Remote Help With Copilot
Posted on November 27, 2006, under Development.
Tonight I got an unexpected chance to use Copilot, a remote administration service packed into an easy to use bundle. I originally heard about this project back when it was “Project Aardvark”.
We are having a problem with one of our products that is in development, the error is only happening on a series of computers. These series of computers are in California, while I am in Indiana. It was finally agreed that we would have to setup a remote connection for me to get into the system, however the users on the other end aren’t very computer savvy. I needed a way to setup a remote connection with ease, and not have to walk the users on the other end though long complicated instructions of installing software, setting up ports, bypassing firewalls, etc. That’s when I recalled Copilot.
Copilot was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be. I went over to www.copilot.com, and studied up on some of literature. The main page has two main section, “Receive Help” and “Help Someone”; basically self explanatory. I filled out a quick form and paid the $10 for a twenty four hour pass. Once paid, it gave me an option to send a code to the user on the other end via email. I download a client on my end, pre-packaged with all of the information needed to initiate the connection. The user on the other end downloaded another client, once again pre-packaged with the necessary information. Once both clients are connected, remote administration begins. Simple as that! Literally no installation, no setup, just executing a simple EXE.
The actual remote connection was as easy to use as any other software out there, a little slow but I am not entirely sure that wasn’t the connection on the other end as they have a DSL. The only feature I didn’t see is the ability to transfer files, for that I had to use an Intranet account with my company.
Copilot has monthly subscriptions as well as a free trial. Overall, I think Copilot is a great service and I can see myself using for situations where I need to connect to parents or Grandparents computers. It requires very little setup and computer knowledge.
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