If you’re a web worker who needs to share desktops with others, or get remote access to PCs or Macs while you’re on the move, try TeamViewer, which has just come out in a new version 4. If you’re a Windows user who has someone else to connect with, you can actually try Teamviewer in about 60 seconds. There is a “Start Full Version” button on the home page which will do a very rapid installation, and then you’re ready to collaborate.

In order to initiate a session with a remote user, you share ID numbers. Your team members are called partners in the application, and you can keep a partner list, similar to keeping an instant messaging buddy list. Remote computers can be your partners as well.
The big new feature in TeamViewer is browser-based access for making remote connections. This works in such a way that PCs and Macs can share desktops. You can access your Mac via a remote PC, do file transfers, and vice-versa. All sessions are protected by 256-bit AES encryption, so your information stays secure.
This application is slick, extremely easy to get started with, and has a grown-up interface with appeal. There is one caveat, though: It’s completely free to use TeamViewer for non-commercial purposes, but business licenses cost $250 per 6-month period. That works out to a little over $40 a month for business use, which may be tolerable if you like the application. For both remote control and desktop sharing, though, there are a number of completely free applications.
In any case, these kinds of tools can become very useful very fast, so TeamViewer is worth a look. It’s definitely a snap to take it for a spin, and a no-brainer to start a session.
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