VIDEO CONFERENCE

The best place to start on a low (or nonexistent) budget is

Google+ Hangouts. Skype's a close second, although it requires
you or someone in your circle to have a paid account.
Cisco WebEx Meetings earns many pluses for its free starter tier,
support for multiple client types, and full conference recording.
Brother OmniJoin lacks Mac support, but has a good roster of
end-user tools for conference logging and checking connection
quality.
Citrix GoToMeeting has good interactivity and sharing, but limited
session-recording, and no free tier. Adobe Connect has broad
platform support and very well-thought-out presenter's features,
despite having no free tier either. And while Lync has a good deal
of promise, the release version of the service needs to be more
polished -- and have a more consistent Mac client -- than what
we saw.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_web_conferencing_software

GOOGLE CHROMEBOX
Chromebox for meetings uses Google+ Hangouts for videoconferencing, allowing any Gmail user to
join a meeting from the device of their choice; and the service syncs with Google Calendar. Meetings
can include up to 15 participants. Third party tools are available to help you connect to traditional
video conferencing systems or with participants using phones rather than Google+ Hangouts. The
system also includes a web-based management console.

What makes this solution different than simply running Google Hangouts on your computer is that
the Chromebox for meetings unit includes a customized version of the ChromeOS specifically
designed to run Hangouts in conference room settings. The dedicated software allows you to easily
start Hangouts, pull calendar invites onto the main screen and join meetings with a single click. In
the admin console you can add calendar resources, like meeting rooms, directly to the device,
manage multiple devices and monitor usage. So while it doesnt necessarily take a dedicated
Chrome machine to power Google Hangouts (you can easily bake your own solution on a spare PC,
not to mention a Logitech HD webcam and Jabra speakerphone, or the equivalents), Google's
solution makes it foolproof, which might make Chromebox for meetings appealing to small and
medium-sized businesses.

Google's biggest selling point for its new videoconferencing system is ease of use. "No more
complex dial-in codes, passcodes or leader PINs," writes Caesar Sengupta, a Google VP working
with Chromebox for meetings in a blog post, adding that you can "walk into the room, click the
remote once and you're instantly in the meeting." Regarding the powerful Core i7 processor,
Sengupta says it is necessary to process and locally encrypt multiple simultaneous streams, adding
that because of this, normal Chromeboxes (or lesser powered PCs) won't be able to host this
service. The $250 annual maintenance fee covers 24/7 support.

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Starting at $999 for the hardware

bundle, which includes the Asus Intel
Core i7 Chromebox, a Logitech HD
webcam, a Jabra speakerphone and a
remote control with a full QWERTY
keypad on the back (pictured above),
the system also requires a $250 annual
management and support fee, which is
waived for the first year. Essentially
everything you need is there, apart from
the display. (After speaking with a Google customer service rep I learned there's a short term promo
offer available that will get you four hardware bundles for the price of one; more on this in a bit)

Google's next hardware push: Chromebox videoconferencing for

businesses
Mark Hachman | Feb. 7, 2014

First there was the Chromebook, then the Chromebox. Now, Google has added a $999 videoconferencing package
that combines a Chromebox and a video camera to enable inexpensive videoconferencing for businesses.
At this point, Google is just calling the system "Chromebox for meetings." Caesar Sengupta, vice president of
product management for Google, said that the system was designed and is used internally at Google. "We've found
that this works quite well for Google, and we're happy to bring this to other companies," he said.
Gilt Group, Eventbrite, and Woolworths UK have all trialed Chromebox for meetings, Google said.
The system includes four components: a new, more powerful Chromebox, based on the Intel Core i7; a 1080p HD
camera module; a combination microphone/speaker; and an RF remote control. Samsung's existing Chromebox uses

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a Core i5 chip; the new Chromeboxes, from Asus and Hewlett-Packard, were necessary to permit the multiple,
simultaneous HD streams that the new system enables--up to 15.

