What To Look For When Considering Video Email And Web Conferencing Services

What to Look For When Considering Web Conferencing services

Any business that organizes face-to-face meetings are aware of the time that would normally be needed in arranging and co-ordinating such an event. Not to mention the time that would normally be spent by each person travelling to the meeting.. then there is the cost of the air fares, the venue, the equipment, the hotel accommodation, the expenses incurred. Plus the cost of people spending time travelling instead of working! Huge amounts of time and money are involved

Video web conferencing takes each person approximately 30 seconds… The time spent organizing the venue, transport, equipment and accommodation is zero… The cost of the venue and presentation equipment is about $69.00 a month for a 5 person meeting room and that’s a flat-rate fee for as many events as you wish to hold during a month. The cost of travel and accommodation and expenses is zero.

“Web meetings” or “video conferences” are now, thanks to advances in technology, becoming available to any size of business. And more and more of us, from the self employed to large corporations are realizing the huge benefits and massive savings it offers.

Video web conferencing is not new. However, in the past it has been prohibitively expensive and very complicated. In many cases, people would have to congregate in a particular room, which housed the video conferencing equipment. At the very least, all the participants would have to download and install software onto their computer in order to take part. Nowadays, a good company will offer a web based facility. This means that you can attend from any computer anywhere – home, office, hotel, internet café, at a moments notice.

Video web conferencing can give you a virtual boardroom, in which you may have a number of people sitting as if around a table – looking at each other and talking. It can simulate a large seminar with hundreds of delegates. As in real life, the trainers and speakers are “on stage” and the participants can watch and listen live from the audience.

Until now, teleconferencing has been the only alternative available in providing a meeting format that saves on the time, expense and stress involved in physical meetings. Plus it allows for spontaneity, when people need to discuss something at short notice.

Video web conferencing combine the best of both worlds. You can see each other. You can show power point slides, or bring up documents or spreadsheets or web pages to discuss. Everyone attending is listed – even the audience, so you know exactly who is there (one of the pitfalls of teleconferencing).

Neither do attendees need to pay the minute by minute costs of a telephone call. Travel time and cost is eliminated.

What to look for .

• Always choose a web based service. Steer clear of companies that want you to buy equipment or download software.
• Technology makes everything simple. A user friendly system should allow you to set up and open a room in a few seconds with a few clicks of a mouse.
• Price wise – look for a company that offers a flat-rate fee allowing you to run meetings of unlimited duration 24/7 as often as you wish, without incurring extra charges. Be assured, once you realize the power of this facility, you will be using it all the time!
• Choose one that charges monthly and does not tie you down with a minimum contract. Check also that technical support is included in the price.

Equipment needed (good companies)

computer with high speed internet connection
web cam or digital video recorder for speakers
(or microphone)
be wary of companies that need you to purchase special equipment. Make sure it’s web based so that it can be used from any computer
Also watch out for companies that require the participants to download and install software before they can attend
You don't need a contract!