The History of Video Conferencing – Moving Ahead at the Speed of Video
Posted in Communications on 08/01/2010 08:05 pm byLucy P. Roberts asked:
No new technology develops smoothly, and video conferencing had more than its share of bumps along the way before becoming the widely used communications staple it is today. The history of video conferencing in its earliest form goes back to the 1960′s, when AT&T introduced the Picturephone at the World’s Fair in New York. While viewed as a fascinating curiosity, it never became popular and was too expensive to be practical for most consumers when it was offered for $160 a month in 1970. Commercial use of real video conferencing was first realized with Ericsson’s demonstration of the first trans-Atlantic LME video telephone call. Soon other companies began refining video conferencing technologies, including such advancements as network video protocol (NVP) in 1976 and packet video protocol (PVP) in 1981. None of these were put into commercial use, however, and stayed in the laboratory or private company use. In 1976, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone established video conferencing (VC) between Tokyo and Osaka for company use. IBM Japan followed suit in 1982 by establishing VC running at 48000bps to link up with already established internal IBM video conferencing links in the United States so that they could have weekly meetings. The 1980′s introduce commercial video conferencing In 1982, Compression Labs introduces their VC system to the world for $250,000 with lines for $1,000 an hour. The system was huge and used enormous resources capable of tripping 15 amp circuit breakers. It was, however, the only working VC system available until PictureTel’s VC hit the market in 1986 with their substantially cheaper $80,000 system with $100 per hour lines. In the time in between these two commercially offered systems, there were other video conferencing systems developed that were never offered commercially. The history of video conferencing isn’t complete without mentioning these systems that were either prototypes or systems developed specifically for in-house use by a variety of corporations or organizations, including the military. Around 1984, Datapoint was using the Datapoint MINX system on their Texas campus, and had provided the system to the military. In the late 1980′s, Mitsubishi began selling a still-picture phone that was basically a flop in the market place. They dropped the line two years after introducing it. In 1991, the first PC based video conferencing system was introduced by IBM – PicTel. It was a black and white system using what was at the time an incredibly inexpensive $30 per hour for the lines, while the system itself was $20,000. In June of the same year, DARTnet had successfully connected a transcontinental IP network of over a dozen research sites in the United States and Great Britain using T1 trunks. Today, DARTnet has evolved into the CAIRN system, which connects dozens of institutions. CU-SeeMe revolutionizes video conferencing One of the most famous systems in the history of video conferencing was the CU-SeeMe developed for the MacIntosh system in 1992. Although the first version didn’t have audio, it was the best video system developed to that point. By 1993, the MAC program had multipoint capability, and in 1994, CU-SeeMe MAC was true video conferencing with audio. Recognizing the limitations of MAC compatibility in a Windows world, developers worked diligently to roll out the April 1994 CU-SeeME for Windows (no audio), followed closely by the audio version, CU-SeeMe v0.66b1 for Windows in August of 1995. In 1992, AT&T rolled out their own $1,500 video phone for the home market. It was a borderline success. That same year, the world’s first MBone audio/video broadcast took place and in July INRIA’s video conferencing system was introduced. This is the year that saw the first real explosion in video conferencing for businesses around the globe and eventually led to the standards developed by the ITU. International Telecommunications Union develops coding standards The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) began developing standards for video conferencing coding in 1996, when they established Standard H.263 to reduce bandwidth for transmission for low bit rate communication. Other standards were developed, including H.323 for packet-based multi-media communications. These are a variety of other telecommunications standards were revised and updated in 1998. In 1999, Standard MPEG-4 was developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group as an ISO standard for multimedia content. In 1993, VocalChat Novell IPX networks introduced their video conferencing system, but it was doomed from the start and didn’t last. Microsoft finally came on board the video conferencing bandwagon with NetMeeting, a descendent of PictureTel’s Liveshare Plus, in August of 1996 (although it didn’t have video in this release). By December of the same year, Microsoft NetMeeting v2.0b2 with video had been released. That same month, VocalTec’s Internet Phone v4.0 for Windows was introduced. VRVS links global research centers The Virtual Room Videoconferencing System (VRVS) project at Caltech-CERN kicked off in July of 1997. They developed the VRVS specifically to provide video conferencing to researchers on the Large Hadron Collider Project and scientists in the High Energy and Nuclear Physics Community in the U.S. and Europe. It has been so successful that seed money has been allotted for phase two, CalREN-2, to improve and expand on the already in-place VRVS system in order to expand it to encompass geneticists, doctors, and a host of other scientists in the video conferencing network around the world. Cornell University’s development team released CU-SeeMe v1.0 in 1998. This color video version was compatible with both Windows and MacIntosh, and huge step forward in pc video conferencing. By May of that year, the team has moved on to other projects. In February of 1999, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) was launched by MMUSIC. The platform showed some advantages over H.323 that user appreciated and soon made it almost as popular. 1999 was a very busy year, with NetMeeting v3.0b coming out, followed quickly by version three of the ITU standard H.323. Then came the release of iVisit v2.3b5 for both Windows and Mac, followed by Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP), version 1. In December, Microsoft released a service pack for NetMeeting v3.01 (4.4.3388) and an ISO standard MPEG-4 version two was released. Finally, PSInet was the first company to launch H.323 automated multipoint services. Like we said, 1999 was a very busy year. SIP entered version 1.30 in November of 2000, the same year that standard H.323 hit version 4, and Samsung released their MPEG-4 streaming 3G video cell phone, the first of its kind. It was a hit, particularly in Japan. Rather predictably, Microsoft NetMeeting had to release another service pack for version 3.01. In 2001, Windows XP messenger announced that it would now support Session Initiation Protocol. This was the same year the world’s first transatlantic tele-surgery took place utilizing video conferencing. In this instance, video conferencing was instrumental in allowing a surgeon in the U.S. to use a robot overseas to perform gall bladder surgery on a patient. It was one of the most compelling non-business uses in the history of video conferencing, and brought the technology to the attention of the medical profession and the general public. In October of 2001, television reporters began using a portable satellite and a videophone to broadcast live from Afghanistan during the war. It was the first use of video conferencing technology to converse live with video with someone in a war zone, again bringing video conferencing to the forefront of people’s imaginations. Founded in December of 2001, the Joint Video Team completed basic research leading to ITU-T H.264 by December of 2002. This protocol standardized video compression technology for both MPEG-4 and ITU-T over a broad range of application areas, making it more versatile than its predecessors. In March of 2003, the new technology was ready for launch to the industry. New uses for video conferencing technologies 2003 also saw the rise in use of video conferencing for off-campus classrooms. Interactive classrooms became more popular as the quality of streaming video increased and the delay decreased. Companies such as VBrick provided various MPEG-4 systems to colleges across the country. Desktop video conferencing is also on the rise and gaining popularity. Companies newer to the market are now refining the details of performance in addition to the nuts and bolts of transmission. In April of 2004, Applied Global Technologies developed a voice-activated camera for use in video conferencing that tracks the voice of various speakers in order to focus on whoever is speaking during a conference call. In March 2004, Linux announced the release of GnomeMeeting, an H.323 compliant, free video conferencing platform that is NetMeeting compatible. With the constant advances in video conferencing systems, it seems obvious that the technology will continue to evolve and become an integral part of business and personal life. As new advances are made and systems become more reasonably priced, keep in mind that choices are still determined by network type, system requirements and what your particular conferencing needs are. This article on the “The History of Video Conferencing” reprinted with permission.
