An ecosystem of software development is emerging around Google's office applications announced last week.
Today, private Seattle company, Etelos, unveiled a "customer relations management" (CRM) tool that can be used on Google's homepage along with Google's other applications.
It is just one more step toward making Google's suite of software more compelling for small businesses, as an alternative to the expensive Microsoft Office.
There are already lots of features you can use on Google's homepage, such as calendar, weather and news. However Etelos is offering a full-fledged CRM tool, which lets business owners and sales agents manage their relations with their customers -- including reminders to stay in touch, ways to manage tasks and share schedules (see screenshot below).
While Google's $50-a-year suite offers email storage, word processing, spreadsheets and calendar, it did not have a CRM product.
Etelos' product is in (beta) testing, and is invitation-only for now. Accounts can be requested at www.crmforgoogle.com. Once out of testing, Etelos CRMforGoogle will offer a basic free edition, but also monthly paid subscription versions which will allow further customization, choice of hosting and integration with other software, the company said.
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