A free online collaboration tool was launched  by ProjectLounge, www.projectlounge.com, the online collaboration specialists. ProjectLounge Lite, will enhance collaboration within project teams and enable anybody to securely share large files, ending the frustration of being unable to send large attachments by email.

ProjectLounge Lite has been developed to allow users to instantly create an online portal where they can securely and easily upload any type of file that their email system might refuse to send. Project documentation can be stored securely for access by members of project teams. Users are given a username and password to access the portal and download the file using their internet browser. In addition, ProjectLounge Lite provides simple task management and calendaring capabilities that will allow users to collaborate on projects.

With ProjectLounge Lite people can work together and share information more efficiently. As the system is internet based and accessed using a web browser it is accessible anywhere and does not require expensive services, software installation or the associated IT support costs.

Kim Dowds, CEO said: “ProjectLounge Lite means that people and organisations need never be blocked from sharing files on the basis of file size alone. Lite also broadens the potential user base for collaboration software, as it is very easy to use and, in essence, free. With Lite, the commonly encountered error message, ‘Email exceeds the size established for this user’ will become a thing of the past.”

ProjectLounge Lite was developed by a team lead by CTO, Ian Connor. To keep the cost of further development low and ensure that Lite can be offered free to users into the future, the code has been released to the open source community. Ian commented on this decision: “Releasing ProjectLounge Lite under open source will allow other developers to extend and contribute, making the software better than it could be by being developed in a purely propriety manner. We really believe in the open source movement and releasing the code to the general public will do nothing but strengthen Lite’s development.”