Web 2.0 Expo FAQs
We had a great time chatting with people at the 2008 Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco last week. Here is a list of questions people approached us with during this show…
What do you do?
We enable people to share Excel files online. Instead of emailing files back and forth, users can upload a spreadsheet, invite users to share it, and collaborate as a group in real-time. All changes are recorded and available for review. Learn more at the eXpresso web site.
How long have you been around?
eXpresso emerged out of an enterprise software company about two years ago. Alpha version was released in April 2007 and Beta followed in August. In March of 2008, we shifted from beta to general release.
Where are you located?
We have teams in the US, Europe, and Asia, but our main office is in Menlo Park. However, we will be moving to Palo Alto, California in May. If you are ever in the area and would like a personal demo of eXpresso, please send us an email, and we can set that up.
Is it secure?
eXpresso takes the security of your files seriously and has implemented several layers of protection to keep your data safe. All files are 128-bit SSL encrypted from the time you upload them to the eXpresso service. Plus, no one can view your spreadsheet unless you proactively assign access controls to that individual. And in addition to the security controls we give our users, we have put a lot of effort and design into creating a secure infrastructure.
Can I use eXpresso Off-Line?
Interesting question from a Web 2.0 crowd, but it is possible to edit the spreadsheets you have uploaded to eXpresso by downloading and installing the eXpresso Off-line for Excel Add-In. This enables you to pull your spreadsheets down from eXpresso and edit them locally on your desktop, no matter where you are. When you’re done, simply save the file back to eXpresso via the Add-In.
Does eXpresso run on Macs?
The Mac OS is not supported. eXpresso runs in a PC environment because of Active X controls and Microsoft’s Office Web Components.
What are the software requirements?
eXpresso runs in Internet Explorer because it requires the Active X control. If you use Firefox, you will need to install the IE Tab extension. You must also have a licensed version of Excel. In some case you may be asked to install Microsoft’s Office Web Components, but that is typically included in the Office suite.
What is the difference between you and Google Docs?
We were asked this question a lot. The quick answer is we make it possible for people who prefer Excel to upload, share and edit their spreadsheets online as a team. Excel is the most ubiquitous business application on the planet, and we have built useful features to help people become more efficient and effective with Excel. We also enable people to use eXpresso online or off-line with our Add-In for desktop installations of Excel. For more details, please check out the blog entry eXpresso’s Blue Ocean.
How much is it?
eXpresso is free, but we also offer a more advanced Pro version which includes additional functionality like cell tracking, file history, spreadsheet comparisons, access via the eXpresso Off-Line Add-In for Excel, and more. eXpresso Pro is only $15/month or $79/year – a savings of over 55%! Learn more at our eXpresso Pricing page.
How big is eXpresso Corp. and are you hiring?
We have over 25 people on our team. We are not currently hiring at this time.
For more answers to other FAQs, please visit eXpresso’s FAQs page.
