ViaList Features

What other software offers these features?

It lets you share any kind of list: things to do, contact information, agendas, ideas, whatever you need...as easily as sending an e-mail. Once you've "posted" a list, everyone whose e-mail address you selected will be able to read and update the list on their own time. ViaList makes sure that all users of the list get each others' updates, keeping everyone "on the same page."

For more information, check out the frequently asked questions.

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The current release of ViaList is 1.0.15; released on 27 June 2006.

Why useViaList

Why use Vialist instead of...

...regular e-mail or mailing lists?

tell me! » E-mail is great for news, discussion, and other messages. But when it comes to working together on data like schedules, agendas, tasks, or contact information, it falls short. As the group makes changes and additions, one person (like you?) usually gets stuck with the job of maintaining and re-distributing some document file. You have to consolidate and reconcile everyone's contributions... worry about messages being lost to spam filters... and deal with complaints from people who think you misread their contributions or are sending updates too often or not often enough. And if you're away for a while, things can fall apart quickly.

With ViaList, everyone participates on their own time, contributing their changes to one central copy of a list. Core team members can post updates from minute to minute, while more casual participants check for updates infrequently. Nobody gets flooded with back-and-forth e-mails about things they're not involved in.

...a Web site?

tell me! » Web sites allow publishing of just about any kind of information, helping to keep a group informed. However, there's typically a fair amount of work and computer expertise involved in setting up a site, and even more if you want to allow several people to contribute... you'll typically have to create "user accounts", maintain passwords, determine "access rights", and other rigmarole. Especially for small projects — like keeping track of who's bringing what to a three-family picnic — a Web site is overkill.

ViaList makes sharing data as easy as sending an e-mail. You can enter and share a list in as much time as it takes you to type it in and choose users from your address book. And if you do have a Web site, we plan to offer the capability to integrate lists maintained by ViaList into your site.

...database software?

tell me! » To computer-savvy users, a list is like a "table" in a database, so why not use database software to share lists? Databases are the method of choice for serious, "heavy-lifting" business applications, but they're not designed for casual sharing of information in small groups. Plenty of up-front programming and design work is usually required, and providing other people with access to the database can be technically daunting.

ViaList makes sharing data as easy as sending an e-mail. You can enter and share a list in as much time as it takes you to type it in and choose users from your address book. And if you do have a Web site, we plan to offer the capability to integrate lists maintained by ViaList into your site.

..."groupware" software?

tell me! » Many large companies use software like Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Notes as their way to share information. They're designed for "enterprise-class" collaboration, but for small to medium groups, though, they're too expensive and complex. They need a lot of up-front setup and ongoing management, not to mention their own servers. And letting people outside the enterprise access the data often raises both security and political concerns.

ViaList is designed for groups, organizations, and teams that may not have their own "IT infrastructure" — but still need to share data and get things done.

...Web-based "to-do list" services?

tell me! » First, your group may quickly outgrow simple "to-do" lists. You may need to keep track of more information on your to-do lists, and it's easy to add whatever kinds of columns you want with ViaList. You may also want to keep lists that aren't "to-dos" at all, so ViaList lets you define your own lists the way you want them.

More importantly, perhaps, is the fact that if you're unable to get to an Internet connection -- perhaps because you're traveling, or your connection is down -- an online-only service leaves you high and dry, with no way to get to your group's essential data. With ViaList you can work on your lists even when you're not connected to the Internet -- and then sync back up with your group when you do get back online.

...online meetings?

tell me! » Real-time collaboration through online meeting services or similar "screen-sharing" systems lets people work together and reduce travel costs. But it can be hard for everyone on a team to be available at a particular time, especially when the group is working off-hours on a volunteer basis. And once the online meeting is over, someone is still responsible for consolidating and distributing results and conclusions.

ViaList lets everyone work on his or her own time, posting and retrieving changes as often as needed.

...spreadsheets or other kinds of documents?

tell me! » Many people use Microsoft Excel or other office productivity software to keep track of their lists. While those applications are undeniably powerful, they don't make it easy for multiple people to contribute to the list. "Revision tracking" and related features are challenging for many people to use, and older versions of the software may not support them properly. And although document sharing solutions exist, most people find it easier to send these files around using e-mail... again requiring someone to take on the job of reconciling and distributing changes.

ViaList was designed to do one thing really well: to let people work together on lists. Nothing else meets this need as well, and once you've tried it, you'll find it to be indispensable.