Copyright
No new technology develops smoothly, and video conferencing had more than its share of bumps along the way before becoming the widely used communications staple it is today. The history of video conferencing in its earliest form goes back to the 1960′s, when AT&T introduced the Picturephone at the World’s Fair in New York. While viewed as a fascinating curiosity, it never became popular and was too expensive to be practical for most consumers when it was offered for $160 a month in 1970. Commercial use of real video conferencing was first realized with Ericsson’s demonstration of the first trans-Atlantic LME video telephone call. Soon other companies began refining video conferencing technologies, including such advancements as network video protocol (NVP) in 1976 and packet video protocol (PVP) in 1981. None of these were put into commercial use, however, and stayed in the laboratory or private company use. In 1976, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone established video conferencing (VC) between Tokyo and Osaka for company use. IBM Japan followed suit in 1982 by establishing VC running at 48000bps to link up with already established internal IBM video conferencing links in the United States so that they could have weekly meetings. The 1980′s introduce commercial video conferencing In 1982, Compression Labs introduces their VC system to the world for $250,000 with lines for $1,000 an hour. The system was huge and used enormous resources capable of tripping 15 amp circuit breakers. It was, however, the only working VC system available until PictureTel’s VC hit the market in 1986 with their substantially cheaper $80,000 system with $100 per hour lines. In the time in between these two commercially offered systems, there were other video conferencing systems developed that were never offered commercially. The history of video conferencing isn’t complete without mentioning these systems that were either prototypes or systems developed specifically for in-house use by a variety of corporations or organizations, including the military. Around 1984, Datapoint was using the Datapoint MINX system on their Texas campus, and had provided the system to the military. In the late 1980′s, Mitsubishi began selling a still-picture phone that was basically a flop in the market place. They dropped the line two years after introducing it. In 1991, the first PC based video conferencing system was introduced by IBM – PicTel. It was a black and white system using what was at the time an incredibly inexpensive $30 per hour for the lines, while the system itself was $20,000. In June of the same year, DARTnet had successfully connected a transcontinental IP network of over a dozen research sites in the United States and Great Britain using T1 trunks. Today, DARTnet has evolved into the CAIRN system, which connects dozens of institutions. CU-SeeMe revolutionizes video conferencing One of the most famous systems in the history of video conferencing was the CU-SeeMe developed for the MacIntosh system in 1992. Although the first version didn’t have audio, it was the best video system developed to that point. By 1993, the MAC program had multipoint capability, and in 1994, CU-SeeMe MAC was true video conferencing with audio. Recognizing the limitations of MAC compatibility in a Windows world, developers worked diligently to roll out the April 1994 CU-SeeME for Windows (no audio), followed closely by the audio version, CU-SeeMe v0.66b1 for Windows in August of 1995. In 1992, AT&T rolled out their own $1,500 video phone for the home market. It was a borderline success. That same year, the world’s first MBone audio/video broadcast took place and in July INRIA’s video conferencing system was introduced. This is the year that saw the first real explosion in video conferencing for businesses around the globe and eventually led to the standards developed by the ITU. International Telecommunications Union develops coding standards The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) began developing standards for video conferencing coding in 1996, when they established Standard H.263 to reduce bandwidth for transmission for low bit rate communication. Other standards were developed, including H.323 for packet-based multi-media communications. These are a variety of other telecommunications standards were revised and updated in 1998. In 1999, Standard MPEG-4 was developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group as an ISO standard for multimedia content. In 1993, VocalChat Novell IPX networks introduced their video conferencing system, but it was doomed from the start and didn’t last. Microsoft finally came on board the video conferencing bandwagon with NetMeeting, a descendent of PictureTel’s Liveshare Plus, in August of 1996 (although it didn’t have video in this release). By December of the same year, Microsoft NetMeeting v2.0b2 with video had been released. That same month, VocalTec’s Internet Phone v4.0 for Windows was introduced. VRVS links global research centers The Virtual Room Videoconferencing System (VRVS) project at Caltech-CERN kicked off in July of 1997. They developed the VRVS specifically to provide video conferencing to researchers on the Large Hadron Collider Project and scientists in the High Energy and Nuclear Physics Community in the U.S. and Europe. It has been so successful that seed money has been allotted for phase two, CalREN-2, to improve and expand on the already in-place VRVS system in order to expand it to encompass geneticists, doctors, and a host of other scientists in the video conferencing network around the world. Cornell University’s development team released CU-SeeMe v1.0 in 1998. This color video version was compatible with both Windows and MacIntosh, and huge step forward in pc video conferencing. By May of that year, the team has moved on to other projects. In February of 1999, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) was launched by MMUSIC. The platform showed some advantages over H.323 that user appreciated and soon made it almost as popular. 1999 was a very busy year, with NetMeeting v3.0b coming out, followed quickly by version three of the ITU standard H.323. Then came the release of iVisit v2.3b5 for both Windows and Mac, followed by Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP), version 1. In December, Microsoft released a service pack for NetMeeting v3.01 (4.4.3388) and an ISO standard MPEG-4 version two was released. Finally, PSInet was the first company to launch H.323 automated multipoint services. Like we said, 1999 was a very busy year. SIP entered version 1.30 in November of 2000, the same year that standard H.323 hit version 4, and Samsung released their MPEG-4 streaming 3G video cell phone, the first of its kind. It was a hit, particularly in Japan. Rather predictably, Microsoft NetMeeting had to release another service pack for version 3.01. In 2001, Windows XP messenger announced that it would now support Session Initiation Protocol. This was the same year the world’s first transatlantic tele-surgery took place utilizing video conferencing. In this instance, video conferencing was instrumental in allowing a surgeon in the U.S. to use a robot overseas to perform gall bladder surgery on a patient. It was one of the most compelling non-business uses in the history of video conferencing, and brought the technology to the attention of the medical profession and the general public. In October of 2001, television reporters began using a portable satellite and a videophone to broadcast live from Afghanistan during the war. It was the first use of video conferencing technology to converse live with video with someone in a war zone, again bringing video conferencing to the forefront of people’s imaginations. Founded in December of 2001, the Joint Video Team completed basic research leading to ITU-T H.264 by December of 2002. This protocol standardized video compression technology for both MPEG-4 and ITU-T over a broad range of application areas, making it more versatile than its predecessors. In March of 2003, the new technology was ready for launch to the industry. New uses for video conferencing technologies 2003 also saw the rise in use of video conferencing for off-campus classrooms. Interactive classrooms became more popular as the quality of streaming video increased and the delay decreased. Companies such as VBrick provided various MPEG-4 systems to colleges across the country. Desktop video conferencing is also on the rise and gaining popularity. Companies newer to the market are now refining the details of performance in addition to the nuts and bolts of transmission. In April of 2004, Applied Global Technologies developed a voice-activated camera for use in video conferencing that tracks the voice of various speakers in order to focus on whoever is speaking during a conference call. In March 2004, Linux announced the release of GnomeMeeting, an H.323 compliant, free video conferencing platform that is NetMeeting compatible. With the constant advances in video conferencing systems, it seems obvious that the technology will continue to evolve and become an integral part of business and personal life. As new advances are made and systems become more reasonably priced, keep in mind that choices are still determined by network type, system requirements and what your particular conferencing needs are. This article on the “The History of Video Conferencing” reprinted with permission.
