Upwork, Formerly oDesk - Freelancing Work/Hire Platform

Upwork CEO said: "it's really awesome work-better work."

When I try to access oDesk.com, the website will now redirect to its new site, Upwork.com. I didn't know Odesk changed its name until this moment, so I decided to dig some info.

Well, I got information from Forbes' post, which stated that Elance-Odesk had its new name Upwork. 

Where does the name Upwork come from?

According to the company's CEO, Stephane Kasriel said that the word "Work" could sound like a downer. But instead, he said, it's really awesome work better work.

Upwork is a new freelance work/hire platform. In a phone interview, Stephane Kasriel, the company's CEO and led the team of engineers, designers, and programmers to completely relaunch the company.

One of the key features of this new platform is its Message Center wherein employers(companies) will easily chat with a freelancer for work.

New Feature

Upwork introduced its Connects feature. Connects are virtual tokens for applying for jobs. Users can get 60 connections free per month with Freelancer Basic (free) plan.

Connects will give limits to users' quota:

• fewer unnecessary applications.
• Most freelancers will only apply to jobs they are truly interested in and qualified for.
• User competing against a smaller and more relevant pool of applicants, increasing your chances of getting hired when you're the best fit.

However, if you are invited or rehired, you can't use any Connects. Take note also that, initially, most jobs require two Connects. 

Why do those applications require a different number of Connects?

Not all jobs are similar. Different jobs require different levels of time, effort, skill, and complexity. The number of Connects it takes to apply reflects these job-to-job differences. Generally, smaller, simpler jobs require fewer Connects than larger, more complex ones.

Now, all freelancers belong to a membership plan. By default, you're automatically enrolled in the FREE Freelancer Basic plan, which includes:

• 60 Connects per month
• No ability to buy or rollover extra Connects
• Payment protection (through Escrow and the Upwork Guarantee)

More active? Consider the Freelancer Plus plan.
Upgrade to the Freelancer Plus plan for more features and flexibility. For $10 per month, you get:

• 70 Connects per month
• Ability to buy and rollover extra Connects
• Ability to see minimum, maximum, and average bids on any job

Signup here: https://www.upwork.com/signup/