A few weeks ago, we announced the results of the Skype for Business Competition. Each week, we're sharing one of the winners stories about how they are saving time, saving money and staying ahead by using Skype in their businesses.

Here's a detailed case study about HyperOffice, the first place winner in the Americas:

When a new business prospect calls from the Middle East with a poor cell phone connection, how can a salesperson get a clear line into this initial make-or-break discussion? If they work for HyperOffice, they immediately invite the potential client to call via Skype.

Recently, a business executive development and assessment company based in the United Arab Emirates called HyperOffice because they needed a better way to share client files. After initial talking over a spotty mobile connection, HyperOffice's global sales team connected with the potential client on a Skype call to learn their key requirements. In the next two weeks, the sales team demonstrated to the company how their "Software-as-a-Service" software tools could help the business with everything from document sharing, online project collaboration, and corporate-wide communications.

"Skype helped us win a significant contract with this UAE-based client because we were able respond quickly to questions via Skype instant messaging and free Skype calls while minimizing our out of pocket investment in high-cost, international phone calls," said Shahab Kaviani, vice president, HyperOffice. "We use Skype in our international outbound marketing, which has helped us increase our worldwide business significantly this year. We expect international sales to grow to about 20 percent of our revenue in 2009, up from five percent in 2007 -- a three hundred percent increase in just two years."

HyperOffice has found Skype ideal to engage with potential clients. "In our e-mail marketing, we embed a SkypeMe icon. Our prospects receive an e-mail campaign and within minutes we have people who we never spoke to before clicking to Skype chat or call with our Internet sales department," said Kaviani.

Small companies and workgroups turn to HyperOffice for cloud computing software tools including turnkey intranet, collaboration software and business e-mail services. For a minimal monthly charge, HyperOffice creates a secure online workspace customized to match the client's look and feel. This makes it easier for growing businesses to collaborate, communicate, manage projects, share documents, schedule meetings and tasks, and manage information, anytime, from work, from home, while traveling, using any Internet connection.

Recently, a London-based public relations firm needed a client portal to seamlessly coordinate all of its project management activities. While the firm was also looking at a local London-area IT outsourcing company, they selected HyperOffice due to its responsive team.

"As we guided the PR firm through our 30-day software trial, our team addressed their questions quickly via Skype instant messaging. With just a simple glance, they always knew who was online and available because of our Skype presence and status updates. Not only did this save them time, but also it and helped us win the business," noted Kaviani. "Now, the firm is able to have individually branded client workspaces where the latest versions of press releases, brochures, timelines and more are hosted in an easy-to-find, efficient manner."

As a company, HyperOffice relies on Skype to keep its own employees connected. While many are in the company's Rockville, Maryland offices, others are scattered across the U.S. and around the world in Buenos Aires, India and the Middle East.

"We hold regular Skype conference calls and find it makes sharing links much easier with the combined instant messaging and file sharing," said Kaviani. "Since some of our team members use English as a second language, they can contribute more to the calls through instant messaging. In addition, we use instant messaging all day long for quick discussions instead of relying on e-mail."

Overall, HyperOffice has increased sales with Skype. "While we have made many improvements to HyperOffice, I would say Skype was in the top three technology investments made in the last 18 months that helped us grow our sales," concluded Kaviani.

Here's a short video demonstrating how HyperOffice integrated Skype click-to-call into their offering: