The big-name tech tools for making remote work easier during COVID-19

The list of technology companies offering free or bonus software, data and cloud applications during the COVID-19 crisis continues to grow.

We will update this list as we receive new information about more useful remote-working tools and other technology that might be useful to small businesses during this crisis.

Be sure to check with the companies listed here for fine print and to find out if they have announced changes.

If you have tips or recommendations about useful technology for keeping small businesses running during COVID-19, tell us here.

Click the arrows on the image above to see the list.

Bonus data from Telstra

Telstra is giving small business and consumer home broadband customers unlimited data from Thursday 19 March until 30 April 2019. If you’re one of these customers, Telstra announced you will get the data automatically.

If you’re a Telstra post-paid small business or consumer customer with a handheld or mobile broadband plan, you can apply for an extra 25GB. You’ll need to use that data in Australia within 30 days and you can apply using the Telstra 24x7 and My Telstra Apps until 31 March.

If you’re a Telstra pre-paid customer, you can apply for an extra 10GB, which must be used in Australia within 28-30 days, depending on your plan. You’ll need an active recharge of $40+ and you can apply for the extra data via the Telstra 24x7 and My Telstra Apps until 31 March.

Telstra notes that:

• Its FairPlay Policy applies to its unlimited broadband offer.
• Pre-Paid Max/Extra/Plus/Freedom Anytime/Freedom Unlimited customers: Unused bonus data expires after 28 days and will not rollover.
• Pre-Paid Mobile Broadband Go/Plus/Data Pass/Data Pass II customers: Unused bonus data expires after 28 days and will not rollover.
• All other Telstra Pre-Paid and Telstra Pre-Paid Mobile Broadband plans: Unused bonus data expires after 30 days and will not rollover. 

Free access to Microsoft's Teams group chat, video and audio tool, and a 6-month free trial of Office 365 E1

Microsoft’s group text, video and audio and chat software is called Teams. Teams is part of Office 365 but if you have a work or school email address, Microsoft says to sign in to Teams here and if you’re not individually licensed for Teams, you’ll get a free license valid through January 2021.

If you have a Gmail or Outlook address, you can get the “freemium” version of Teams here. This freemium version of Teams has some limitations – for example, it enables impromptu audio and video calling for individuals and groups, but not meeting scheduling and intelligent video capabilities (though Microsoft says it plans to make meeting scheduling available in the free version). Individual storage is limited to 2GB and team storage to 10Gb. File collaboration with Office desktop apps is also limited.

For broader collaboration capabilities, such as business-grade file sharing and email, that’s where Office 365 comes in. If your business needs heavier-duty online collaboration capabilities, then you might consider a new, free, six-month trial version of the enterprise-grade Office 365 E1. It includes Teams and provides greater collaboration capabilities than Office 365 Home and Business.

For example, you can use it to host meetings for up to 10,000 people with Microsoft Teams live events, and host unlimited HD video conferencing meetings with up to 250 people. Keep in mind that Office 365 E1is an email, file sharing, online meetings, chat and collaboration platform – it doesn’t include desktop versions of Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. To get an E1 Trial licence you’ll need a Microsoft account representative, who can get you a promo code.

Microsoft also recently released a free “Crisis Communication” app that organisation can deploy to Teams. It claims the app can “centralise discussions, and amplify information across the organisation.” It functions as a “single portal to help ensure [users] are equipped with recommendations from global health authorities, topical world news, the latest information from government officials and experts, and company-specific content including relevant contacts, company news, and links to support channels.” Your employees can use it to quickly tell colleagues if they are working from home or out of the office.

Bonus data from Optus

We reportedly recently that eligible Optus post-paid customers can get an extra 20GB during April this year. If you’re an Optus pre-paid customer, you can get an extra 10GB if you recharge $40 or more during April. Pre- and post-paid customers must activate the offer using the MyOptus App. Check the MyOptus App for more information.

Unlimited use of the free version Cisco's Webex online meeting and chat tool

Cisco Webex is one the biggest names in online video meeting/audio calling/persistant chat. Cisco has removed some restrictions on the free version, so now you can use it without a time limit, in meetings with up to 100 participants, and for toll dial-in (in addition to VoIP). It also allows HD video calling and screen sharing. Cisco has also published lots of help at the link above.

Host up to 250 people on a call or stream to up to 100,000 viewers, if you're a Google G Suite customer 

You can use a free version of Google Hangouts (sometimes called Classic Hangouts), which is aimed at consumers, to video conference, make audio calls using a data connection, and text chat.

