Conferencing Web – audio video collaboration solutions

David J S Baker asked:




Audio video conferencing is another way to describe an online internet meeting where nobody has to leave her location in order to catch up with the conference. An online internet meeting may use computers, conferencing software, file sharing, headsets, the internet, telephone, television or any mix of these equipments and tools. Slideshow display, streaming audio, and document sharing are a variety of the extras you can include into this conferencing system. The final target is to make the meeting as practical as possible where everyone can see each other, hear each other, view and change projects, and so on – all at a price that at last pays for itself in travel savings.

The highly competitive audio video conferencing industry has yet to work out all the glitches. As you can well imagine, there can at times be technical issues in which lines can get torn down in a storm, Computers and other gear can malfunction, and so on. In addition, audio video conferencing doesn’t work well for difficult communication methodologies, for example those employed in closing a sales deal.

Because Audio video conferencing lends an impersonal air to personal meetings, socializing and bonding don’t happen as they might in reality. Web conferencing can be set up in a number of different ways according to your requirements. While the older conference system, still pretty awesome for a big choice of teleconferencing purposes, is to have one group in one room, another group in another room ( perhaps in another city or country ), and have them talk to each other.

Each one of the two groups uses a TV, a camera mounted on TV, a speakerphone, and maybe some file sharing software for collaboration on Computer projects. The more current style is online audio video conferencing, whereby each partaker has her very own station in her own office. This employs a PC, internet connection, an inexpensive web cam, a headset, as well as file sharing capabilities. This new system allows for even greater ease of planning for maximum participation, collaboration, and transportability.

You could attend a web meeting on the beach while the other visitors are on a train, at home, in a cafeteria, or anyplace else.

Allison

Pam Nene asked:




Video conferencing is the leading edge of unified communications, saving organizations of their time and money. It does play a bigger role in slashing the travel budgets to a drastic extent. The productivity of employees also sees an upward swing because they succeed in reducing their travel time which would otherwise have been spent on travelling.

Video conferencing is the business mantra since it adds a new dimension to the manner in which business is being conducted in modern times. Very crucial business meetings can be held in short notice or little-to-no-prior notice. Thus it can be successful in marketing the product or service in lesser time. These conferences also cause an increment in employee’s quality of life. This is achieved by reducing the number of business trips and increasing the ability to work from home.

You will require a video conferencing equipment to maximize your profits/service. These are the equipments which play the role of connecting the different users participating in the video conference. If you have just started to think how it is achieved let me tell you there are time tested ways before you choose these equipments. For instance, you can focus more on your budget outlay to decide the quality and quantity of the equipment which you intend to buy. Equal emphasis should be given to the manufacturers of these vital equipments.

You have to decide on the number of people you want to connect. Carefully and judiciously decide how many user groups you want to establish the connection with. It is always wise to seek professional help from people who have the required expertise. You can also do your bit of homework on the internet. Join forums where you can interact with like-minded people and take their suggestion as well. While shopping for such equipment on internet, please make the correct selection of price which will not compromise on quality.

Video conferencing systems come in various forms and cost. Depending upon your cost criteria and the purpose of the conference, you can choose the most viable option. Generally these systems comprises of integrated conference room system, desktop conferencing system, video conferencing system and tele-presence conferencing system.

There is a category of users who aren’t willing to part with the money to meet the costs for making use of these systems. For this type of users downloading Skype or Yahoo Messenger would be sufficient. Suppose you want to discuss a sales issue with all the zonal heads of respective sales department spread across the country. By resorting to conducting a conference over the Skype of Yahoo Messenger, you can keep your travel cost and time to the minimum level.

Jill

Richard Rojas asked:




Businesses, both large and small, utilize a conferencing solution of some nature to conduct business at one time or another. Today there are several types of conferencing solutions an organization may choose from. The choice to use conferencing is clear. What’s not so clear is which one best fits the needs of your organization.