Copyright
Desktop Video Conferencing – Keeping The Family In Touch
Posted in Communications on 07/22/2010 09:47 am byShakir A. asked:
Desktop video conferencing is the cheapest and the fastest way to stay in touch. In today’s day and age where everyone is spread across the globe it is not possible to get together every year for the great family gatherings at Christmas or Easter. The elderly and aged people in the family do want to keep in touch at east at celebration times. Though the physical presence cannot be compensated by anything, it will be nice to have a family gathering even over desktop video conferencing. With desktop video conferencing the whole family can decide on a date and time and log onto the Internet through one of the many online chat programs such as Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail or Skype and have a desktop video conferencing program for the benefit of all the family members.
Desktop video conferencing is the most convenient way to have a family meeting of all the members of the family. The distance or the location is not a criterion for them to take part in the desktop video conferencing program and there is no need to hire the services of a video conferencing service provider either. There are many free video conferencing services available on the Internet. The only qualifying criterion is that each member who wants to take part in the desktop video conferencing program must possess a computer with the required video input as well as audio input and output hardware and of course access to the Internet through a broad band connection.
Broad band Internet connection is a must for desktop video conferencing because the technology for video compressing, though very advanced, is not good enough to compress video signals to transmit effectively over slow Internet connections. The slower connections will transmit voice and video signals in phases giving the effect of a slow motion picture movement and the voice will break up as well. The apparatus must be of reasonably good quality as well. A good 2 mega pixel web camera used as a video input device and a microphone for the audio input device coupled to a headphone or speakers to enable what everyone partaking in the desktop video conferencing program is saying.
The Internet and desktop video conferencing has definitely brought people and countries closer together. It is cheaper to partake in an international group discussion through desktop video conferencing rather than having to fly across the world and spend that much time and money. With today’s high definition desktop video conferencing, desktop video conferencing is a pleasure. The Internet has brought whole communities together and it is not only families and students who are making the most use of this technology. There are more important meetings taking place with government heads and military Generals using Desktop video conferencing to monitor training sessions and remote activities right from their desktops. So next time you are up to something you must ensure that some group of people, probably half way across the planet are not watching.
Roland
Desktop video conferencing is the cheapest and the fastest way to stay in touch. In today’s day and age where everyone is spread across the globe it is not possible to get together every year for the great family gatherings at Christmas or Easter. The elderly and aged people in the family do want to keep in touch at east at celebration times. Though the physical presence cannot be compensated by anything, it will be nice to have a family gathering even over desktop video conferencing. With desktop video conferencing the whole family can decide on a date and time and log onto the Internet through one of the many online chat programs such as Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail or Skype and have a desktop video conferencing program for the benefit of all the family members.
Desktop video conferencing is the most convenient way to have a family meeting of all the members of the family. The distance or the location is not a criterion for them to take part in the desktop video conferencing program and there is no need to hire the services of a video conferencing service provider either. There are many free video conferencing services available on the Internet. The only qualifying criterion is that each member who wants to take part in the desktop video conferencing program must possess a computer with the required video input as well as audio input and output hardware and of course access to the Internet through a broad band connection.
Broad band Internet connection is a must for desktop video conferencing because the technology for video compressing, though very advanced, is not good enough to compress video signals to transmit effectively over slow Internet connections. The slower connections will transmit voice and video signals in phases giving the effect of a slow motion picture movement and the voice will break up as well. The apparatus must be of reasonably good quality as well. A good 2 mega pixel web camera used as a video input device and a microphone for the audio input device coupled to a headphone or speakers to enable what everyone partaking in the desktop video conferencing program is saying.
The Internet and desktop video conferencing has definitely brought people and countries closer together. It is cheaper to partake in an international group discussion through desktop video conferencing rather than having to fly across the world and spend that much time and money. With today’s high definition desktop video conferencing, desktop video conferencing is a pleasure. The Internet has brought whole communities together and it is not only families and students who are making the most use of this technology. There are more important meetings taking place with government heads and military Generals using Desktop video conferencing to monitor training sessions and remote activities right from their desktops. So next time you are up to something you must ensure that some group of people, probably half way across the planet are not watching.
Roland
Free Net Meeting
Posted in Communications on 07/21/2010 05:02 am by
Ken Marlborough asked:
Net Meeting is powerful software that connects people in real time through an Internet connection. Net Meeting is a popular tool that can be used for online conferences. Free Net Meeting is available on many Web sites, where the software is provided free of charge. Many people are unaware of the advantages of free Net Meeting.
Online Net Meeting allows a host to hold as many meetings as he wants for as long as he wants. There is no overage charge or extra fee for this. Free Net Meeting software will reduce the travel cost, save time and productivity considerably. Net Meeting is a great boon for big as well as small businesses since business meetings can be arranged without much hassle or expense. Even traveling businessmen can carry on their day to day affairs with ease and flexibility.
In free Net Meetings, files created with specialized applications such as CAD drawings are viewable. There are no complicated logins or setups. User friendly interface and ease of functioning are added advantages. Chat, whiteboard, file transfer, application sharing and audio and video conferencing are the facilities provided with the free Net Meeting software.
Free Net Meeting software usually requires users to register online by username and the password for an account. Once registered, any number of meetings can be arranged on this free Net Meeting software. Free Net Meeting software often includes features that can boost all internet related software. Virtually no training is required for working with free Net Meeting software; even a novice can master the functioning in a limited time.
Net Meeting utility is primarily provided by Microsoft Corporation. Alternatives to this are focusfocus, Teamview, the Internet Comm Suite etc. which have similar features and sometimes added advantages, depending on your personal needs.
Clifford
Net Meeting is powerful software that connects people in real time through an Internet connection. Net Meeting is a popular tool that can be used for online conferences. Free Net Meeting is available on many Web sites, where the software is provided free of charge. Many people are unaware of the advantages of free Net Meeting.
Online Net Meeting allows a host to hold as many meetings as he wants for as long as he wants. There is no overage charge or extra fee for this. Free Net Meeting software will reduce the travel cost, save time and productivity considerably. Net Meeting is a great boon for big as well as small businesses since business meetings can be arranged without much hassle or expense. Even traveling businessmen can carry on their day to day affairs with ease and flexibility.
In free Net Meetings, files created with specialized applications such as CAD drawings are viewable. There are no complicated logins or setups. User friendly interface and ease of functioning are added advantages. Chat, whiteboard, file transfer, application sharing and audio and video conferencing are the facilities provided with the free Net Meeting software.
Free Net Meeting software usually requires users to register online by username and the password for an account. Once registered, any number of meetings can be arranged on this free Net Meeting software. Free Net Meeting software often includes features that can boost all internet related software. Virtually no training is required for working with free Net Meeting software; even a novice can master the functioning in a limited time.
Net Meeting utility is primarily provided by Microsoft Corporation. Alternatives to this are focusfocus, Teamview, the Internet Comm Suite etc. which have similar features and sometimes added advantages, depending on your personal needs.
Clifford
7 Dirty Tricks of The Audio & Web Conferencing Industry Exposed
Posted in Communications on 07/19/2010 02:18 pm by
Peter Bennett asked:
The audio and web conferencing business is booming with growth rates of over 30% per annum being reported. With all this activity, it’s becoming increasing hard for you to compare ‘like with like’ and choose a supplier which is right for your needs. To put it bluntly, some people are being ripped off.
This article gives you tips to avoid expensive mistakes and get the best deal, whichever service provider you choose.
1. Claiming conference calls are FREE when they are not
RIP-OFF: Advertising services as being free when they can actually work out more expensive than paid-for services.
