The world’s largest and probably the most successful search engine, Google, Inc. (www.google.com), is not only a search engine but also a collaboration platform which offers several tools to help organizations, most especially SMEs, collaborate much more efficiently than using traditional software or paper. In the next few weeks, we will talk about how your organization, families, classmates and friends may use Google’s collaboration tools.

In order to use Google’s collaboration tools, a user must have a Google account either directly on Google services like Gmail or on approved Google Apps domains, like Bohol.Asia. Google has granted to Auza.Net a partner edition account of Google Apps using the Bohol.Asia domain (www.bohol.asia) and the company is giving out accounts to Boholanos for free. Just visit the Internet Media Center (IMC) at K of C Building, K of C Drive, Tagbilaran City and the Auza.Net staff will be happy to give you an account.

In succeeding paragraphs and articles, we assume you already have your Bohol.Asia account. To login to Bohol.Asia, open your favorite web browser and go to www.bohol.asia. The home page will open showing you the various sections of the home page dashboard. Basically it will show you your recent emails, documents, weather info, latest comments on DYRD-AM website and many more. Click on the sign-in link and then type your username and password. After your first login, you will be asked to change your password.

After successful login, you may now customize your home page. Click on ‘Add Stuff’ and you will be shown various home page sections that you can use on your home page. The sections include trivia, facts, tools, entertainment and many more. Make sure you have Google Docs, Google Email and Google Talk as these are the core features used for collaboration.

You are probably familiar already with email so Google Email should be an obvious matter; you use it for sending and receiving emails. Google Talk is an instant messenger or IM which allows you to chat with other account holders. Google Docs is the most interesting section because the documents you create here may be shared to other users and all the users who are granted edit capability can simultaneously edit the shared document and everybody sees the most recent version. This is where most of the collaboration happens. A group of students may share a project document and everybody contributes to the document online and everybody sees how the project is progressing. They do not have to pass around printed copies until they are ready to submit the completed document. A family reunion may need a lot of coordination, especially on the logistics side. Organizers can share a spreadsheet document and update it as contributions are given by family members. The list of attendees will be easy to maintain and all the organizers can view the latest version anytime.

Auza.Net staff are using their Bohol.Asia accounts to collaborate on various company activities. This Technology Updates page is drafted on Google Docs, shared to various users for proofreading, and finally copied by the layout editor for the layout. Then the content editor of www.techsier.com copies the final version to the website as the online version of Technology Updates.

You can also take advantage of Google’s free tools. Just visit the IMC, register your account and start collaborating. Auza.Net may also provide training if needed.