MARK HACHMAN.Chromebox for meetings lets you videoconference without wires.

Essentially, Google has taken the low-cost, minimalistic approach of Chromebook hardware and applied it to the
market for unified communications. Although low-cost, face-to-face videoconferencing options are available-Google's Hangouts, Microsoft's Skype, and Apple's FaceTime among them--stepping up to a unified
videoconferencing system can run into the thousands of dollars, depending on how much a business is willing to
pay.
Naturally, the new system is designed to work with Google apps and services, including Hangouts, Google
Calendar, Gmail, and others. (Google is also working on a simple extension for Exchange, Sengupta said.) Users
who walk into the conference room can click the remote once to be joined to the conference, without needing to
enter a username or password. Within the interface, users can type in the name of the conference they wish to join,
using some sort of identifying name. The initial screen also displays a subset of the user's calendar, as well as recent
Hangouts. Google+ is prominently displayed in the upper left.
Once joined to the conference, participants will see a Hangouts-style interface, according to a demonstration by a
Google representative. Users will also be able to type in a special URL, g.co/present, which will allow participants
to "volunteer" to share their screen. The participant will then be able to open a Google app in a separate tab and
launch a presentation, for example.
A Google representative said that each Google system (what Google refers to as a "meeting room" will include its
own management account, that users will be able to connect to and "schedule" a meeting on their own calendars.
Participants who are working from home, or don't use the system, can be connected to the meeting via Gmail, using
Hangouts from a PC, Chromebook, Android phone, or another device that supports Hangouts. Vidyo will also
provide a special tool to connect to its videoconferencing systems, and users can also join via a number from
UberConference.
There's a bit of a catch: Each system will also come with a $250/year management fee. The first year is included,
Sengupta said. In return, Google will provide an undisclosed level of SLA guarantees, continue to provide software
upgrades, and other improvements, Sengupta said. "Over time, you'll see more and more management features
baked into this," he said.
Google's Chromebooks have quietly emerged as a force in the low-end computing market. Will this
videoconferencing capability be what the Chromebox needs to make the same inroads into the business market?
Microsoft and its partners will be guarding their territory jealously.
Updated at 11:28 AM with additional details.

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List of free web conferencing software

Get an overview and select the best free screen sharing and video conferencing software for you! Just click on the
tool name to access our rating for each free online meeting service. When evaluating the free conferencing
applications the following criteria were analysed: features & functions, usability, meeting setup, security and system
requirements.

Review

Overall Score

TeamViewer

(9.26)

AnyMeeting

(8.58)

WebEx Meetings Basic

(8.49)

Google+ Hangout

(8.17)

Skype Free

(8.14)

Spreed Meeting

(8.07)

Mikogo Free

(8.07)

GoToMeeting Free

(7.71)

Vyew

(7.60)

join.me

(7.53)

MeetingBurner

(7.33)

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Review of TeamViewer
Criterium

Functionality

Rating

The solution offers all essential functions

During the meeting host and participants can

Usability

access all essential features via the local

webmeeting console

Meetings can be easily planned and initiated adMeeting Setup

Software Installation

Cost Transparency

Security

hoc.

Easy installation

free-of-charge for private use only

256-bit AES encryption

Runs on Windows and with slight constraints also

Platform Support

Overall Score

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on Mac and Linux, Mobile Device Support: iOS

and Android

9.26 / 10

Review of AnyMeeting
Criterium

Rating

limited range of features available (screen sharing

Functionality

Usability

but no possibility to transfer mouse and keyboard

control, no whiteboard or annotation available)

easy-to-use

Meetings are scheduled and started in the online

Meeting Setup

portal; Outlook-Plugin available

Browser-based, no installation necessary - only

Software Installation

Cost Transparency

Security

for desktop sharing

free-of-charge

128-bit AES encoding

Browser based on Windows and Mac OS X

Platform Support

Overall Score

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requiring Flash Player. Mobile device support for

iOS and Android

8.58 / 10

Review of WebEx Meetings Basic

Criterium

Rating

The solution offers all essential functions except

Functionality

for phone-based conferences.