This is probably the most common trick in the industry. A Google search will return a myriad of so-called ‘free’ conference call services. They are not really free at all. This is how it works:
The conference access number is what’s known as a Non-Geographic Number (NGN). NGNs normally start with 08 or 09 and often cost more, sometimes much more, than calling a normal landline number.
The reason they cost more is that the telephone company gives some of the money for the call to the owner of the NGN – the conference call company. This is how conference call companies make money on these services.
So, although the conference call company does not charge you for hosting the conference call and therefore claim it to be free, you pay your telephone provider for the call so it’s not really free. A more accurate description would be “Free telephone Conference Hosting”.
It’s worth noting that calls to NGNs from UK mobile phones and calls from abroad can be extremely expensive. Also, there is no guarantee that you will even be able to connect from abroad as foreign telephone companies are under no obligation to connect to NGNs.
Other disadvantages include lack of control and visibility. NGN based services are typically quite primitive and do not include the features and support needed by serious business users. Companies who use audio conferencing regularly are almost always better off using a host-paid service as the cost savings can be considerable.
Suggested Countermeasures:
Ask your service provider to tell you how much your conference calls will cost including costs of the phone calls to the conference bridge.
2. Charging you for being late – or early
RIP-OFF: Charging the host for participant calls from the moment each participant dials in, irrespective of whether the host is on the line yet.
Some companies start the meter running as soon as each participant dials into the conference access number – even though the conference doesn’t actually start until the host arrives.
Beware: This is a great way for the audio & web conferencing companies to make money for services you haven’t actually used! For instance, imagine you arranged an 11am teleconference for 20 people. If your service provider charged 10 pence per minute and each of the participants arrived 1 minute early but the host was 2 minutes late, you’d have paid GBP 5.70 for the privilege of listening to hold music.
We think this practice is outrageous but it is quite widespread.
Suggested Countermeasures:
Ask your service provider to tell you at exactly what point they start charging, is it when the participants arrive or when the host arrives? Remember, even if your service provider is not billing you directly because you are using an NGN based service (see Dirty Trick 1 above) you will still be paying for expensive phone calls whilst you wait.
3. Stealth charges – What you don’t know can hurt you
RIP-OFF: Charging high rates for services and hiding them by not providing a detailed breakdown in the hope you’ll just pay the bill without questioning it.
Unfortunately, this is a very common practice. The sad truth is that many large companies simply don’t have the time or resources to check every single bill. Service providers know this and exploit it. Here are just a few examples of what can happen:
a) A service provider wins your business by offering you an unbelievably low rate on UK access charges and then grossly overcharges you for overseas calls.
b) They levy charges for conferences which were booked but subsequently cancelled.
c) They charge for participants which don’t turn up, or turn up late – or even turn up early.
The list is almost endless.
Suggested Countermeasures:
Ask your service provider if they are able to provide a FULLY ITEMIZED BREAKDOWN of their charges accessible via a web interface.
The web interface part is important as some companies just dump reams of paper on you hoping that you won’t get around to reading it. Invariably they’re right, you won’t.
Others insist you download & manipulate data in a spreadsheet which is fiddly, tedious and hence very rarely done. It’s also worth checking if the information is available in REAL-TIME. Some companies only show information days, weeks or months after the call.
REAL-TIME access is particularly important if you intend to bill your clients for audio and web conferences as part of your own company’s services.
It pays to shop around and ask for a full price list so you can work out the actual costs you’ll be paying. It is often possible to save 40% to 70% by doing so.
4. Charging for no-shows
RIP-OFF: Charging for participants who were booked on a conference but didn’t attend.
Most enterprise level audio and web conferencing service providers offer managed event call services. A managed event call is where operators perform tasks to help the call go smoothly, examples include dialing out to participants, welcoming them to the calls and chairing Q&A sessions.
As event calls involve a number of people (sometimes several hundred), they must be booked in advance. Much like traditional events, if you invite 100 people, chances are only 80 or so will actually turn up on the day – audio and web conference providers know this and some exploit you by charging for places even if people don’t show up. For the service provider, this really is money for nothing.
We think charging for no-shows is grossly unfair. It can be particularly difficult to spot unless your audio & web conferencing company includes full and detailed reporting (See section 3 on stealth charging).
Suggested Countermeasures:
Luckily this is one of the easiest scams to protect yourself against. Simply ask your service provider if they charge for no-shows before the date for which you have booked your event call. Don’t put up with weasel words, and excuses; the answer should be either YES or NO.
5. Overcharging YOU because of THEIR antiquated billing systems
RIP-OFF: Charging the host for participant calls at the highest call rate even when some participants are calling in from cheaper lines.
This one is very difficult to spot and it never even occurs to most people to check. Most enterprise level audio and web conferencing companies offer several ways for callers to dial into the conference. The per-minute cost varies by access method.
The most common example of this is the choice of freephone or local rate access. Participants can either dial a freephone number for which the host is charged, say, 8p per minute or a local rate number for which the host is charged slightly less, say, 7p per minute.
Now, if you held an audio conference for 12 people for 1 hour with 10 people calling in on a local rate number and 2 calling on a freephone number you would expect it to cost you (GBP 42.00 for the 10 participants dialing in at GBP 0.07 per minute plus GBP 9.60 for the 2 delegates dialing in at GBP 0.08 per minute).
You might be shocked to learn that some service providers would charge you GBP 57.60, an increase of over 10%. This is because they’d charge you the freephone rate of GBP 0.08 per minute for all 12 lines even though only 2 people were using the more expensive freephone access method. Not a massive difference you might say, but it adds up over time.
To be fair, not everyone who does this is deliberately overcharging you. It’s just that some service providers have outdated billing systems which are not capable of differentiating between different classes of lines on the same call. Whatever the reason though, you are the one who ends up paying extra!
Suggested Countermeasures:
Again, this is a very simply trick to foil. Simply ask them how they handle mixed rate calls. Be particularly careful to check international rates as some of these are extremely expensive.
6. Insisting you sign up for annual contracts
RIP-OFF: Offering you good rates but only if you sign an ‘exclusive’ contract for 1 year.
This is often used as a bargaining tool to make you think that the audio & web conferencing company is giving you something special in return for your loyalty. In reality it is you which is giving the service provider something of value, not the other way around.
By signing an annual contract the service provider can be pretty confident that you will not be looking at the competition until close to when the contract expires. Even if there is an industry-wide price drop, you probably wouldn’t notice and they certainly aren’t going to tell you. Why should they? There is no incentive to do so. They have you tied in for a year.
When you sign the contract, the Account Manager makes a note to call you 1 month before the contract is up and, very often, you just sign on the bottom line and renew – at the same, now inflated, rate. Easy money.
We believe that your service provider should be giving you the best deal possible anyway without trying to tie you in. Most so-called ‘exclusive’ contracts are meaningless and unenforceable anyway. Check with your lawyers but chances are you’ll find you are free to use multiple suppliers.
If you find a better deal, be promiscuous. Gradually migrate over to the new company at a pace which suits you. Remember, there’s no need to cancel your account with your original supplier until you are confident the new company can meet your needs.
Suggested Countermeasures:
Refuse to sign an annual contract and ask for the same great rates anyway. If they refuse, be suspicious. Are they trying to entice you in with a low per-minute call rate but then rip you off using some of the tactics described in this guide. Remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true.
7. Charging premium rates for ordinary services
RIP-OFF: Charging you premium rates for services they claim are tailored to your specific industry, e.g. Legal, Retail or Medical.
