Over the weekend, we were honored to be included in an article in the PioneerPress, one of two major dailies in these parts (and one whose circulation is actually growing). It appeared in Sunday's business section: "Private Twitter-like microblogging services can facilitate communication, cooperation among employees working on the same team or project." The writer was longtime local technology reporter Julio Ojeda-Zapata, who also happens to be one of the most plugged-in reporters in the country in the ways of social media, including Twitter (he's even written a book, just being released: "Twitter Means Business").

So, it would stand to reason that Julio would be one to pick up on a trend in corporate America: the way Twitter-like tools are being used to enhance collaboration within virtual teams. Such teams are increasingly becoming standard practice for knowledge workers, with team members scattered geographically and little regular face-to-face contact. The need to keep travel costs to a minimum is only feeding that trend further. Thus, tools that facilitate collaboration, communication, and productivity are very much front-and-center today, and the "Team Central" feature of OnePlace™ is a prime example of how the concept of Twitter is taking hold in the very serious world of collaboration in business.

One point we'd add, since the article also refers to collaboration via mobile device becoming increasingly important: OnePlace™ not only can be accessed from any browser on any computer, but it has a very nice interface for the iPhone® as well, and another general mobile interface that works with most other web-enabled phones.

Tell us what you think. Will Twitter-like functions help you better collaborate in your private, work-related teams? And will they help you with teams you're a part of in your "other life": personal, family, and volunteer-related?