Is Web-based Application Suite Maker 37signals the new Google?

[mandy]

Is 37signals the new Google?...

I don't know whether 37signals will grow from the plucky little startup it is today to become a multi-billion-dollar world-shaking powerhouse. But 37signals does have the zesty, refreshing, flavor of a little company called Google, ca. 1998. 37signals demonstrates its spunkiness in its application suite available on the company home page...

37signals currently offers four Web-based applications for individuals and small workgroups...

The applications are built using Ruby On Rails, which is a software platform invented at 37signals, then open-sourced. Ruby On Rails is gaining popularity for Web applications. The applications are all built in AJAX, meaning that they're almost as lively, in your browser, as desktop applications.

full article: http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main...ls_th.html

From  37Signals description of its products:

Basecamp turns project management and collaboration on its head. Instead of Gantt charts, fancy graphs, and stats-heavy spreadsheets, Basecamp offers message boards, to-do lists, simple scheduling, collaborative writing, and file sharing...

Backpack is the alternative to those confusing, complex, “organize your life in 25 simple steps” personal information managers. Backpack's simple take on pages, notes, to-dos, and cellphone/email-based reminders is a novel idea in a product category that suffers from status-quo-itis. Backpack is so flexible you'll use it for everything...

Writeboard lets you write, share, revise, and compare text solo or with others. It's the refreshing alternative to bloated word processors that are overkill for 95% of what you write

Ta-da List keeps all your to-do lists together and organized online. Keep the lists to yourself or share them with others for easy collaboration. There's no easier way to get things done. Over 1,000,000 to-do items have been created so far...

The 37Signals web site: http://www.37signals.com/

[mandy]

Update: 37signals receives VC funding from Amazon founder Jezz Bezos

Today we have a very special announcement to make: Bezos Expeditions, a personal investment company of Jeff Bezos, has made a minority private equity investment in 37signals....

Since we launched Basecamp we’ve been contacted by nearly 30 different VC firms. We’ve never been interested in the typical traditional VC deal. With a few exceptions, all the VCs could offer us was cash and connections. We’re fine on both of those fronts. We don’t need their money to run the business and our little black book is full. We’re looking for something else.

What we’ve been looking for is the wisdom of a very special entrepreneur who’s been through what we’re going through. Someone who sees things a little differently and makes us feel right at home. Someone with a long term outlook, not a build-to-flip mentality. We found a perfect match in Jeff. Jeff is our kinda guy...

full article: http://37signals.com/svn/archives2/bezos...ignals.php