What is the most cost effective remote control software for a 1-2
person computer support company that is just starting out? By cost
effective I mean that it costs at the most around $40.00 per month or
9 cents a minute in USD.

I would like most of the following features below.  Most important is
that I can provide the most common support features to solve a
person's computer problem remotely, and it works through firewalls
with no client or support person setup.  I imagine that means a
web-based solution like webex.com or
http://www.inquiero.com/web/buy.asp, but they are too expensive for my
budget.

I liked DualDesk's features ( http://www.dualdesk.com/) and price but
the trial prooved not to work for a client's firewall I think.  That
is why I believe web-based is the answer.

Required features (mostly in order of priority)
------------------------------------------------
-remote control client's PC
-multiple chat sessions (two at least) 
-file and folder transfer
-Works with Mozilla, Fire Fox, Internet Explorer, Netscape browsers at least
-Works through firewalls (PC or Mac) and NAT Routers with no setup
required on either end
-Does not require Internet Explorer to work or Active-X
-Don't have to reboot remote PC to start client session
-Allows Remote Reboot/Log-On/Off & shutdown
-works on remote PC without Windows Admin rights to create folders and
write to the registry
-small .exe file size to send client
-client can launch session via my web site or email or chat session
-session timer
-runs in Windows Safe-mode for remote PC
-reboot remote computer and auto login before login prompt
-encryption
-Show client part of your screen only (I.e. not taskbar)
-logoff and logon from Windows without disconnecting
-connect remotely at any time if initial permission given or installed on remote PC
-different levels of colour supported 2, 256, true colour e.g. for 56K connections
-enable / disable remote computers keyboard, mouse
-record session
-auto-reconnect if session lost
-Option to allow client to only allow viewing and no remote control
-Customize the web button to start session so that the client does not
know my solution provider
-Away Message if not on chat
-Option to forward chat session to email if not at PC


Optional features (not absolutely required)
-------------------------------------------
-ability to hand off to other tech's
-ability to quick link for common text responses
-ability to quick link for FAQ or knowledge base text OR documents,.exe's, html

thanks,

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Clarification of Question by danvan-ga on 15 Oct 2005 04:48 PDT

Maybe I should mention that the list of required features is kind of a
guideline of what I want.  If one or two things are missing from that
list it is not such a big deal, as long as I know what it is - I will
decide later if it is acceptable I guess.

---

Clarification of Question by danvan-ga on 28 Oct 2005 05:19 PDT

I thought ultravnc was not web-based, but required my computer to be a
server and thus openining of tcp ports.  This is actually what I am
trying to stay away from.

I much prefer to use the client's browser only and communicate on
established htp or https channels so no firewall and port issues
because there is a 3rd party that has the server.

Ideally I don't want to have a customer go to the 3rd party website
URL to connect to me, but go to mine and connect.  I prefer not to
tell the world what service I am using or how I do it.

I thought eblvd.com might be a good solution for $10 per month, but it
doesn't quite have all the features, though a beta for $40 or $50 is
coming out they say.  But I definately liked the $10/mo price point.

we have used http://www.ultravnc.com for many remote sessions to our
clients with great success. it's an open source project, so it won't
cost you anything to use, and offers many of the features you have
listed. it supports chat, file transfers  and it also has add-ons,
such as a single click application that could be customized to your
business to allow users to initiate remote sessions. of course there's
much more detail on the site that you should check out. hopefully it
will be of some help to you, or at least give you some more ideas.  
;)

This is more than you want to spend, and I didn't check all the
features against your list, but I use this company's "LogMeIn Pro"
service, it's absolutely fantastic.

They also have a service for Tech Support professionals called:

LogMeIn Rescue
https://secure.logmeinrescue.com/HelpDesk/Home.aspx

Check it out.