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iStopOver in the Press: BusinessWeek

Press has been picking up lately! This past week iStopOver was covered in the technology section of BusinessWeek's website. 

Here is an excerpt:

So, what’s a company to do with all that extra space? Brightspark has come up with a way for companies to rent that space directly to others for short-term use. The company created a Web site called iStopOver that lets people rent excess business space such as cubicles, offices, meeting rooms, boardrooms, presentation centers, warehouses, studios and even parking spots.

Click here to read the full article, 'Renting Office Space on the Cheap' »

iStopOver v2.0 Launched!

We are very pleased to now release our new and improved iStopOver Web site and Blog.

The iStopOver team has been implementing the improvements and advancements that you have been asking for. One of the first things you will notice is our new look and feel - but we haven’t stopped there, we have also implemented many of the functional changes that you have been asking for

Firstly – our new look. We have always focused on a clean, professional design. Our new redesign takes that one step further. We have implemented modern, simple colors, design elements and we’ve undertaken user-interface changes based on significant implementation testing. Please let us know what you think of the new colors, and design.

On the functionality side, we have implemented many new features including:

iStopOver – The Next Chapter

We launched the first version of iStopOver earlier this year. The basis of this internet business was straightforward: Some people have excess capacity in their home and office, and others are looking for short-term space. iStopOver connects people and provides a simple way to directly rent space.

To date, iStopOver has focused on the home rental market – a market we dubbed as Hometel = Home + Hotel.  Homeowners list their B&B style accommodations on iStopOver and travelers rent these accommodations directly on the site, iStopOver for Home Rentals. 

Now, we have launched iStopOver for Office Rentals. That means you can directly rent short term office/business space. By business space, we mean an office, a desk, a meeting room, a boardroom, a warehouse, a studio or even a parking space.  No agents, no long-term commitment – directly rent over the Internet. 

A More Open-Minded Generation

The internet is drastically reshaping and transforming our cultures, values and the very essence of how we live. The younger 'Net Generation', as they are called, is constantly presented with new ways and opportunities to interact and communicate with each other. A continuous onslaught of new Web 2.0 type technologies are flattening the globe and opening up the playing field, making for a much more diversified environment.

So, what does this mean for business?

For starters, there is huge potential to capture this hunger for social interaction, as evidenced by the internet juggernauts who pave new ground everyday in the name of social networking. It seems to me that anyone who hasn't heard of Facebook or Twitter by now is not entirely in touch with reality.

iStopOver takes this model of online communication and bridges it with real world interaction.

We believe that renting a room from like-minded individuals is a fantastic way to take these new connections from the online world to the off-line world. Actually meeting face-to-face and being able to share stories, ideas and an 'extra bed' is a very exciting concept.

There are pitfalls to avoid, of course. The generation gap means that although the net generation is a little bit more comfortable meeting new people and developing new relationships, baby boomers are still struggling to catch up. It will come, with time. For now, those who are ready to take advantage of this new, more open-minded and technologically-savvy society are in a position of strength. As novel ways of making meaningful connections begin to emerge, so to do questions about how to capitalize on them. Our answer is to bring connections from the online world and turn them into something real and tangible - all through that spare room in your home!

We think it can work, so hop aboard and join us for the ride.

-Brett, Marketing Intern

iStopOver in the Press: CBC News

iStopOver for Office Rentals was mentioned recently in an article on CBC News' website.

 

 

Here's an excerpt:

"...those looking for space have been equally positive about the idea, from global recruiting companies to small professional firms looking to set up branch offices on a shoestring budget to interview customers, hold meetings while in a specific location or get back on their feet financially."

Click here to read the full article, 'Entrepreneurs get the big corporate look on a small budget' »