This week upon exploring a few different video conferencing sites, I realized that there can be so many differences in features to ultimately the same web based tool. Here are a few of the different features offered from several video conferencing tools:
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Name
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Features
|
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Skype
|
Skype to Skype calls, group calls, caller id, forward calls, one to
one video and group video, Instant message, text message, voice message,
screen and contact sharing
|
|
Adobe Connect Now
|
Easily accessible (already downloaded on most computers), up to 1500
attendees, URL specific, screen sharing, whiteboard, and file sharing
|
|
Tiny Chat
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Online video chat community, informal, video and instant messaging
|
|
Meeting Burner
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1000 attendees, instant screen sharing, PC and MAC compatible, and
choice to instantly change presenters
|
|
Go To Meeting
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Face to face conferencing with remote customers and prospects, live
demos and collaboration on documents in real time, web conferencing, PC, MAC,
Smartphone, and tablet compatible
|
|
Yugma
|
Up to 500 attendees, desktop sharing (view only), annotation and
white boarding tools, meeting recording and playback
|
|
Webex
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Can be used from most devices and platforms, screen sharing, small
meetings or global meetings
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After playing around on these sites, I found that personally I enjoy Skype the best. I am the most familiar with Skype so I may be partial, but I also really love the fact that this tool is free. Many of the other video conferencing tools I explored offered a free trial, but after that trial was over they were asking for between 30-100 dollars per month to keep your account open. Some didn't allow a certain number of meetings to be scheduled if you didn't have a particular plan. Another huge issue I saw was that the more attendees you needed the more you had to pay. I can see why this would happen especially if big time businesses were using these tools but I don't think you should have to pay more for having more people involved. Money aside, there are ultimately the same necessary tools provided by Skype that most of the other sites offered. The only tool that it is missing is the choice to share files and edit in real time, using the screen as a whiteboard and being able to instantly save the edits. However, I guess it truly depends on what you were going to use video conferencing for as to which site I would choose. For everyday talking and lecturing, Skype seems to be the easiest to use and the one that most people are familiar with. If you are looking for a more professional tool to use with clients or partners, or to hold international meetings and edit work, then I would say Go to Meeting would be a better choice for you.