As more companies enter the market, everyone is looking for a point of difference and an excuse to charge more. Some service providers charge premium prices for what they claim to be unique industry-specific solutions.
In reality all they are doing is using clever marketing tactics to sell standard services – the same services which are available from competitors at much better prices.
One company we know of charges over 5 times the going rate for legal conference calls and gets away with. This is because many people in the legal profession assume that there is something very special about a legal conference call which justifies the premium. I’ll let you into a secret – there isn’t.
A legal conference call is simply a managed event call, recorded and stamped with a case number delivered on cassette tape. Several audio and web suppliers can provide this service at greatly reduced rates but very rarely get a chance to quote as the market is dominated by one or two expensive players with large marketing budgets.
Suggested Countermeasures:
Ask your supplier precisely what extra they are giving you in exchange for their higher prices. Some companies will insist that they are the only company certificated to serve your market – or the only company allowed to do so by your professional body. Chances are they are lying.
A few phone calls should establish the facts and you could save a bundle.
Brandon
The audio and web conferencing business is booming with growth rates of over 30% per annum being reported. With all this activity, it’s becoming increasing hard for you to compare ‘like with like’ and choose a supplier which is right for your needs. To put it bluntly, some people are being ripped off.
This article gives you tips to avoid expensive mistakes and get the best deal, whichever service provider you choose.
1. Claiming conference calls are FREE when they are not
RIP-OFF: Advertising services as being free when they can actually work out more expensive than paid-for services.
This is probably the most common trick in the industry. A Google search will return a myriad of so-called ‘free’ conference call services. They are not really free at all. This is how it works:
The conference access number is what’s known as a Non-Geographic Number (NGN). NGNs normally start with 08 or 09 and often cost more, sometimes much more, than calling a normal landline number.
The reason they cost more is that the telephone company gives some of the money for the call to the owner of the NGN – the conference call company. This is how conference call companies make money on these services.
So, although the conference call company does not charge you for hosting the conference call and therefore claim it to be free, you pay your telephone provider for the call so it’s not really free. A more accurate description would be “Free telephone Conference Hosting”.
It’s worth noting that calls to NGNs from UK mobile phones and calls from abroad can be extremely expensive. Also, there is no guarantee that you will even be able to connect from abroad as foreign telephone companies are under no obligation to connect to NGNs.
Other disadvantages include lack of control and visibility. NGN based services are typically quite primitive and do not include the features and support needed by serious business users. Companies who use audio conferencing regularly are almost always better off using a host-paid service as the cost savings can be considerable.
Suggested Countermeasures:
Ask your service provider to tell you how much your conference calls will cost including costs of the phone calls to the conference bridge.
2. Charging you for being late – or early
RIP-OFF: Charging the host for participant calls from the moment each participant dials in, irrespective of whether the host is on the line yet.
Some companies start the meter running as soon as each participant dials into the conference access number – even though the conference doesn’t actually start until the host arrives.
Beware: This is a great way for the audio & web conferencing companies to make money for services you haven’t actually used! For instance, imagine you arranged an 11am teleconference for 20 people. If your service provider charged 10 pence per minute and each of the participants arrived 1 minute early but the host was 2 minutes late, you’d have paid GBP 5.70 for the privilege of listening to hold music.
We think this practice is outrageous but it is quite widespread.
Suggested Countermeasures:
Ask your service provider to tell you at exactly what point they start charging, is it when the participants arrive or when the host arrives? Remember, even if your service provider is not billing you directly because you are using an NGN based service (see Dirty Trick 1 above) you will still be paying for expensive phone calls whilst you wait.
3. Stealth charges – What you don’t know can hurt you
RIP-OFF: Charging high rates for services and hiding them by not providing a detailed breakdown in the hope you’ll just pay the bill without questioning it.
Unfortunately, this is a very common practice. The sad truth is that many large companies simply don’t have the time or resources to check every single bill. Service providers know this and exploit it. Here are just a few examples of what can happen:
a) A service provider wins your business by offering you an unbelievably low rate on UK access charges and then grossly overcharges you for overseas calls.
b) They levy charges for conferences which were booked but subsequently cancelled.
c) They charge for participants which don’t turn up, or turn up late – or even turn up early.
The list is almost endless.
Suggested Countermeasures:
Ask your service provider if they are able to provide a FULLY ITEMIZED BREAKDOWN of their charges accessible via a web interface.
The web interface part is important as some companies just dump reams of paper on you hoping that you won’t get around to reading it. Invariably they’re right, you won’t.
Others insist you download & manipulate data in a spreadsheet which is fiddly, tedious and hence very rarely done. It’s also worth checking if the information is available in REAL-TIME. Some companies only show information days, weeks or months after the call.
REAL-TIME access is particularly important if you intend to bill your clients for audio and web conferences as part of your own company’s services.
It pays to shop around and ask for a full price list so you can work out the actual costs you’ll be paying. It is often possible to save 40% to 70% by doing so.
4. Charging for no-shows
RIP-OFF: Charging for participants who were booked on a conference but didn’t attend.
Most enterprise level audio and web conferencing service providers offer managed event call services. A managed event call is where operators perform tasks to help the call go smoothly, examples include dialing out to participants, welcoming them to the calls and chairing Q&A sessions.
As event calls involve a number of people (sometimes several hundred), they must be booked in advance. Much like traditional events, if you invite 100 people, chances are only 80 or so will actually turn up on the day – audio and web conference providers know this and some exploit you by charging for places even if people don’t show up. For the service provider, this really is money for nothing.
We think charging for no-shows is grossly unfair. It can be particularly difficult to spot unless your audio & web conferencing company includes full and detailed reporting (See section 3 on stealth charging).
Suggested Countermeasures:
Luckily this is one of the easiest scams to protect yourself against. Simply ask your service provider if they charge for no-shows before the date for which you have booked your event call. Don’t put up with weasel words, and excuses; the answer should be either YES or NO.
5. Overcharging YOU because of THEIR antiquated billing systems
RIP-OFF: Charging the host for participant calls at the highest call rate even when some participants are calling in from cheaper lines.
This one is very difficult to spot and it never even occurs to most people to check. Most enterprise level audio and web conferencing companies offer several ways for callers to dial into the conference. The per-minute cost varies by access method.
The most common example of this is the choice of freephone or local rate access. Participants can either dial a freephone number for which the host is charged, say, 8p per minute or a local rate number for which the host is charged slightly less, say, 7p per minute.
Now, if you held an audio conference for 12 people for 1 hour with 10 people calling in on a local rate number and 2 calling on a freephone number you would expect it to cost you (GBP 42.00 for the 10 participants dialing in at GBP 0.07 per minute plus GBP 9.60 for the 2 delegates dialing in at GBP 0.08 per minute).
You might be shocked to learn that some service providers would charge you GBP 57.60, an increase of over 10%. This is because they’d charge you the freephone rate of GBP 0.08 per minute for all 12 lines even though only 2 people were using the more expensive freephone access method. Not a massive difference you might say, but it adds up over time.
To be fair, not everyone who does this is deliberately overcharging you. It’s just that some service providers have outdated billing systems which are not capable of differentiating between different classes of lines on the same call. Whatever the reason though, you are the one who ends up paying extra!
Suggested Countermeasures:
Again, this is a very simply trick to foil. Simply ask them how they handle mixed rate calls. Be particularly careful to check international rates as some of these are extremely expensive.
6. Insisting you sign up for annual contracts
RIP-OFF: Offering you good rates but only if you sign an ‘exclusive’ contract for 1 year.
