Webinars or Online Meetings?
As many of you have seen, both webinars and online meetings are constantly gaining in popularity in the workplace, on television, and you might have even heard a radio advertisement promoting the great features of webinars and online meetings. Most people who work in a technologically advanced work environment have come across GoToMeeting, or WebEx in some shape or form. Whether it is using their conference call dial in phone numbers or actually watching some present over the internet. I am sure there are a few people who have heard of these services, but have no experience using them. Here we will outline the pros and cons of each different type of service.
Online Meetings:
- Dedicated phone number for conference calls
- Compatibility with both PC’s and Macs
- HD conferencing available
- Up to 25 attendees (this varies by provider)
- Free trials available (GoToMeeting offers 30 days free, while WebEx offers 14)
How to Choose a Webinar Provider or Online Conferencing Provider?
There are a few things to look for, but often enough it really comes down to individual needs.
- How often are you presenting?
- How many people are you presenting to?
- How many subscriptions are you purchasing?
Citrix HDFaces – What is it?
HDFaces is a new offering by Citrix to allow up to six people to video conference and collaborate with high definition. According the Citrix press release they describe it as:
“…a new version of the popular Citrix online collaboration tool which for the first time combines HD video conferencing with the rich content sharing of web conferencing in a simple, people-friendly experience.”
Initial user response is very positive. In just two simple clicks users can connect with each other and have an online video conference with HD video. HD video conferencing brought straight to your computer by Citrix. The software works well with both Macs and PC computers so compatibility is not an issue like it used to be. The only necessary hardware is a recent computer and a webcam, and of course an Internet connection. Users now have the ability to view both their associates and the content that they are collaborating on without having to toggle between both screens.
Again, in Citrix’s own words:
“GoToMeeting with HDfaces delivers the industry’s most complete and advanced online collaboration technology in a simple, elegant solution. Participants enter meetings with a single click, and view content alongside live video feeds of colleagues in windows automatically sized and placed for optimal visibility. Multistream video feeds can accommodate six participants at once, and can run at 720p for a true HD experience. Built for standard hardware, GoToMeeting with HDFaces works with standard webcams and endpoint devices and uses bandwidth optimization to perform well over the public Internet.”
Browser Based Web Conferencing
Browser based conferencing is one of the most convenient services a business can make use of in this day and age. There are several other online meeting software companies and webinar providers that allow you to connect with multiple users. The problem with these types of software is just that; you have to use software. Not all computers are compatible with the different types of software that these companies let you download. By using a browser based web conferencing solution, it makes sure that your online event goes as seamlessly as possible.
As I said earlier there are many companies competing in both price and quality of service. Here is an important question to ask: Does it matter what type of features my online meeting provider offers, or does it matter if audience can see my presentation. The whole idea of online meeting and online presentations is to effectively communicate your ideas, products and services to your audience. If you cannot do this, then there is almost no point in running the meeting!
Internet browser web conferencing lets you run meetings on the go. That being said, due to the meeting being run in a web browser, there are some limitations. If you are looking for an alternative to browser based web conferencing, there are various webinar hosting companies out there that help you organize online meetings and conference calls. Whether you are trying to conduct an interoffice training exercise, or you are trying to close the big deal, browser based web conferencing can help you accomplish your goal.
As with traditional webinar hosting providers there are numerous benefits of hosting webinars. In the case of browser based web conferencing you take one step out of the equation. The attendee does not have to download any unwanted software to their computer. There are several great offers going on now. Search for the best webinar conferencing company out there and decided for yourself. Each business has different needs, and only you can decide if browser based web conferences are for you!
