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In recent years, a huge part of our lives has moved to the virtual world. Solutions that were introduced during the pandemic have taken deep roots and become an integral part of our everyday life. A prime example is video conferencing software, which allows us to work remotely and maintain business contacts conveniently from anywhere in the world. These tools deliver virtual meetings, connecting participants through audio and video. Not only that - online video conferencing is also indispensable in the education process, allowing students and learners to study from anywhere they have access to the Internet. Today's programs offer a wide range of features and capabilities that adapt to a variety of user needs. Although Microsoft Teams and Zoom are the most popular video chat platforms, there are many other valuable tools that also deserve attention.
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Finding the perfect video conferencing software is key to making remote meetings comfortable and convenient. Here's a list of the top 7 tools that will meet your needs:
See also Types of applications
Microsoft Teams, the flagship video conferencing product from Microsoft, is aimed primarily at business customers. As part of Office 365, it enables advanced video conferencing and the use of an interactive virtual whiteboard. Although it is available as part of the Office suite, it can also be downloaded and installed separately. With Microsoft Teams, it is possible to share files efficiently and use various collaboration tools. Features such as screen sharing, broadcast recording and background blurring add additional value.
Currently, the option of video conferencing at no charge includes Office 365 holders, educational institutions and new business customers, who can take advantage of a six-month trial period. Microsoft Teams is very popular as a cloud-based video conferencing platform.
Microsoft's application is available on a variety of hardware platforms and integrates with cameras, sound systems, microphones, etc. The ease of deployment of MS Teams (or Zoom) is achieved with solutions such as Crestron Flex, which provides integration in both small huddle-rooms for 2-6 people, as well as medium (6-10) and large rooms.
Equipped with a 4K camera with a wide 120-degree viewing angle, it allows attendees to sit comfortably close to the screen. Microphones with beamforming technology provide excellent sound quality, and a 10-inch touch panel allows full control of the meeting. For the more demanding, a second monitor can be connected.
Also see how much the mobile app costs
Zoom, a popular video conferencing platform, became particularly attractive in the last half of 2020, recording a sharp increase in the number of active accounts. The high demand for this type of application contributed to a sudden increase in users who appreciated the advantages of the tool. In Poland, it became particularly popular among students, who used it to conduct remote lessons. To download the program, just visit the manufacturer's website, where you can also find useful tutorials.
Zoom runs in the cloud and is available on both computers and mobile devices. The free version allows 100 people to connect for up to 40 minutes at a time, while the paid version allows up to 1,000 people to participate. The app offers a number of features, such as text chat, screen sharing, meeting recording and raising your hand to speak.
Zooma's features are similar to those available in MS Teams, and the application itself is intuitive and easy to use. It is observed that users who were previously unfamiliar with this platform quickly adapt to using its functions. This makes work more efficient and effective.
Zoom is also integrated with multiple hardware platforms, and Crestron offers identical products for both Zoom and MS Teams. This makes it possible to equip small, medium and large meeting rooms with integrated Crestron solutions, including a 4K camera, beamforming microphones, speakers, automatic zoom per speaker and the ability to connect two monitors.
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The list could not miss a solution from the Mountain View giant. Google Meet is a classic tool that allows video conferencing with up to 10 people at a time. However, for larger groups there is a premium version of Google Meet, although it is no longer a free option. Many companies and educational institutions use it because of its compatibility with other Google services, such as Drive and Calendar, making it easier to collaborate and organize meetings. Hangouts Meet allows video conferencing with up to 250 people.
The free version of Hangouts is ideal for small groups, while if you are planning a meeting with more participants, consider using the premium version, which offers numerous additional capabilities of the app.
With Cisco Webex Meetings, you can conduct online meetings from anywhere, whether you're meeting with your team, students or contractors. This platform, although originally created for video conferencing, is also excellent for conducting training sessions, providing a seamless meeting experience similar to in-person meetings.
It is worth noting that Cisco Webex offers a free version with limited features and a paid full version. To use Webex Meetings, you need a license and an account. The administration panel makes it easy to manage meetings, offering two modes of organization:
You can schedule meetings from anywhere, and all invited guests can join online, no matter how they connect. If you need to handle more than 100 attendees, there is an enhanced version option.
Cisco is making the Webex platform available in an enhanced version free of charge, providing:
Imagine a situation where you need to talk to your team, students or clients, but everyone is in different places. Organizing such a meeting can be a challenge, especially if you need to show a presentation or a graphic design. In that case, you need a tool that can provide a smooth video conference, provide video and audio, and allow you to share your screen. What if you could have all this in one place, completely free and without having to install additional software?
With join.me, this vision becomes a reality. It's a comprehensive online meeting solution that makes team collaboration incredibly easy. Screen sharing, audio/video conferencing - all available with just a few clicks. To understand it, just try it out. Just log in to the portal as a spectator and join the meeting.
Here are some key features of join.me:
Join.me is more than just an online meeting tool - it's a platform that integrates all the necessary functions to make collaboration even more productive and efficient.
Another popular online video chat tool is Skype. It is one of the most well-known communication platforms, which has a long history and is available on a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac OS and on Android and iOS mobile devices. Skype allows you to send text messages, make voice and video calls for free, which has made it often used for private conversations and contacting friends. In the free version, Skype also allows group meetings with up to 50 people. An added benefit is the ability to share your screen with other participants, which can be useful during presentations.
Unfortunately, using Skype requires each participant to have a Microsoft account. Although it is possible to use Skype via a web browser, it is recommended to download the app to your device for full functionality.
A new feature that could transform the way we conduct online group meetings is the ability to mute individual participants. This simple but extremely important update solves the problem of people who forget to mute the microphone or behave so annoyingly that they disturb other meeting participants. Now we can effectively control the situation by muting only those who are causing problems, without having to mute everyone. This is especially useful when there are several people in the same room participating in the same online meeting.
This is not the only new feature. WhatsApp is also introducing the ability to send private messages to specific participants during online group meetings. This allows us to discreetly discuss issues raised in the meeting, send notes or other information. In addition, now everyone joining an online meeting will be clearly noticed thanks to a new banner, giving the presenter more control, and latecomers will be motivated to be punctual. It is these small changes that can make managing online meetings more convenient and efficient.
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