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_When we started on our journey of designing our SwitchCRM application that offered a fantastically intuitive user interface, delivered by a robust and resilient technical architecture, we eventually arrived at the technology crossroads of choosing a database.

Having spent 14 years working in an environment surrounded by Oracle technology, the natural inclination was to pick Oracle as a tried, tested and familiar option.  We defined in detail our database requirements and embarked on our research to establish whether there were other options out there.  To our great delight and surprise it was clear that MySQL was emerging as a very strong contender.
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OK, here goes with some more cloud-based Apps which we use every day at SilverTin (www.silvertin.com) for email, conference calls, shared workspace.   They never let us down.  What's more they are completely free or available for a very small fee. 

Email is the engine which drives the majority of your business communications.  It needs to be secure, reliable and ‘get-attable’ when you are away from your desk.  For this we use Gmail which is part of Google Apps www.google.com/a.  There is a free version of Google Apps which will give you up to 10 user Accounts.  Once your business starts growing you could take out the paid version which currently costs around £3 per user per month. 
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Flashback
Public sector spending savagely cut.  Stock markets in disarray.  Riots and public disorder spreading across the UK.  1980s or 2011?  For many entrepreneurs the prospect of launching their own business against this backdrop is both exciting and a wee bit scary.

You have a brilliant idea and are raring to go.  Get past the bit where you register your Company and now, to quote a famous football assistant coach, ‘the sky is your oyster’.

At this point I am going to talk about IT.  Please stay with me.  This blog is all about IT Apps for non-technical people and how they can add value to your business without costing you a fortune.
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