During the meeting host and participants can

Usability

access all essential features via the local

webmeeting console

Meetings can be easily planned and initiated adMeeting Setup

Software Installation

Cost Transparency

Security

hoc.

No installation necessary

free-of-charge

128-bit SSL encryption

Runs on Windows, Mac and Linux, Mobile Device

Platform Support

Overall Score

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Support: iOS and Android

8.49 / 10

Review of Google+ Hangout

Criterium

Rating

Essential features are available and can be

Functionality

Usability

extended by apps

easy-to-use

Google- hangout can only accessed by users

Meeting Setup

Software Installation

Cost Transparency

Security

having a Gmail account, no scheduling feature

available

Google plugin can be easily installed

free-of-charge

128-bit SSL encryption

Runs on Windows XP or Later and Mac OS X,

minimum requirements: Any 2 GHz dual core
Platform Support

processor or greater. Browsers supported are

Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, and Safari.
Mobile Device Support: iOS 6.0+ and Android

Overall Score

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8.17 / 10

Review of Skype Free

Criterium

Functionality

Usability

Rating

limited range of functionalities

easy-to-use solution

no scheduling functionality; ad-hoc meetings can

Meeting Setup

Software Installation

Cost Transparency

Security

be started with one click

easy installation

free-of-charge

256-bit AES encoding

Runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux, Mobile Device

Platform Support

Overall Score

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Support: iOS, Android and Blackberry

8.14 / 10

Review of online meeting and webinar

software
Comparison of web conferencing tools: What they offer, what they cost
This website aims to help you find the best possible software for your online meeting and webinar requirements. We
offer a broad market overview, and provide accurate, detailed information on key parameters such as functionality,
usability, security and pricing. By using our website, its easy to compare how different web conferencing services
shape up then create a professional, cost-effective shortlist with full details of the solutions you wish to trial.

Our Reviews
Review

Overall Score[1]

Citrix GoToMeeting 6.4

9.60

FastViewer Instant Meeting 3.2

9.42

RHUB GoMeetNow (TurboMeeting)

9.38

ClickMeeting

9.35

Mikogo 5 (BeamYourScreen)

9.32

TeamViewer 9

9.28

WebEx Meetings Premium

9.24

Adobe Connect 9.2

8.97

PGi GlobalMeet

8.84

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Compare Tools

Review

Overall Score[1]

join.me pro

8.84

Spreed Meeting

8.83

ReadyTalk Web Meeting

8.73

Saba Meeting 8

8.71

AnyMeeting Pro

8.67

IBM SmartCloud Meetings

8.64

Brother OmniJoin

8.48

GatherPlace

8.26

Fuze Meeting

8.24

omNovia Web Conference

8.19

InstantPresenter

8.09

Intercall Unified Meeting

8.04

Skype Premium

8.03

Microsoft Lync Online

7.98

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Compare Tools

Review

Overall Score[1]

MegaMeeting

7.97

SMART Bridgit 4.6

7.95

iLinc for meetings

7.91

AT&T Connect 9.5

7.86

iVocalize

7.81

Vyew

7.71

Microsoft Office Live Meeting*

7.54

Voxwire

7.52

Glance 2.8

7.27

VIA3 Professional Edition

7.14

Blackboard Collaborate

6.68

Microsoft NetMeeting*

5.91

[1] Overall score ranging from 0 (= very poor) to 10 (= very good)

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Compare Tools

Citrix GoToMeeting 6.4 Review

Citrix GoToMeeting is a lean web conferencing software that allows for intuitive usage. The solution is integrated into
Outlook and the other Microsoft Office products. This integration enables the meeting host to easily set up ad-hoc
web meetings from a document and also to invite attendees in advance to a scheduled online meeting.

