If you are thinking about getting into web and video
conferencing, then it is important to know what is required to
operate any proposed conferencing system. Some systems run on
proprietary software and need special equipment, while browser
based systems usually do not require the installation of special
software or equipment. Many organizations and individuals will
find browser based solutions easier to use. Here are a few
reasons why this is so:
1. They work on all operating systems. Do you have some users on
Mac and some on PCs? Do you have some users who have Linux? If
you want to connect all of these people together in one
conference it may be impossible if you have to install special
software to run your conference. In this case a browser based
system that can run on all operating systems and all browsers
allows you to connect with all of your staff or clientele
without any worries about what kind of computer they are
operating.
2. You don't have to download and install software. Sure, people
are becoming more computer-literate as time goes on, but
downloading and installing software and getting the software to
run properly can be an obstacle to some people. The good news is
that with many browser based systems there is no software to
download, because the installation is done on the technology
provider's host computer. Participating in a conference is as
easy as going on line to view a website.
3. People anywhere in the world can go online and join the
conference. With no equipment installation and no software
installation to take care of, the door is open to widespread
participation in your conferences. The only thing that you have
to do is to notify your people and provide them with a url and a
password and they can join in.
4. There is no problem with firewalls. Most offices and many
individuals protect their computers and networks from hackers by
using a firewall. This is good for security but can become a
problem if you are trying to join people together in a
conference. Many web and browser based systems are not affected
by firewalls and no special instructions have to be given to
conference participants whose computers may be protected by
firewalls.
All of these factors add up to one very strong advantage of
using browser based conferencing systems: they allow you to get
maximum participation in your online events. With little or no
technical obstacles, such systems make it easy for large numbers
of people, using diverse equipment and with varying degrees of
computer skills, to take part in online meetings. So, take a
look at the various conferencing packages on the market at the
present time and pick out one that is both easy to use and
powerful enough to meet your communications needs.
About the author:
Dan Richmond is CEO & Co-founder of MegaMeeting.com. MegaMeeting
provides Web Conferencing & Video Conferencing solutions for
individuals, businesses and educational institutions. For more
information, or for a free live demonstration, please visit
http://www.MegaMeeting.com/ or call (818) 783-4311.