This is often used as a bargaining tool to make you think that the audio & web conferencing company is giving you something special in return for your loyalty. In reality it is you which is giving the service provider something of value, not the other way around.
By signing an annual contract the service provider can be pretty confident that you will not be looking at the competition until close to when the contract expires. Even if there is an industry-wide price drop, you probably wouldn’t notice and they certainly aren’t going to tell you. Why should they? There is no incentive to do so. They have you tied in for a year.
When you sign the contract, the Account Manager makes a note to call you 1 month before the contract is up and, very often, you just sign on the bottom line and renew – at the same, now inflated, rate. Easy money.
We believe that your service provider should be giving you the best deal possible anyway without trying to tie you in. Most so-called ‘exclusive’ contracts are meaningless and unenforceable anyway. Check with your lawyers but chances are you’ll find you are free to use multiple suppliers.
If you find a better deal, be promiscuous. Gradually migrate over to the new company at a pace which suits you. Remember, there’s no need to cancel your account with your original supplier until you are confident the new company can meet your needs.
Suggested Countermeasures:
Refuse to sign an annual contract and ask for the same great rates anyway. If they refuse, be suspicious. Are they trying to entice you in with a low per-minute call rate but then rip you off using some of the tactics described in this guide. Remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true.
7. Charging premium rates for ordinary services
RIP-OFF: Charging you premium rates for services they claim are tailored to your specific industry, e.g. Legal, Retail or Medical.
As more companies enter the market, everyone is looking for a point of difference and an excuse to charge more. Some service providers charge premium prices for what they claim to be unique industry-specific solutions.
In reality all they are doing is using clever marketing tactics to sell standard services – the same services which are available from competitors at much better prices.
One company we know of charges over 5 times the going rate for legal conference calls and gets away with. This is because many people in the legal profession assume that there is something very special about a legal conference call which justifies the premium. I’ll let you into a secret – there isn’t.
A legal conference call is simply a managed event call, recorded and stamped with a case number delivered on cassette tape. Several audio and web suppliers can provide this service at greatly reduced rates but very rarely get a chance to quote as the market is dominated by one or two expensive players with large marketing budgets.
Suggested Countermeasures:
Ask your supplier precisely what extra they are giving you in exchange for their higher prices. Some companies will insist that they are the only company certificated to serve your market – or the only company allowed to do so by your professional body. Chances are they are lying.
A few phone calls should establish the facts and you could save a bundle.
Brandon
Tips on Holding a Successful Webinar
Posted in Communications on 07/14/2010 02:07 am by
Michael R. Burns asked:
In todays’ tough economic economy, businesses should look to using web conferencing technology to communicate with prospects and customers, train employees and customers and gather market research.
In todays’ tough economic economy, businesses should look to using web conferencing technology to communicate with prospects and customers, train employees and customers and gather market research.
The Many Benefits of Video Conferencing
Posted in Communications on 07/12/2010 04:54 am by
Chris Robertson asked:
Almost everyone is familiar with video conferencing today, and for good reason. Video conferencing is convenient. Video conferencing saves money. Video conferencing makes money. And it is so much easier than it used to be.
I know because I installed one of the first video conferencing systems for a former employer when I ran the information systems department of a large company. In those days that meant a very substantial investment in equipment and installing a dedicated ISDN line (that was when 56kpbs was considered blindingly fast!). At first it wasn’t easy to convince people to sit in front of a 25-inch TV for a 30-minute video conference instead of traveling and giving up those nice travel reimbursements, but soon they realized the many benefits. The rest is history.
Today, of course, video conferencing has become part of doing business. There is no longer a need to waste time and money traveling, and the technology has advanced to a point where there is a solution for every conferencing need. Audio, web and video all combine to provide cutting edge conferencing solutions tailored to anything from one-on-one to large conferences with Q&A sessions and private chat. There are even solutions specific to industries such as accounting, banking, insurance or legal.
Why is video conferencing so successful when other technologies have come and gone? Because it is convenient and cost-effective. At a time of skyrocketing costs for gas, air travel and hotel accommodations, conducting video conference meetings makes more sense than ever. And in addition to saving time and money, video conferencing from one’s office or board room is a lot less stressful than a meeting after a day of hassling with cabs, airport security, delayed flights and bungled hotel reservations.
But cutting edge conferencing has grown beyond mere time and cost savings; it has become a business opportunity and strategic advantage. Conferences can be recorded and made available for call-in playback. Moderation tools allow for large conferences with operator services, toll-free audio call-in and unique PINs to track attendance. For especially important calls, conferencing companies and service providers can assist for a professional touch, making sure that everything goes right.
The sky’s the limit when it comes to new and exciting uses for web casting and video conferencing. We’ve seen new product announcements using the technology, reaching far more potential customers than conventional press conferences. Webinars provide new ways of training people or making sales presentations. And today’s office tools can easily be integrated into a conference. Sharing PowerPoint presentations, documents and even applications is easy, as are multiparty video and virtual whiteboards.
Best of all, video conferencing no longer requires a large capital investment. Web, video and audio conferencing service providers can quickly get you up and running, often without setup fees, steep per minute charges or pesky contracts. With all that’s available today, the question is no longer if a business can afford professional, cutting edge video conferencing, but whether it can afford not to use it.
Christine
Almost everyone is familiar with video conferencing today, and for good reason. Video conferencing is convenient. Video conferencing saves money. Video conferencing makes money. And it is so much easier than it used to be.
I know because I installed one of the first video conferencing systems for a former employer when I ran the information systems department of a large company. In those days that meant a very substantial investment in equipment and installing a dedicated ISDN line (that was when 56kpbs was considered blindingly fast!). At first it wasn’t easy to convince people to sit in front of a 25-inch TV for a 30-minute video conference instead of traveling and giving up those nice travel reimbursements, but soon they realized the many benefits. The rest is history.
Today, of course, video conferencing has become part of doing business. There is no longer a need to waste time and money traveling, and the technology has advanced to a point where there is a solution for every conferencing need. Audio, web and video all combine to provide cutting edge conferencing solutions tailored to anything from one-on-one to large conferences with Q&A sessions and private chat. There are even solutions specific to industries such as accounting, banking, insurance or legal.
Why is video conferencing so successful when other technologies have come and gone? Because it is convenient and cost-effective. At a time of skyrocketing costs for gas, air travel and hotel accommodations, conducting video conference meetings makes more sense than ever. And in addition to saving time and money, video conferencing from one’s office or board room is a lot less stressful than a meeting after a day of hassling with cabs, airport security, delayed flights and bungled hotel reservations.
But cutting edge conferencing has grown beyond mere time and cost savings; it has become a business opportunity and strategic advantage. Conferences can be recorded and made available for call-in playback. Moderation tools allow for large conferences with operator services, toll-free audio call-in and unique PINs to track attendance. For especially important calls, conferencing companies and service providers can assist for a professional touch, making sure that everything goes right.
The sky’s the limit when it comes to new and exciting uses for web casting and video conferencing. We’ve seen new product announcements using the technology, reaching far more potential customers than conventional press conferences. Webinars provide new ways of training people or making sales presentations. And today’s office tools can easily be integrated into a conference. Sharing PowerPoint presentations, documents and even applications is easy, as are multiparty video and virtual whiteboards.
Best of all, video conferencing no longer requires a large capital investment. Web, video and audio conferencing service providers can quickly get you up and running, often without setup fees, steep per minute charges or pesky contracts. With all that’s available today, the question is no longer if a business can afford professional, cutting edge video conferencing, but whether it can afford not to use it.
