The terms remote access and remote control tend to be used interchangeably by most people but in reality, there is a slight difference between the two.

Remote Access can be used as a catch-all term for all processes where you remotely access or engage in PC Remote Control. However, the term itself refers to simply being able to access your computer, it does not always mean you can remotely control your desktop. For instance, with I’m InTouch you can remotely access your email and files from virtually any wired or wireless device with a web browser and Internet connection.

Remote Control refers to specifically being able to control your computer’s desktop to run programs, etc. The requirements for remotely controlling a computer are more specific than remote access and generally require either a computer or laptop with a broadband Internet connection. Additionally, some Pocket PCs and Smartphones can also be used to remotely control a computer.

Professor Sara G. Nahari recently discovered just how useful a remote access solution like I’m InTouch can be for busy professionals. Read her story below:

“I’m In Touch has been of incredible help. I teach courses at the graduate level and use Power Points as visual help. I save those Power Points in my memory stick to use in conjunction with the Blackboard platform.

Yesterday living in a hurry from home I forgot my memory stick, nevertheless I didn’t panic and from my office at the college I connected to my computer at home, downloaded the material needed, posted it on Blackboard, and I was able to conduct my class as smoothly as always.
It was wonderful to be able to do this.”

Try out I’m InTouch for yourself, FREE for 30 days.

The June 19th edition of Computerworld Canada includes a piece on 01 Communique’s I’m OnCall help desk software appropriately titled “I’m OnCall gets Mac compatibility.” You can read the article in the digital copy of Computerworld Canada here.

01 Communique’s June 2009 remote access newsletter has been released. This month’s issue includes:

• I’m InTouch wins the TMC 2009 Communications Solutions Product of the Year Award
• RVPM Designs Uses I’m InTouch & I’m OnCall to Grow Business
• From the Help Desk: What is the Search for best connection option in I’m OnCall used for?
• The latest reviews of I’m InTouch and the SecureKEY

Look for the newsletter in your Email Inbox or read it now.

Sean Doherty from Law.com wrote up a very comprehensive review of I’m InTouch Premium, the SecurePC, and SecureKEY.  The article goes into great detail about all aspects of I’m InTouch so it is a great read if you are interested in learning more about the service and how remote access works.

A snippet from the review:

“IIT’s Web console made it easy for me to manage my remote-control licenses — configure, remove or change them to other computers, etc. The interface would easily allow an administrator to support and control access to multiple computers on the corporate LAN or in remote locations.”

No, your computer does not need to have a static IP address in order for it to be remotely accessed using I’m InTouch. With I’m InTouch’s advanced technology, even if you are using a dynamic IP address, the service will be able to find your PC on the Internet without any problems.

Your computer is identified in I’m InTouch using a Computer Name you select during installation. So as long as you remember your Computer Name, you will be able to remotely access your PC - no worrying about IP addresses is required, ever!

A useful feature of the I’m OnCall help desk software is that you can customize the look of the interface by including your company’s logo. All you need to do is upload your company logo to the I’m OnCall Server and your logo will then be displayed on every page. Your customers will feel better knowing it is you who is servicing their machine and it also helps build your brand’s awareness.

For even more personalization, you can upload each of your technician’s photo which will be displayed to customers.  When a technician connects to a customer’s PC, they will be able to see who is doing the work, giving a face to your company.

Try out I’m OnCall free for 10 days

Roger Howorth over at The Hypervisor reviewed the latest version of 01 Communique’s I’m OnCall help desk software and says it is “easy to customize and easy to use.” Read the entire review here.

A software as a service (SaaS) solution, such as the I’m InTouch remote access software, offers many advantages for businesses compared to a standard VPN solution.  A few of the benefits are discussed below:

Costs

With a SaaS solution like I’m InTouch, the only cost you will need to absorb is an annual license fee for each computer you want to provide remote access capabilities to.  With I’m InTouch this will generally be around $100 per license annually.

A VPN solution will generally force you to spend a lot more. There are the initial setup costs of purchasing the hardware and hiring someone to install and configure the VPN.  Then there are the costs of maintaining the VPN which can include Server electricity costs, replacing server hardware as it breaks down, and the IT personel required to do the maintaining.

Bottom Line:  A SaaS like I’m InTouch provides cost savings and certaincy.

Administration

With SaaS remote access solutions like I’m InTouch, the Administrator has full access and control from a central webpage. By logging in to their Administrator page, the IT manager can  easily view and access any computer with the remote access software installed, even if the computer is not on the same network. This makes managing multiple computers incredibly easy and efficient, even if you do not have a technical background.

On the other hand, with a VPN, it is incredibly difficult to manage and administer all your computers. You will probably not have any central administration controls and will thus need to manually keep track of each PC’s information.

Bottom Line:  SaaS provides you with central control of your remote access network while VPNs do not

Security

With a Saas solution, you can be completely confidant that your information will stay confidential and that no viruses will be able to infect your machines due to a PC remote control session. With SaaS solutions like I’m InTouch, the remote user is only presented with a replication of their desktop screen, none of the actual files are transfered to the remote computer (unless the user specifically transfers a file).  It is almost as if the monitor sitting on the users desk at the office was moved to whereever they were but the computer itself was still in the office.

With a VPN, spyware, malware, and viruses may be able to infect the office workstation during the remote session since it is probably not a screen sharing technology being used.

Bottom Line:  SaaS provides increased security since your data is never exposed to harmful threats that could be residing on the remote computer.

Try out the I’m InTouch Premium remote access solution  and experience the difference for yourself.

Alan Stevens over at Personal Computer World reviewed I’m InTouch 7.1 and described it as “a hosted service that delivers more than just remote control,” and with “a number of features designed to make it stand out.”

One of the points covered in the review is regarding I’m InTouch Premium’s remote wake-up feature. Unlike other remote access software solutions, with I’m InTouch Premium you do not have to leave your PC on all the time to be able to access it. As long as you have more than one PC on your network, any computer that is already powered on can remotely wake-up your PC when you need to remotely access it.

Learn more about I’m InTouch remote access.