We are pleased to announce the release of oDesk Team 3 beta – an all-new version of our desktop time-tracking application. oDesk Team is the core technology powering the oDesk model of online hourly work, and our unique payment guarantee.

Historically, only providers used oDesk Team. However, we have completely redesigned the application to be more useful for both providers and buyers. oDesk Team 3 beta is your virtual office, giving you useful new tools to make your online work and management more successful.

For buyers

Always-on visibility into your entire team. See who’s online now, and what they’re working on.
• Integrated chat with your team members. Instantly reach everyone in your team on one integrated platform. No need to jump between different IM clients – if they’re billing time, you can reach them.*
• One launch point to oDesk tools. oDesk Team 3 gives you links to the oDesk Work Diary, Reports, Tasks, and other oDesk tools directly from your desktop.
• Screensnap and ShortURL. Screensnap allows you to capture, annotate and instantly share screenshots right from the desktop; ShortURL lets you convert long URLs to short ones for easy sharing over chat or email, with no trip to the browser required.

For providers

• The same automatic time tracking you currently enjoy. oDesk Team 3 retains its core time tracking functionality, enabling providers to bill time to your oDesk buyers and enjoy the oDesk payment guarantee with our “zero-click invoicing”.
• Integrated chat with your team. Instantly reach everyone in your team on one integrated platform. No need to jump between different IM clients – if they’re working on oDesk, they’re reachable.*
• Better visibility and access to your colleagues. With the team room on your desktop, you get an always-on view into who is at work and what they’re working on, so it feels more like you’re all working in the same office.
• Screensnap and ShortURL. Screensnap allows you to capture, annotate and instantly share screenshots right from the desktop; ShortURL lets you convert long URLs to short ones for easy sharing over chat or email, with no trip to the browser required.

* A team member must be running oDesk Team 3 to participate in chat.

Download oDesk Team 3 beta for free now, and let us know what you think in our feedback forum.

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