A while back we had Google Week. It featured some of the best Google applications offered, but what if you're anti-Google? Check out Zoho. What does Zoho provide? Many things as well as Google and even some going above and beyond.

[I'll compare each app to the Google's equivalent by giving it a +, | , or - scale. Key: + is better, | is the same , - is lacking]

Zoho Mail [-] - email (free, under 1GB of space)

Zoho Writer [|] - online word processor (free)

Zoho Sheet [|] - online spreadsheets (free)

Zoho Notebook [+] - online notebook to collect information, links, files, audio, video and more in one place. (free)

Zoho Show - you guessed it online PowerPoint! Nice. (free)

Zoho Planner - To do list, appointments, etc.

Zoho Meetings - Share your desktop screen to present a PowerPoint, program, training, etc. online. (free, presenter has to be using Windows)

Zoho Projects - set up team project (1 free, ulimited for $5/mo)

Zoho Creator - need to gather information, but don't know how to code. Creator is coding simplifed. Create online form in minutes. You'll be analyzing and gathering data before you know it.

Zoho Wiki - create your own wiki.

Zoho Polls - create a poll to embed them where-ever you want.

Zoho Challenge - create online tests, and track the scores online.


I'll highlight a few of these in the future with Ministry specific use.

Having posted on how great both Pinger and Jott are, the next logical question is "which one should I use?" In a Pinger vs. Jott match-up, here's a run down pound for pound of each, as I see them. I'll weigh both, the pros & cons, and I'll suggest who I think the winner is depending on the scenario. Let's go to the score card.

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Pinger - wins hands down, if you are sending to cell phone users to leave a message for a large group.

Pros

• Best service for sending voice messages to cell phones
• Reply, Reply to All & Fwd feature is great for instant confirmation/discussion.
• Clear and easy to use when receiving a Pinger via cell phone.
  
• Ability to post to MySpace is slick.

Cons

• Doesn't transcribe & it's not very easy to leave yourself a message
  
• Not as good as Jott when leaving email messages.

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Jott - will take home the victory, if you are sending to email users and/or you wish to leave a message for yourself.

Pros

• Best service for sending voice messages to email addresses.
  
• Transcribing voice to txt is a great feature.
• Clear and easy to use when receiving a Jott via email.
• Ability to post to Blogs is slick. [some additional setup is required]
  

Cons

• Doesn't have performance or features when receiving messages via cell phone.
  
• Jott is mainly a system for leaving messages.
• Confusing when you get a Jott message via cell phone, SMS txt msg.
  

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Similarities:
Both can leave messages for email address and cellphones, have a great website to use to set up and manage accounts, allow you to set up small or large groups to message, both are free, and are easy to use.

Basic differences:
Pinger does messaging and allows for some interaction from the cellphone users, where as Jott is best used to leave messages (both transcribed and voice) for yourself and other users (better result w/ email addresses).

So ask yourself two questions:

1. What kind of users am I going to message? (ex- cell phone users, email users or myself.)
2. Why am I going to voice txt? (ex - quickly inform/discuss, make an announcement that isn't urgent, taking notes, etc.)
   

In my case it's a draw, I use both. Pinger to leave messages to Cells (messages/announcements that need to get out quickly and may need a response) and Jott to leave informative messages to myself and/or email addresses which aren't as time sensitive (a good example is family announcements, "it's a girl!")

In right column we recently added a voting feature [or you can click here to vote]. This month question is "What's your favorite post from Church 2.0 - the blog so far?" Please take a minute and vote.