Small Business Resources, Business Advice and Forms from AllBusiness.com

Web-Based Intranet Services

Small businesses that want an intranet but don't have the funds or staff to build one can use inexpensive Web-based services that provide many of the same features. These "instant intranet" sites give

your employees a way to communicate with one another, access company documents, and store files — either in the office or on the road.

Web-Based Intranet Services Explained
Intranet services use a variety of names, including "groupware" and "teamware." Before you select a product, look at its feature set carefully; each tool offers a slightly different package of services, and it's important to determine which one will best meet your needs. Their feature sets vary, but most include group calendars, a contact manager, a document manager, quick publishing, bulletin boards, virtual conference rooms, e-mail, and online file storage. What makes these Web-based services different from standard applications is that instead of downloading a program or installing shrink-wrapped software, you access and use these tools over the Internet through any standard Web browser.

How to Ensure Your Software Isn't Pirated
Host Hattie Bryant of Small Business School interviews Maggie Sanchez of Microsoft; and Mark Litvack and George Borkowski, intellectual property lawyers at the law firm of Mitchell, Silberberg, and Knupp in Los Angeles.