage, and up to 30 project templates. The most expensive plan is the Power membership, which costs jus under $100. This plan upgrades to unlimited active projects and templates and up to 25 GBs of storage space.

A small business that needs a better way to manage a project can appreciate DeskAway. There is some cost involved, but the cheapest plan is quite affordable. As long as the allotted project quantities and storage space is sufficient to fit the team’s needs, then they can easily work DeskAway into their project budget.

• Use DeskAway Desk Mail
• Access reporting features to better manage projects
• Set permission levels for the team, which includes Super, Regular and Unlimited
• Zip file back ups
• Security using 256 bit SSL encryption

DeskAway video

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