During a meeting the host can decide wether he wants to show the other participants his entire screen or rather only
selected applications. Additionally, he can switch control of mouse and keyboard to any other participant.

GoToMeeting's major advantage is the mix of functionalities it offers, e.g. allowing for joint editing of documents,
without cluttering the tool with too many seldom used features.

Since version 5 of GoToMeeting supports video conferencing: Participants can have their webcams displayed and
communicate via video. Citrix integrated this functionality very smoothly: every participant can arrange the webcams
to his liking and have the current speaker highlighted in the video call. Up to 6 people can participate in a HD video
conference.

Bottom line: Citrix GoToMeeting is a top software for instant or scheduled web conferences with a focus on online
collaboration.

Platform Support
Runs on Windows 2003 Server or later, runs on Mac OS X 10.6 or higher (annotation and drawing tools are not
available for Mac), HDFaces video are not recorded

Pricing
Flatrate: USD 49 per month and host for up to 25 participants; Annual subscription (pre-paid): USD 468 per year

License options
Single user license for unlimited meetings with up to 25 participants

Voice over IP and phone costs

Integrated VoIP and phone-based conference call service (with local phone numbers - without additional costs);
reliable conference bridge: mix of VoiP- and phone-connected participants can attend an online meeting.

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Criterium

Functionality

Usability

Rating

well-balanced mix of features

Intuitive user interface

Planning integrated with Outlook is simple

Meeting Setup

Software Installation

and intuitive; one-click meetings initiated

from local desktop

Quick and easy to install

Pricing and license options are publicly

Cost Transparency

Security

available; cost structure is transparent and

easy to understand

128-bit AES encryption

Runs on Windows incl. Windows 8 and Mac

Platform Support

Overall Score

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OS X, Mobile device support: iOS, Android,

Windows RT

9.60 / 10

FastViewer Instant Meeting

3.2 Review
Fastviewer is a web conferencing software that easily enables users to conduct ad hoc online
meetings. The solution offers you all the basic features you need for collaborating online.
The online portal allows the moderator to hide or reveal functions - i.e. the audio function which
will mute the selected participants.
In addition, participants can activate video conferencing via the online meeting console. By
default webcam videos are displayed in the console. Alternatively participants can share their
webcam videos in a separate window.
Bottom line: Fastviewer can be used reliably for virtual team meetings.

Platform Support
Native Windows (ME or higher) and Mac OS X (10.6 or higher) client for hosting and
participating meetings; for attendees additional browser-based Flash client; Mobile Device
Support: iOS and Android Runs on Windows ME or later

Pricing
Monthly single-user subscription for one online room: 38 EUR per month (minimum contract
duration: 12 months)
Single user license for purchase: 979,00 EUR plus maintenance contract for one online meeting
room
Prepaid: 90 EUR for 600 minutes runtime, any number of concurrent sessions possible

License options
Single user license for annual subscription or purchase

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Voice over IP and phone costs

Integrated VoIP- and conference call-based service (with local telephone number - incurring
additional costs)

Criterium

Functionality

Usability

Rating

All essential features are available

easy-to-use

Meetings can be scheduled via the local

Meeting Setup

Software Installation

Fastviewer application and meeting invitations

are sent via the local email client

Quick and simple installation

Pricing and license options are publicly available;

Cost Transparency

Security

cost structure is transparent and easy to

understand

256-bit AES encryption

Windows and Mac client; optional browser-based

Platform Support

Overall Score

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Flash client for attendees; Mobile Device Support:

iOS and Android

9.42 / 10

ClickMeeting Review
ClickMeeting is a browser-based web conferencing software. The host can use the online portal to either schedule
meetings in advance, or to start ad hoc web meetings. The user interface of the service is very well structured and
intuitive to use. During an online meeting the host can show presentations, YouTube videos or simply use the screen
sharing function. ClickMeeting also allows virtual collaboration among the attendees. In the latest version the
moderator can create surveys and tests during the meeting with results immediately following after the survey or test
has ended.

