Video and Web Conferencing: How to choose the system that best suit you

Video conferencing, web conferencing and online meetings are becoming important tools for organizations that must communicate with staff, clients or students in different geographic locations. If you've been thinking about using this technology for your company, it is important to first outline your needs and then match them with the various online conferencing systems that are offered on the market. Here are some things to consider when you shop around for the best system for you:

1. Need to communicate with a static location or with a variety of sites possibly change? Certain conferencing systems are designed to connect two or more specific sites. If you have a central office and a branch set you want to communicate, then a fixed link system could work for you. However, if you want to connect with a variety of places, allowing people everywhere to join their conference or meetings then you should choose a system that allows you to add users no matter where they log in from.

2. Do you want a browser-based system or you can work with proprietary software? Some of the original web applications and video conferencing had its own specific software and hardware, even to install. Now conferencing systems can be used to run on all browsers and all operating systems without special hardware. Check out the various systems offered and choose the one that fits the technical capabilities of your organization.

3. Some of its participants are behind firewalls? These days many if not most of the offices, and even individual computers connected to the Internet are protected by firewalls. Firewalls prevent hackers, but may also pose a problem for some conferencing systems. Check whether the conference system of choice can cope with this problem.

4. How important is the video for you? If you would like to see their colleagues and staff to participate in its meetings, then you need a system that allows some places to connect to the meeting with a webcam. Check how many individual video windows are allowed by the various applications that take into account and choose the best suits your needs.

5. What features are needed? Want to survey participants and get immediate results while you are in Online? Some systems allow the host to submit a question and then all participants can vote or give an answer with the click of your mouse.

Want application sharing online? If your system allows application sharing conference, then it is possible for the host to present PowerPoint presentations, for example, will be visible to all attendees. Make a list of communication functions you need and compare them with the capabilities of each system is taken into account.

6. What is your budget? Of course, you want the most features that are possible but must also weigh-in costs. In making its decision, take into account the benefits obtained by the online communication, consider the cost of off-line and then check the rates charged by suppliers technology conferences. Choose a communications package that will give you a good return on your investment.

Now, armed with this list, go online and do a search on the web or video conferencing and choose a system that will allow you to conduct your meetings online at a price you can afford.

About the Author

Dan Richmond is Co-founder of MegaMeeting.com. MegaMeeting provides web & video conferencing services for individuals & businesses. For more information, please call 818.783.4311 or Visit www.MegaMeeting.com.

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