Christine
Corporate Conferencing
Posted in Communications on 06/15/2010 10:35 am byCharles Cheow asked:
The use of video conferencing is taking the corporate world by surprise. Who would have thought that you can have a meeting, or conduct an interview without ever seeing an actual person face to face. Well, the time is here. Many companies use different programs, websites to have all their meetings online. With the high gas prices, this idea is looking like it is here to stay. Who knew that a simple idea would pick up so quickly? Giving thousands of harried businessmen time to take a breath, without becoming wore out and jet-lagged. This is the perfect solution.
One of the bonuses of video conferencing is the convenience. If you have a sudden change of plans, or a project needs a little more work, then just don’t have a meeting. Postpone the whole deal until later in the week. If you had flown a thousand miles for a meeting, then it better be ready no matter what the emergency. Also the ability to see the person you are talking to is a bonus. Words are hard to read when they are mere typewritten characters. A nuance can be missed, costing you the client. With video, you can see the expressions on the persons face, and that is worth a thousand words.
With the now factor of video conferencing it is easy to set up a quick impromptu meeting. For things that normally would not even get a second thought. This lets you get together and straighten things out, or give praise when it is needed. There is no way to appropriately get to know someone when all you have is a voice on the phone. Teleconferences are great, but when held to the standards of video, there is no comparison.
Now that you have heard about the exciting ways that video conferencing can be used, I am sure that you will want to be on that video bandwagon as soon as possible. The more time you let slip away without implementing this in your business, the more income you are letting slip between your fingers. This world of high finance waits for no man, or woman. You need to get in on this trend while it is fresh and innovative. That way you are using it way before the others, and you can use the high tech applications to impress your clients.
Chester
The use of video conferencing is taking the corporate world by surprise. Who would have thought that you can have a meeting, or conduct an interview without ever seeing an actual person face to face. Well, the time is here. Many companies use different programs, websites to have all their meetings online. With the high gas prices, this idea is looking like it is here to stay. Who knew that a simple idea would pick up so quickly? Giving thousands of harried businessmen time to take a breath, without becoming wore out and jet-lagged. This is the perfect solution.
One of the bonuses of video conferencing is the convenience. If you have a sudden change of plans, or a project needs a little more work, then just don’t have a meeting. Postpone the whole deal until later in the week. If you had flown a thousand miles for a meeting, then it better be ready no matter what the emergency. Also the ability to see the person you are talking to is a bonus. Words are hard to read when they are mere typewritten characters. A nuance can be missed, costing you the client. With video, you can see the expressions on the persons face, and that is worth a thousand words.
With the now factor of video conferencing it is easy to set up a quick impromptu meeting. For things that normally would not even get a second thought. This lets you get together and straighten things out, or give praise when it is needed. There is no way to appropriately get to know someone when all you have is a voice on the phone. Teleconferences are great, but when held to the standards of video, there is no comparison.
Now that you have heard about the exciting ways that video conferencing can be used, I am sure that you will want to be on that video bandwagon as soon as possible. The more time you let slip away without implementing this in your business, the more income you are letting slip between your fingers. This world of high finance waits for no man, or woman. You need to get in on this trend while it is fresh and innovative. That way you are using it way before the others, and you can use the high tech applications to impress your clients.
Chester
Video Conferencing and Its Advantages
Posted in Communications on 05/17/2010 02:29 am byJanhavee Sahasrabuddhe asked:
Video Conferencing helps multinational companies spread across the globe to have better, economical video interactions often. Many companies who have an inconvenient location can be highly helped by the use of Video conferencing to avoid their employees’ travel.
It can also be used as a strong means of partnering when used in cooperation with hardware and information sharing applications. All the employees taking part in this video interaction have the dual benefit of seeing their counterparts as well as the desktop Presentation data. All types of information relating to various fields of research, training which would be otherwise presented on paper can be presented using this medium.
Almost every strata of the organization and all the allied businesses can use the IP (Internet Protocol) video conferencing method. Nowadays, latest technology like good quality audio interspersed with high speed video solutions is made available according to the clients needs. The conference members can also have a session for clearing their doubts, which can be held online. Sector specific solutions are also available. Any multinational which wishes to develop cordial relations with its remote customers or alliances can be greatly helped by the use of video Conferencing.
Video Conferencing also increases Efficiency through the use of the latest applications in software and complicated hardware designs. This helps us to be quick in decision making. Further, it helps us in introducing our products in the market faster, giving us an edge over our rivals.
In the case where a company has many branches spread all over the world, feedback can be exchanged easily. This also helps the top management to interact with its staff, wherever they may be located, very frequently and easily at the click of a button. Video is used very often now to communicate internally too. Technology has advanced so much that a Video Conference is just a telephone call away, and not much manpower is needed. Video Conferencing is a blessing for those employees who need to attend a meeting after a long, tiring day full of stress.It is not at all cumbersome.
Video Conferencing is economically viable too. As we have discussed till now, Video conferencing does not involve airfare costs and hotel bookings etc. Hence, it is greatly helpful in these times of rising inflation and gas prices. Moreover, above all the merits, the most important one can be decrease in the “downtime” and an improved and stress-free life for the employees who are always on the move. It can be also said that Video Conferencing helps build strong long distance employee relations, since they do not meet often.
Same is the case with our Clients and suppliers. Video Conferencing is a great way to garner goodwill amongst our esteemed Clientele and that too without wasting their precious time. Although personal meetings are favorable, Video Conferencing gives a personal touch to the interaction along with being convenient.
Lewis
Video Conferencing helps multinational companies spread across the globe to have better, economical video interactions often. Many companies who have an inconvenient location can be highly helped by the use of Video conferencing to avoid their employees’ travel.
It can also be used as a strong means of partnering when used in cooperation with hardware and information sharing applications. All the employees taking part in this video interaction have the dual benefit of seeing their counterparts as well as the desktop Presentation data. All types of information relating to various fields of research, training which would be otherwise presented on paper can be presented using this medium.
Almost every strata of the organization and all the allied businesses can use the IP (Internet Protocol) video conferencing method. Nowadays, latest technology like good quality audio interspersed with high speed video solutions is made available according to the clients needs. The conference members can also have a session for clearing their doubts, which can be held online. Sector specific solutions are also available. Any multinational which wishes to develop cordial relations with its remote customers or alliances can be greatly helped by the use of video Conferencing.
Video Conferencing also increases Efficiency through the use of the latest applications in software and complicated hardware designs. This helps us to be quick in decision making. Further, it helps us in introducing our products in the market faster, giving us an edge over our rivals.
In the case where a company has many branches spread all over the world, feedback can be exchanged easily. This also helps the top management to interact with its staff, wherever they may be located, very frequently and easily at the click of a button. Video is used very often now to communicate internally too. Technology has advanced so much that a Video Conference is just a telephone call away, and not much manpower is needed. Video Conferencing is a blessing for those employees who need to attend a meeting after a long, tiring day full of stress.It is not at all cumbersome.
Video Conferencing is economically viable too. As we have discussed till now, Video conferencing does not involve airfare costs and hotel bookings etc. Hence, it is greatly helpful in these times of rising inflation and gas prices. Moreover, above all the merits, the most important one can be decrease in the “downtime” and an improved and stress-free life for the employees who are always on the move. It can be also said that Video Conferencing helps build strong long distance employee relations, since they do not meet often.
