Originally posted at freshchat.com.au

Want to make the way you work more efficient? Whether you’re looking to streamline what you do at work or at home the following free online tools prove very useful.

1. Gmail: Google’s mail application.

Gmail has a reputation as being much more user friendly than Windows Live Hotmail. As a testament to Gmail’s reliability and usability, they have the contract as mail provider for Macquarie University and the NSW Department of Education. Gmail is also easily accessible from your mobile phone. Once you have a Gmail account there are a host of useful Google applications you will have access to, including Calendar and the next item on the list…

2. Google Docs: Sharing and collaboration of documents.

Google Docs can convert your MS office files into its own format, or you can create new documents in Google Docs. It allows you to share your documents online and collaborate on updates and changes allowing for more efficient workflow.

3. Skype: Voice, video & instant messaging.

Simply download Skype to your desktop and you can make free Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls and conference calls. You can also use Skype for chatting via instant messages.

4. Soocial: Contact and address book management.

Soocial allows you to sync with Outlook and other address book applications, backup your contacts online, and has the ability to sync easily with your mobile phone.

5. Remember the Milk: Online task list and reminders.

Update your task list from IM, mobile phone, Twitter and a host of online applications. Get reminders sent via email, text and lots of other ways. Never forget anything again!

6. Drop.io: Large file sending.

There are a host of online file sending sites, Drop.io is free and allows you to send a file that it is otherwise too large to share over email. You have the option to add a password and you can keep the files online for up to a year.

7. Yammer: Microblogging for business.

Yammer is Twitter for business. To create a Yammer account you need to use your business email and you are automatically added to a network of colleagues with the same domain. This allows for online chat in a closed environment, unlike Twitter which is discoverable by the general public.

8. Mind Meister: Mind Mapping.

Sick of your mind maps looking so messy? Try doing them online with Mind Meister so you can print out a clean version for prosperity.

9. Mixin: Meeting manager.

Not just a calendar, Mixin allows you to assess what time is best for a meeting by popular vote.

10. Adobe Photoshop Express: Photoshop online.

A pared down version of Photoshop that allows you to quickly and easily crop, resize and otherwise edit photos and share them online. Great for sprucing up those bio pics!

Are there any free online tools you can’t live without?

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