There are currently 3 basic types of conferencing solutions:

–Audio Conferencing Solutions

–Video Conferencing Solutions

–Web Conferencing Solutions

To make things even more interesting, it is also possible to mix and match amongst the three solutions. Let’s take a look at each one in turn and then see how they can be combined to extend their utility.

1. Audio Conferencing — audio conferencing solutions have been around the longest. They range from simple conference calling features on most PBX systems that bridge 3 phone lines to sophisticated outsourced services. In addition to the conferencing feature on a PBX is the very low cost 2-party conference call using speakerphones with the participants on each end sitting around a conference table.

You no doubt have probably participated in one of these conference calls on more than one occasion. These types of conference calls can be very effective, but they also have some major limitations. They are just an ordinary telephone call between two parties. It can often be difficult to hear all of the participants if they don’t speak up or are too far from a microphone. Long distance charges may be incurred by one of the parties unless an 800 number is available.

A hosted audio conferencing solution provides an added level of convenience and professionalism. They allow the bridging of multiple parties via telephone lines. These services my be either operator-assisted or what is known as “reservationless” where the client has an account and schedules the call themselves. An operator-assisted conference call has some advantages such as transcription and translation services, but the trend is to save cost and opt for reservationless conference calling services.

2. Video Conferencing — video conferencing solutions are the next best thing to being there. However, they require specialized systems and support and can be difficult to setup and use. On the other hand, when compared to the costs and lost productivity associated with travel they can be a very cost effective alternative.

This is especially true where geographically dispersed divisions or partners must collaborate on a regular basis. In this case the ability to see and speak to one another in real time using a video conferencing solution is ideal. Video conferencing systems also provide rich media and conferencing tools to further enhance the conferencing experience.

3. Web Conferencing — Web conferencing solutions are at their most powerful when computer desktop applications need to be shared. Web conferences are great for demonstrating software products to customers or sharing spreadsheets and other applications amongst the participants.

Web conferences also typically have an audio component, which is either a separate audio conference or integrated into the web conferencing system via an audio conferencing service or over the Web using a digital voice solution such as VoIP.

Unlike video conferencing solutions, Web conferencing solutions use a familiar desktop interface and are easy to setup and use. They provide meeting tools such as white boarding and document sharing. The best-known and most popular provider of Web conferencing services is WebEx.

Choosing among the various conferencing solutions comes down to what your organization hopes to accomplish with the conferencing solution. In many cases a simple audio conferencing solution is sufficient.

If you need to demonstrate a software product or require a more interactive conference, then a Web conferencing solution is probably what you need. For extended, mission-critical projects that require regular interfacing with a remote office, then video conferencing solutions are definitely worth considering.

The important point to bear in mind is that whatever conferencing solution you choose, it is a tool used to meet the business objectives of your organization. Towards that end, don’t choose a tool that’s more than you need, which is wasteful or is inadequate just to save on cost.

Cynthia

Ricky Lim asked:




Technology has changed the way we live in the world. It has made the place more interconnected and interdependent. Distances or physical barriers are not a deterrent factor in doing business or for any other personal reasons. Wish to talk to your business partner located in another continent? Free web video conferencing has solutions to all your problems.

The technology enables people to be in constant touch with people located across other nations. Besides, it is affordable and simple to use. In fact, it is not only being used for business purposes but also used by people to keep in touch with their dear ones. The importance of the technology can be gauged from the fact that no good organization is without a video conferencing room.

Features of the technology

Text messaging, PowerPoint slide presentations, file sharing, surveys and polls are some of the features provided by the technology. It has made businesses advanced and given them a professional touch. Now people do not have to travel to other nations to conduct meetings. The technology thus saves time and money.

Free web video conferencing Companies

There are various companies that offer trials for free, and later allow one to have membership at discounted prices. These services include voicemail and high-speed conferencing. Some of the features provided by the web video conferencing services are Marratech, GoToMeeting and Office Live Meeting. Some of the necessary equipment to be used is a web camera, a high speed Internet connection and a computer system. It is advisable that the Internet service provider be of good quality.

To conduct a business or stay in touch with your loved ones, it is necessary that you make use of web video conferencing.

Brenda