Same is the case with our Clients and suppliers. Video Conferencing is a great way to garner goodwill amongst our esteemed Clientele and that too without wasting their precious time. Although personal meetings are favorable, Video Conferencing gives a personal touch to the interaction along with being convenient.
Lewis
Setting Up a Free Video Conference
Posted in Communications on 05/11/2010 10:35 pm by
Charles Cheow asked:
Following in the lead of major corporations and organizations which have utilized ground-breaking technologies to bring the idea of a video conference to life, thousands of small businesses are now searching for cost-effective ways to do the same thing. For the large corporation, video conference technology allows enormous savings on travel costs, and it also makes employees more efficient. The possibilities for corporate communication uses are nearly endless, all the way from training sessions to boardroom strategy meetings, bringing employees and management teams together in a way that was previously simply impossible.
For the small business, video conference technology can be no less powerful. Some may even argue that the cost savings are more important to a small business, where a difference of thousands may mean staying in business or going out of business during a tough economic time such as the last couple years. Video conferences for small businesses can allow meetings with suppliers and clients, sometimes at long distances, without ever leaving the office and wasting valuable productivity time on travel (not to mention costs). The best thing about video conferencing for the small business is that it can be done for free. The process is relatively simple, but there are a few main steps to follow.
First, identify a service that you want to use in order to set up the video conference. One of the most popular is Skype, because of its easy-to-use interface and international availability. The best part is, it’s completely free! This is a major consideration, after all, for a small business. You’ll need to check out the service to see what their requirements are in terms of computer technology. You’ll need a webcam, and most calls go better if there is some type of microphone available as well. A high-speed Internet connection is vital, as well, and the faster, the better. Slower connections may have a tendency to disrupt the conversation easily, often referred to by users as being “kicked off” the conversation. This is quite irritating! You’ll also have to download the service’s software and sometimes make a user account, as well.
Next, set up an appointment time with your contact. You then use the service’s software to actually place the call and have the video conference. It’s wise to make a practice run, perhaps with a friend or family member who also uses the service, so that you can learn where to place your webcam, how loudly to speak, and other important details. A video conference should be no less professional than a real meeting or conference would be!
Christina
Following in the lead of major corporations and organizations which have utilized ground-breaking technologies to bring the idea of a video conference to life, thousands of small businesses are now searching for cost-effective ways to do the same thing. For the large corporation, video conference technology allows enormous savings on travel costs, and it also makes employees more efficient. The possibilities for corporate communication uses are nearly endless, all the way from training sessions to boardroom strategy meetings, bringing employees and management teams together in a way that was previously simply impossible.
For the small business, video conference technology can be no less powerful. Some may even argue that the cost savings are more important to a small business, where a difference of thousands may mean staying in business or going out of business during a tough economic time such as the last couple years. Video conferences for small businesses can allow meetings with suppliers and clients, sometimes at long distances, without ever leaving the office and wasting valuable productivity time on travel (not to mention costs). The best thing about video conferencing for the small business is that it can be done for free. The process is relatively simple, but there are a few main steps to follow.
First, identify a service that you want to use in order to set up the video conference. One of the most popular is Skype, because of its easy-to-use interface and international availability. The best part is, it’s completely free! This is a major consideration, after all, for a small business. You’ll need to check out the service to see what their requirements are in terms of computer technology. You’ll need a webcam, and most calls go better if there is some type of microphone available as well. A high-speed Internet connection is vital, as well, and the faster, the better. Slower connections may have a tendency to disrupt the conversation easily, often referred to by users as being “kicked off” the conversation. This is quite irritating! You’ll also have to download the service’s software and sometimes make a user account, as well.
Next, set up an appointment time with your contact. You then use the service’s software to actually place the call and have the video conference. It’s wise to make a practice run, perhaps with a friend or family member who also uses the service, so that you can learn where to place your webcam, how loudly to speak, and other important details. A video conference should be no less professional than a real meeting or conference would be!
Christina
Audio Web Video Conferencing Options
Posted in Communications on 05/04/2010 09:24 am by
Steve Mathews asked:
When considering conferencing options it is important to know what main areas are available. Audio web video conferencing are the primary options, each with their own highpoints and drawbacks. In most cases a company can easily determine which conferencing option they will primarily use and then from there can look for conferencing services that is most affordable.
Audio Conferencing
Audio conferencing is the most basic conference service available. Audio conferencing is a very simple set up requiring only a telephone and a toll free number. Some of the benefits with choosing a strictly audio conferencing service is that is the cheapest of the conferencing services. Pricing is based on a flat rate and depending on the service provider, some extras are included free with the basic package. Some of the drawbacks with audio conferencing are due to its relatively basic set up; the options may not completely meet the needs of a business. For larger audio conferences it will not be possible for everyone to provide verbal feedback. Out of the three services, audio web video conferencing, audio is the most basic.
Web Conferencing
If audio is too basic for a company’s needs, web conferencing may be a more acceptable solution. The level of involvement in a web conference can range from viewing simple text via a central server, or even with the addition of audio provider real time voice as well. Web conferencing is a little more costly depending on how much interaction the software allows. Also with web conferencing every participant will need to be online, which means everyone would need a computer and access to the Internet. If the conference is audio web video conferencing, it will have to be a high-speed connection. While web conferencing is usually more expensive, the fact that infinite amounts of data can be transferred and immediately reviewed easily out-weighs that.
Video Conferencing
Occasionally a company will decide to roll up audio web video conferencing all into one package. Most commonly this service is referred to as simply video conferencing. Because video conferencing usually combines audio web and video utilizing an online connection, it can most accurately replicate the feel of being in the same room with someone. Video conferencing is of course one of the most expensive options, but with a little planning doesn’t have to be out of range.
Either way you go there are tons of audio web video conferencing options that can meet your needs and budget requirements.
Maria
When considering conferencing options it is important to know what main areas are available. Audio web video conferencing are the primary options, each with their own highpoints and drawbacks. In most cases a company can easily determine which conferencing option they will primarily use and then from there can look for conferencing services that is most affordable.
Audio Conferencing
Audio conferencing is the most basic conference service available. Audio conferencing is a very simple set up requiring only a telephone and a toll free number. Some of the benefits with choosing a strictly audio conferencing service is that is the cheapest of the conferencing services. Pricing is based on a flat rate and depending on the service provider, some extras are included free with the basic package. Some of the drawbacks with audio conferencing are due to its relatively basic set up; the options may not completely meet the needs of a business. For larger audio conferences it will not be possible for everyone to provide verbal feedback. Out of the three services, audio web video conferencing, audio is the most basic.
Web Conferencing
If audio is too basic for a company’s needs, web conferencing may be a more acceptable solution. The level of involvement in a web conference can range from viewing simple text via a central server, or even with the addition of audio provider real time voice as well. Web conferencing is a little more costly depending on how much interaction the software allows. Also with web conferencing every participant will need to be online, which means everyone would need a computer and access to the Internet. If the conference is audio web video conferencing, it will have to be a high-speed connection. While web conferencing is usually more expensive, the fact that infinite amounts of data can be transferred and immediately reviewed easily out-weighs that.
Video Conferencing
Occasionally a company will decide to roll up audio web video conferencing all into one package. Most commonly this service is referred to as simply video conferencing. Because video conferencing usually combines audio web and video utilizing an online connection, it can most accurately replicate the feel of being in the same room with someone. Video conferencing is of course one of the most expensive options, but with a little planning doesn’t have to be out of range.
Either way you go there are tons of audio web video conferencing options that can meet your needs and budget requirements.
Maria