Want to have a video conference with up to 8 people at cost zero? Need to send huge files without worrying of their size? I have the collaboration tools you need right here.

Photo credit: Vlad Kochelaevskiy

In this collaboration tools digest here the best tools and services I have hand-picked for you:

1. iVisit: Have video conferences with up to 8 people on Windows and Mac machines
2. Podmailing: Transfer any file with no size limit to other people's PCs
3. Mousecloud: Create web meetings and collaborate with people online
4. Toksta: Text-chat and video talk with your site's viewers
5. BabbleStream: Have voice conferences or simply text-chat sessions with your site's users
6. QTask: Manage your projects online with 1TB of storage space
7. Wiggio: Collaborate with your group sharing files, instant messaging and more
8. OpenGoo: Create, edit and collaborate on any kind of document online

Here all the details:

1. iVisit
   
   iVisit is a free software for mobile and desktop computers that enables you to have video conferences with people. You can transmit live video/audio with up to 8 people at the same time, share hi-res photos, text-chat, and even track mobile users with the integrated GPS system. The software is free to download and use, with pro plans available.
   http://www.ivisit.com/






2. Podmailing
   
   Podmailing is a kind of P2P application for Windows and Mac machine that enables users to exchange files with absolutely no size limit. When sending a file, a notification email will be sent to the other user, and the file will be transferred directly from your PC to your recipients, who can download it using the Podmailing software, any BitTorrent client or with a standard http download, so that your recipients are not required to install the Podmailing software. Free.
   http://www.podmailing.com/








3. Mousecloud
   
   Mousecloud is a real-time collaboration app that anyone can use to instantly create webmeetings. After you create a meeting, you can invite people to join you with a direct link or via email invitation, and you can start sharing files and presentations, have whiteboarding sessions, text-chat, and more. Mousecloud is completely free to use.
   http://www.mousecloud.com/








4. Toksta
   
   Toksta is a free instant messenger that you can embed into your website or blog to collaborate with your viewers. It enables your users to chat with your and other people on the site, or even engage in real-time video conferences, with one active speaker. Toksta is free to use, requires registration.
   http://www.toksta.com/








5. BabbleStream
   
   BabbleStream is a web widget that lets you engage with your site's visitors. It can be embedded onto most social networking pages and various blog sites, enabling you to text-chat, but also have voice conference with all the people that are on your webpage. The service is still in beta phase, and it is free to use.
   http://www.babblestream.com/








6. QTask
   
   QTask is a project management service that lets you organize your team. With 1TB of free space and up to 5 users per project (more users can be added), you can share all of your files and organize your work with the integrated calendar, discussions boards, contacts, wikis and task assignment facilities. The service is free to use for the first year.
   http://qtask.com








7. Wiggio
   
   Wiggio is an online toolkit that makes it easy to work in groups. With a simple registration form, you can access to all Wiggio's features, such as shared calendar, instant polls, file sharing, text and audio messages, chatrooms and group conferences, and more. Wiggio is free to use, registration is needed.
   http://www.wiggio.com/








8. OpenGoo
   
   OpenGoo is a full featured open-source document editor which runs on XAMPP servers that lets you create, edit, and collaborate on every kind of documents. You can create text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and task lists, and invite people to collaborate with you. You can then also publish on the web your final work for everyone to see. Free.
   http://www.opengoo.org/

Originally written by Nico Canali De Rossi and Robin Good for Master New Media and first published on September 22nd 2008 as "Online Collaboration Technologies - New Tools And Web Services - Sharewood Guide Sep22 08"