But if you need to connect to more people, and you are a Google G Suite or G Suite for Education customer (G Suite is Google’s paid email, online documents, calendar and storage for business), you can also now access advanced features of Hangouts Meet, Google’s online meeting tool for business.

The advanced Hangouts Meet features allow you to host up to 250 participant at the same time on a call, and stream live to up to 100,000 viewers with a domain. You can also use it to record meetings and save them to Google Drive. Those features were previously typically reserved for its big business Enterprise G Suite customers, Google announced.

Bonus data and unlimited calls from Vodafone

If you’re a Vodafone post-paid customer and not on an endless data plan, Vodafone has announced it will give you an additional 5 GB of maximum speed data to use in the next month. It will add that data to plans by Friday 27 March. Vodafone states you won't need to do anything to activate this bonus data.

If you're a Vodafone active prepaid customer, Vodafone has announced you will receive a one-off bonus of 3 GB with your next recharge.

The majority of Vodafone post-paid customers already have unlimited national calls, according to the company. Nevertheless, it’s extending standard national calls to all Vodafone post-paid customers and active prepaid customers by Friday 27 March until the end of April.

Vodafone also reminded customers that if they're experiencing financial hardship directly or indirectly due to COVID-19, to let it know as soon as possible. It has “a range of flexible options”.

And it is "free-rating" these government health websites from Wednesday 18 March, 2020:

• https://www.health.gov.au
• https://www.health.nsw.gov.au
• https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au,
• https://www.health.qld.gov.au
• https://healthywa.wa.gov.au
• https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au
• https://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/
• https://health.nt.gov.au/
• https://www.health.act.gov.au/

Free tool for tracing employees' whereabouts, from Humanforce

This Sydney-based company has announced a free Employee Trace tool for tracking down which employees worked on what day and time, in what location and with who – which could be useful if you’re concerned they’ve been exposed to COVID-19. The software works with "any source of timesheet or roster data" and uses a free, downloadable version of Microsoft Power BI (not currently available to Mac users).

If you’re already a Humanforce customer, the company states that you should go to “Humanforce Help” for step-by-step instructions to access the free tool. If you’re not a customer, then you can complete a form here to access the tool.

Free, three-year web meeting platform from 3CX

Canberra-based software company 3CX is offering a free, three year, standard license to use its web-meeting platform. The platform includes smartphone and web apps, and you can use it for one-on-one or classroom-style webinars for up to 25 users, instant messaging and live chat.

Access is for Australasian organisations and only for registrations via here. And you can find more information here. 3CX states that “the offer will be evaluated as the situation changes.”

Free remote work kit for existing LogMeIn customers

This well-known provider of remote working tools has created "Emergency Remote Work Kits". The kits includes tools for online meetings and video conferences, webinars and virtual events, remote IT support and management of remote employee devices and apps, and for remote access to devices.

It’s announced that “critical front-line service providers” will get free access to the kit for three months. That includes health care providers, educational institutions, municipalities and non-profit organisations.

If you’re already a LogMeIn customer, the company says you’ll also get access to the kits. Current LogMeIn customers can expand their agreements with LogMeIn to include GoToMeeting, GoToWebinar and other tools for up to three months at no additional cost to their current subscription.

LogMeIn also states that health care providers, educational institutions, municipalities or on-profit organisations can reach out to it for assistance.

Free "command centre" tool for large organisations, from Appian

Software development platform provider Appian has created a free COVID-19 Response Management application for enterprises and government agencies. It's for organisations with 1,000 or more employees. 

You can use the tool establish a “central command centre” to track the health and work status, location and travel history of your employees by geography and department, and to see COVID-19 incident details. This runs in Appian’s cloud HIPAA-certified cloud. Appian claims it’s possible to request, deploy and configure the tool in two hours. And it promises to walk you through the setup process for free. Eligible organisations can sign up here.

Interestingly, Appian is using its tool within its own business to connect employees who have volunteered to help colleagues in need. These volunteers might deliver groceries, offer a ride, help at home or make virtual social connections.

Connect up to 25 people in a virtual 'room' using a free Adobe Connect trial

Adobe markets its Connect tool as a “comprehensive platform for digital marketing events”, but it’s also pushing it for a crisis management and online meetings. You can it to join meetings virtually, deliver training online and provide an ‘always-on’ space for your employees to share what’s happening.

If you sign-up for a trial licenses before July 1, 2020, Adobe has announced you’ll have access to 90 days of free use. You’ll be able to connect up to 25 people in Adobe Connect’s virtual ‘rooms’. Adobe claims this tool can be useful for organisations “rallying their personnel and resources to prepare and respond to this public health crisis at scale”.