Everybody Helps

New Version with Presence - Get Help On CrossLoop, Now!

After a very exciting launch of the CrossLoop 'Help" Marketplace (which has now already grown to over 8,300 Helpers!), we bring the new version of CrossLoop that enables any Helper to show his/her availability to any customer seeking help and get notified of leads immediately.

CrossLoop Software Application

• The application can track your availability and echo that information in the CrossLoop Help Marketplace.
  • Tracking will only be enabled if you (a) are logged in to the application, (b) have a helper profile, and (c) have not opted out of the Marketplace.
  • Any keyboard or mouse activity will indicate you are available, reflected in the green beacon
  • After 5 minutes of inactivity, the beacon will turn yellow
  • One minute after that, the beacon turns grey indicating that you no longer appear as “Available” on the Marketplace
  •  Keyboard or mouse activity at any time will restore your availability status.

• The Helpers can choose to run CrossLoop on startup so that they are available to any customer who needs a quick response independent of their use of CrossLoop at that moment

• From the menu, you access all you setting, including turning off tracking entirely or setting yourself temporarily as “Unavailable.”

- T

• With this version of the client, future software upgrades will be handled seamlessly so you don’t have to download the latest version by visiting the CrossLoop website
• As a security measure, you can no longer edit the access code
•  If you want a new access code, you can generate a new one by accessing the application menu
• When the applications starts up, in additional to creating an account or loggin in, you can also skip the screen and proceed directly to sharing screens

• Notifications: If you are contacted by a customer and are on-line, you will see the notification appear in the application. Email will the contact information will continue to be sent to you.

CrossLoop Help Marketplace

• Customers can sort Helpers by their availability so I would recommend that you run CrossLoop on startup always
  
• A Helper’s availability status will be shown in search results
• There is a time lag of a couple of minutes between the change of status on the application and the website

Download the new version here 

We have also added a detailed "Getting Started Guide" with a short video on that page that you can share with those you are helping.

As usual, we always listening so feedback and feature requests can be submitted here

Good Afternoon and Good Luck!

CrossLoop with Mother on Her Day

As Mother's Day comes up this weekend, I am seeing a lot of articles on what to buy. The most common in the technology space has been gadgets so here is our little idea with a big heart:

Spend one nice hour with undivided attention doing any of the following with CrossLoop and shrink that distance:

• Clean up her computer and speed it up
• Backup her files and pictures
• Teach her how to use one of many of the instant messaging tools so that she can always be in touch
• Give her a tour of some cool sites that are about learning new things
  
  • Like Howstuffworks (one of my favorites)
  • Subscribe her to Wikipdia's 'On This Day' article by email here
  • Or like Paolo Barone on Twitter here, take your mother across the world on Google Earth! Today, for that you don't need expensive tickets.
• If she wants to maintain an online journal, blog and you can set her with a free account on a service like Vox (like my personal Blog here). Its one of the few services that actually allows you to privately share posts, photos, videos etc specifically with those you identify as "Family"
• How about a remote slideshow through all the photos on your computer (SHARE mode) with her on the phone (and ACCESS mode) telling her details and stories behind each. Once you are done, drag and drop all those pictures onto her desktop (Here is how to transfer files with CrossLoop) and she can cherish them at her will or use them as a screensaver (like my mother). Here is how to do it on Lifehacker.

According to a 2007 research I found, stay-at-home mothers in the US put in about 92 hours a week and are worth about $138,095 a year! She is busy so make sure you get on her schedule fast.   

More creative thoughts? Please share them in the comments section below and if you do happen to use CrossLoop with your Mother, please do email me [mrinal [at] crossloop.com] since they inspire us. We might even be able to share them here on our blog.

Good Afternoon and Good Luck to Mom, Mummy, Mommy, Ma, Maman, Mama, Ammi, Moder, Mor, Meteara, Imma, Ummi, Niang, Bohqin, Mãe, Patrino, Anne and more!