LONDON, November 1, 2006 -- Modern-day communications have advanced at such a rapid pace that it is now possible for remote teams and workers to communicate and collaborate effectively using value-added tools and technologies such as Web-based collaboration services. This new class of value-added online services is a powerful enabler for highly efficient communication between groups of distantly located people, without requiring huge investments in complex and expensive infrastructure.

"Web-based collaboration services integrate tried-and-tested forms of collaboration such as Web conferencing and instant messaging with newer technologies such as desktops, workspaces, wikis and podcasts," notes Frost & Sullivan Senior Industry Analyst Dominic Dodd. "They form a core component of the growing 'Software as a Service' (SaaS) market."

Frost & Sullivan (http://www.conferencing.frost.com) finds that the Global Web-based Collaboration Services Market generated revenues of $682.7 million in 2005, and estimates this to reach $2,644.5 million in 2010.

Currently, Web conferencing contributes a significant portion of these revenues. However, this is likely to change over the forecast period, as synchronous or real-time and asynchronous collaboration service technology increasingly merge due to the growing need for tools such as shared virtual workspaces and online collaborative authoring of documents.

Web-based collaboration services are receiving a strong boost with the resurgence of new business start-ups, increasing globalisation and growing deployment of broadband communications. Plentiful opportunities exist for service providers in a broad spectrum of companies such as small office-home office (SoHo), small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), large global corporations as well as remote and teleworkers.

SMBs represent a particularly attractive target group since they need to access and harness the power of collaboration services but are unable to invest substantial amounts in complex technology or the skills to support it. For large global businesses, the key driving force is the need to communicate effectively across company boundaries and firewalls. These organisations require practical and secure collaboration solutions that can sidestep the constraints imposed by local IT departments.

While the market has numerous participants, both large and small, it is the solutions offered by major global software vendors and enterprise communication systems manufacturers that dominate the market. This could limit growth opportunities for Internet-based business communications and collaboration services. Thus, the battle for the desktops of workers who need to collaborate is gathering pace, with Web-based collaboration services posing a distinct challenge to the prevailing dominance of on-premise software solutions of major manufacturers.

"Web-based collaboration service providers are well-placed to use Web 2.0 technologies such as mash-ups to rapidly develop and deploy new services to meet changing markets needs," explains Mr. Dodd. "This agility, coupled with the use of viral marketing to get across its message, will enable the growing band of companies in this space to compete effectively."

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end users, and other industry participants with an overview of the latest analysis of Pushing the Boundaries of Online Collaboration - Web-based Collaboration Service Market, send an e-mail to Srividhya Parthasarathy - Corporate Communications at sparthasarathy@frost.com with your full name, company name, title, telephone number, email address, city, state, and country. We will send you the information through email upon receipt of the above information.

Pushing the Boundaries of Online Collaboration - Web-based Collaboration Service Market, with its complementary study World Web Conferencing Markets, is part of the Conferencing and Collaboration Subscription, which also includes research in the following markets: audio conferencing service providers, video conferencing endpoints and infrastructures, and unified communications and collaboration services and applications. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. Interviews with the press are available.

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, has been partnering with clients to support the development of innovative strategies for more than 40 years. The company's industry expertise integrates growth consulting, growth partnership services, and corporate management training to identify and develop opportunities. Frost & Sullivan serves an extensive clientele that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the investment community by providing comprehensive industry coverage that reflects a unique global perspective and combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. For more information, visit http://www.frost.com

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