With the new SynchroLive Communication platform, the service is now more scalable while keeping all live communications synchronized, no matter whether you're sharing audio, video, files, or web pages. This was one of the areas where Dimdim stumbled in the past. When we used it here at RWW for sharing our desktop with our readers during our testing of Chrome, the audio and video weren't matching up. That problem is, supposedly, no more. (We'll have to do another live demo and find out!) Says the company, the platform now makes it possible for five audio streams to be recorded, where before Dimdim only supported recording one.

The platform also allows for the new co-browsing feature to work. With this, a presenter can share their web browser with viewers who can then also be made presenters in order to browse along with the original presenter. The co-browsing allows for scrolling up and down, but does not track mouse movements, so it is not as good for using your mouse to point to an element of a web page. However, when you just want to share material on the web with a group - say, for example, a professor teaching remote students, it would be a good solution.

Open Source Dimdim, "Liberty"

Also launched today with the release of Dimdim 4.5 is the launch of "Liberty," the Open Source Community Edition of the new commercial hosted version. Liberty's complete source code will be made available under a GPL3 license with no limit to the number of attendees, meetings, or mashups that can be created. Liberty is also available as a downloadable VMWare Virtual Appliance.

The Open Source version also integrates with other web applications, including:

• Zimbra: Dimdim now offers a free zimlet for Zimbra's open source email system;
• Moodle: Dimdim is integrated with version 1.9 of Moodle's Course Management System;
• SugarCRM: Dimdim is integrated with the leading open source customer relationship management system,
• Claroline: Dimdim is embedded within with the collaborative learning environment.

More Enhancements

Those who have used Dimdim in the past will notice some subtle UI changes in the newest version including a smaller top frame and revamped menus on the left. Drop-down arrows have been added to those menus for easy access to files and shared web pages, too.

In the future, Dimdim will also allow for skinning changes and templates. Because Dimdim's service-oriented architecture is composed of a handful of different services (screen sharing, audio streaming, video, etc.), the platform makes it possible to use customize the look and feel of the Dimdim interface and create a template just for your needs. If you're only sharing web browsers, for example, you could turn all the other features off. The templates created by Dimdim users could then be shared with each other. Dimdim says these new features will be available sometime early next year.

In addition to the no-cost Open Source version, Dimdim will continue to offer a free version for meetings with 20 or fewer people. Dimdim Pro 4.5 starts at $99 per year for unlimited meetings plus video chat.

This type of interaction could be useful for those who want to shop together, but it seems like it may be even more useful to promote interaction between site owners and visitors. In this way, the service is not only beneficial to general consumers who want to shop with their friends, but it could also be utilized in a business environment.

It's easy to imagine site owners using the tool to provide instructional tours or training to their new customers on how to use their web site. For example, an office supply company could demonstrate how to use search, shopping lists, and checkout to all the office managers in a particular company at the same time. The visitors could respond with feedback and questions as the instruction was provided, leading to a better comprehension of what a particular company's web site had to offer.

The tool is a solely commercial product that is marketed to e-commerce site owners at a base price of $199 per month. This allows for an unlimited number of users and up to 500 sessions per month. A 15-day free trial version is available here or you can get a taste of what Clavardon is like by trying the online demo.

Since the tool is so good for providing live support, the "shop with friends" aspect seems to be more of a secondary feature. Although possible, there are plenty of other social shopping services that provide more features in that area.

However, live support and chat features are incredibly useful in today's fast-paced world where we don't have time to wait for an email back from support. A tool like Clavardon improves upon the live support offerings that are already available to allow for a more personalized and social experience. That alone makes the product notable and worth a look.