BANGALORE, INDIA: LimeExchange, the online services marketplace for 'Global Talent on demand', is offering  entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) around the world a place to go shopping for project outsourcing.

Users from over 166 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, India, China, Ukraine and Russia are already using LimeExchange and utilizing benefits from its feature set. They are: 

Proof of Concept: This feature enables buyers to have enhanced vendor selection wherein they can assess the work of providers through a small "pre-contract" demonstration while granting service providers an opportunity to display their talent and to earn money for all pre-sales effort put in during bidding.

Safeguarded Payments: LimeExchange mitigates financial transactions risks for its users by having robust payment method verification system (Paypal, Credit card verification) providing Escrow services and an intelligent dispute assistance with arbitration services.

Delivery Management Suite: A suite of intelligent management and collaboration tools where scope of work, payments associated, project progress and tasks/issues are clearly managed with the help of 'message board', 'IM' and 'terms of engagement' to define 'milestone based payments', ' kickoff checklists', and 'issue tracker'.

Knowledge Network: An integrated 'questions and answers' feature now provides SMBs and technology enthusiasts with a dedicated medium to share knowledge, ideas by simply asking questions and unleashing the power of the expert community to get the best professional advice from around the globe.

Connect: The feature provides an opportunity to foster long-term relationships online, build business network, use community to build online credibility and get references.

Sorabh Jerath, VP, sales and marketing, Lime Labs LLC, said, "There has been immense user interest and enthusiasm around LimeExchange's exclusive features (pilot project, milestone based payments, issue tracker, kickoff checklist etc.) with more than 50 percent of users opting for assignment as an evaluation tool. We are committed to constantly make LimeExchange better by providing practical features which deliver real world experience on the web."

In addition, LimeExchange has announced its collaboration with ExpertRating Solutions to introduce an array of online skill tests for LimeExchange users. ExpertRating offers pre-employment testing and training services in online assessment with over 200 widely accepted certifications.

The tests are an opportunity for service providers to certify their skill set while providing buyers with additional criteria to assess vendor Quality. However, each test comes at a competitive price of four US dollars. LimeExchange is offering first test free to all its registered users valid till December 2008.

Pawan Agarwal, head, operations, Lime Labs, India said, “Joining hands with ExpertRating was a natural fit for us. At LimeExchange we understand the competitive nature of online outsourcing and the need for providing a medium for better quality validation and assessment. LimeExchange users can now become certified in their area of expertise, thereby increasing their ranking and rating."

In collaboration, the partnership introduces a wide spectrum of technical and proficiency tests for service providers in all categories ranging from software design and development, software tools, technologies and concepts, multimedia, design and creatives, writing skills and proficiency to even accounting, finance, legal and many more. In addition, LimeExchange offers English language certification tests free to help users collaborate and communicate with complete understanding of a user's English proficiency.

For service providers, LimeExchange provides increased business opportunities through expanded global reach, knowledge and business networking. Sign-up, bidding and membership are free. Providers pay only a flat eight percent commission to LimeExchange upon successful completion of a project.