In addition to task-oriented cooperation participants can also communicate via video conference. The placement of
the webcams within the browser is flexible and can be altered to a number of predefined settings with a single click.

Bottom line: ClickMeeting is well suited for planned and unplanned web meetings where content needs to be
presented and edited in various formats.

Platform Support
Browser based running on Windows, Mac, and Linux with Flash Player, mobile device support: iOS, Android,
Blackberry apps available

Pricing
CM25: USD 30 per month for meetings with up to 25 participants (annual subscription: USD 22.50 per month paid in
advance)

CM50: USD 40 per month for meetings with up to 50 participants (annual subscription: USD 30 per month paid in
advance)

CM100: USD 79 per month for meetings with up to 100 participants (annual subscription: USD 59.25 per month paid
in advance)

CM500: USD 160 per month for meetings with up to 500 participants (annual subscription: USD 120 per month paid
in advance)

CM1000: USD 280 per month for meetings with up to 1000 participants (annual subscription: USD 210 per month
paid in advance)

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License options
Single user license for meetings with up to 1000 participants

Voice over IP and phone costs

Integrated conference call service without local dial-in numbers (only a few country numbers available) and VoIP

Criterium

Functionality

Usability

Rating

All essential features are available

Flash-based user interface, very intuitive usage

Meetings are scheduled and started in the online

Meeting Setup

portal; Outlook-Plugin available

Browser-based, no installation necessary - only

Software Installation

for desktop sharing

Pricing and license options are publicly available;

Cost Transparency

Security

cost structure is transparent and easy to

understand

128-bit AES encryption

Browser based requiring Flash Player, mobile

Platform Support

Overall Score

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device support for iOS, Android, Blackberry

9.35 / 10

TeamViewer 9 Review
TeamViewer is a web conferencing program that can be used for scheduled and ad hoc online meetings.

Since version 8, the moderator can plan web conferences and invite participants in advance using the integrated
scheduling functionality in Outlook. In addition, all essential functions can be easily accessed in the locally installed
web console by the moderator while running the web meeting.

Moreover, users can switch to video conferencing mode. Unfortunately, the picture quality is not HD. Beyond the
missing HD quality we noticed performance issues with VoIP while conducting online presentations.

Bottom line: TeamViewer 9 is well-suited for planned and ad hoc web meetings.

Platform Support
Runs on Windows ME or later, runs on Mac OS X 10.5 or higher, participation is browser based requiring Flash Player

Pricing
"Business" edition: $749 for a lifetime single user license; maximum number of meeting participants: 15;

"Premium" edition: $1,499 for a lifetime single user license; maximum number of meeting participants: 25;

"Corporate" edition: $2,839 for a lifetime multi user license allowing up to 3 online meetings with up to 25
participants at the same time;

Free of charge for non-commercial usage

License options
Single and multi user licenses (one time fee)

Voice over IP and phone costs

VoIP and conference call service integrated; toll dial-in numbers for conference call service

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Criterium

Functionality

Rating

The solution offers all essential functions

During the meeting host and participants can

Usability

access all essential features via the local

webmeeting console

Meetings can be easily planned and initiated

Meeting Setup

Software Installation

ad-hoc.

Easy installation

Pricing and license options are publicly

Cost Transparency

Security

available; cost structure is transparent and

easy to understand

256-bit AES encoding

Runs on Windows and with slight constraints

Platform Support

Overall Score

External resources

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also on Mac and Linux, Mobile Device

Support: iOS and Android

9.28 / 10

Pros
Onstream Meetings Web Conferencing lets you fully customize your conference screen.

Cons
This service does not automatically integrate with Outlook.

The Verdict:
9.75/10
Onstream Meetings offers the best web conferencing tools with an easy-to-use format that's well suited for small and
medium businesses.

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