Video conferencing Software is a very useful tool for businesses. It offers a lot of advantages to companies and individuals who wish to do business at a higher level. You can make presentations in front of people without needing to physically travel and spend time in other countries.
These conferences are also useful when you want to conduct interviews and training sessions with employees or clients from distant places. You can also use video conferencing to conduct meetings with business associates and partners.
Video conferencing Software refers to a set of hardware and software which you can attach to your desktop computer. This allows you to share audio and video with other participants over the internet. This method is quite popular with both large companies and small-scale organizations.
Room-based Video conferencing on the other hand, requires you to rent a video conferencing room and install the required Video conferencing software on your computer. This is the most expensive method and does not offer a lot of flexibility.
There are a number of companies that provide video conferencing services. All these companies have dedicated infrastructures with broadband connections to handle video conferences. Some of these companies also provide audio conferencing services as well. These tools enable you to make or receive conference calls from any location by using your personal computers.
Also read: Agile CRM
Video conferencing and tools can help you in various ways, depending on the type of service you want. There are different types of services offered by different companies. It is important to choose a conferencing service that offers you the features you require at the right price. It is possible to make your video conference calls for free if the company has no required monthly minimum usage.
Video conferencing and tools have many advantages. It is an easy way to hold meetings or seminars. You can easily communicate with people across the world. With these tools, you can conduct training programs, business meetings, product launches, educational or cultural programs, and product demonstrations.
WHAT IS A VIDEO CONFERENCING SOFTWARE?
Video conferencing refers to the technological platform which allows for two or more people to interact with each other using a TV, computer, or mobile device. Today with the advent of a number of new interactive features in video conferencing technology it has become possible to hold virtual conversations or meetings, right from anywhere. It is no longer necessary for you and your colleagues to travel a long way just to have a meeting together.
The beauty of this technology is that it enables you to conduct face-to Face communication. That means real face-to-face interaction, when you’re depending in different geographic locations. Video Conferencing Software allows you to conduct all your business meetings, product demonstrations, and press conferences from any location that has a telephone network.
You may have a teleconference call recording, where all the participants receive the call at the same time, or one-on-one conference calls.
FEATURES OF VIDEO CONFERENCING SOFTWARE
There are many online tools for video conferencing services. Most of these tools enable participants to share the same computer screen. Video conferencing Software helps you create conference calls easily and inexpensively. Below are some common features of a video conferencing tool.
- Rich Graphic presentation
- Real-time chat
- Slide show presentations
- Grammar text translation
- Screensharing and the rest of them.
In this article, we’ll be discussing each Video conferencing software and subsequently write a review on each.
VIDEO CONFERENCING SOFTWARE AND THEIR FEATURES
There are many Video conferencing and tools that are available on the market. These come in different shapes and sizes to suit the needs of everyone. They are also designed according to the specific requirements of different types of users. Some of the most commonly used Video conferencing software include; Zoom, Google hangout & meet, Skype, Microsoft teams, Zoho meetings, Goto meetings and Blue teams’ meetings
SKYPE
Skype is an open-source proprietary telecommunication software that specializes in delivering voice and video calls between desktop computers, laptops, mobiles, the Xbox One platform, and other smart wares. Skype also offers real-time video and audio-conferencing services for business users. Users can send text, audio, and video. It also allows the exchange of information in real time. In order to use Skype, a person needs a headset and a computer that are connected to the internet.
Skype works well with any web-browser, including Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Safari. However, in order to make calls with Skype, you will need a computer that is connected to the internet and a web browser.
You also need to have the latest version of Internet Explorer or Firefox. Skype utilizes the Windows Live Messenger service to share text and voice messages with other Skype users. You can send both text and voice messages to other Skype users over the internet.
FEATURES
- Instant messaging
- Video & Audio recording
- Phone calls
- Screen sharing
- Video & audio calling
ZOOM
Zoom conferencing technology delivers unparalleled integration and mobility, while enabling total collaboration from anywhere in the world.” Its name is very evocative given the fact that it dominates the market in video conferencing services. To understand how this company can meet your business needs, you have to know how they go about solving complex problems. Zoom has been able to leverage its powerful technology to bring together people who may not be physically in the same room.
Zoom Video conferencing is an invaluable tool in organizing team meetings, remote presentations, training sessions, product launches, employee training events, and training seminars. You can use these features to add interactive learning and training features to your one-on-one meetings, improve teamwork and communication, and allow for a great deal of flexibility. For example, with the use of one of these services, you can have managers present in front of the team or employees as a group. With screen sharing, the participants can see each other in action, making it easier for them to interact.
FEATURES
- Team collaboration with up to 300 people
- Screen sharing and Recording
- Video & Audio recording
- Live chats
- Video Webinars
MICROSOFT TEAMS
Microsoft Teams is a chat and collaboration service for Microsoft 365 users designed to automate group communication in real time. Using real-time tools and software technology, groups can more easily identify issues and solutions more quickly, communicate more effectively, and get more done in less time. It also allows users to work together on projects no matter where they are. Microsoft Teams helps groups streamline the collaborative process in their businesses and improve collaboration and efficiency. In this article, we will take a closer look at what is Microsoft Teams, how it works, and what it can do for you!
In late 2010, Microsoft Teams was released to the public and provides a new tool for team collaboration. Teams brings the functionality of email and calendar online, along with groupware tools that allow remote workers to collaborate on shared projects using common software tools.
FEATURES
- Share conversations
- Send Text
- Audio conferencing
- Live Chats
- Audio & Video messaging
ZOHO MEETINGS
Zoho meetings have a highly advanced video conferencing service that provides an interface to communicate with users via a web cam or normal wired camera connection. This Software calls allow you to present your presentation as you would on stage, but due to the advances in video conferencing technology, the presentation can be viewed at up to one hundred and twenty frames per second. This speed is only achieved by using the proper Zoho meeting features. Video conferencing is often used for classroom education, seminars, conferences and other training purposes where a trained presenter can conduct the course in an effective and informative manner.
A Zoho meeting is a great way for a group of employees to gather together for the purposes of discussing important issues. All of the members of the group have access to all of the information that is being discussed in the meeting, which makes it easy to find issues beforehand.
FEATURES
- Audio & Video recording
- Live Chats
- Sets calendar and reminders
- Screen sharing
- Recording & Replay
GOOGLE HANGOUTS AND MEETS
Google Hangout and meet is a video conferencing software that allows you to call a meeting, video conference, attend a meeting, record it, and then call it again. Everything happens simultaneously. One of the most exciting features of Hangouts is the ability to share the conference with others. You can invite friends and family to join your conference online. From there, they will be able to view your video conference feed on their personal desktop or laptop. It is an excellent tool for presenting information or conducting online meetings. We think that if you want to get more out of your conference, you should really consider using Hangouts.
Google Hangouts is very similar to PowerPoint. You can add text, share videos, etc. but it also has some additional features that make it worth much more than its competitors. The free conference set-up allows you to connect from multiple devices, which can give you an opportunity to conduct multiple conferences if needed.
Video Conferencing with Google Hangouts is easy to do. First, you need to sign up for the service, create a free room, and then host a video conferencing event. You can invite friends and family to join your Hangouts conference online. If you need additional help getting started, the makers of Hangouts provide a tutorial for new users. If you are interested in video conferencing, Google Hangouts is a great option.
FEATURES
- Screen sharing
- Video and Audio call
- Mute buttons
- Connect with multiple computing devices
- Live Messaging
WHO USES A VIDEO CONFERENCING SOFTWARE?
Apart from professionals, a lot of people use video conferencing software. Businesses, students and individuals use Video Conferencing for different reasons that would be discussed below.
BUSINESSES
Video conferencing and tools are of great help in conducting business meetings among a large number of people spread all over the world. You can use these tools to communicate with people who may be located in far off places as well. Many companies and individuals use Video conferencing and tools to conduct training sessions and seminars over the internet. Business firms also use these tools to hold meetings for different divisions and departments at the same time, which helps them reduce costs.
STUDENTS
Video conferencing and tools are also of great use to teach students in a distance learning program. The students are able to make presentations using a remote connection to the teacher and present their projects. They can also create their own presentation and upload it on the web using Video Conferencing and tools.
PROFESSIONALS
Video conferencing and tools can also be used to streamline your business procedures. It allows you to make presentations to a large audience from anywhere in the world. This reduces travel expenses and makes meetings more interactive. You are also able to make presentations to business associates from anywhere in the world. You can also use these tools to hold meetings and seminars over a wireless network like the Internet thereby saving time, money and manpower.
INDIVIDUALS
With the invention of Video Conferencing, individuals now keep in contact with one and other via face-time thereby bridging the gap of over the phone calls where they get to hear just the voice of their friends, colleagues and family members.
WHY USE A VIDEO CONFERENCING SOFTWARE
There lots of reasons why people use a Video Conferencing software and this depends on what you want to achieve.
Below are few reasons why you need a video conferencing software;
- Keep in-touch with friends, family and colleagues
- Saves cost of travelling to remote locations for business meetings
- Solves the problem of organizing meeting among employees from across different remote locations
- Video conferencing facilitates face-to-face communications
- Video conferencing solutions enable efficient online meetings, which saves money and time
Check subsequent posts for more details on each Video conferencing software