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The latest conference calling technology news: using web conferencing for the small business
April 10, 2006
By: Alice Osborn
With the proliferation of VoIP technology to generate web
conference calling services, the latest conference calling
technology news is encouraging for budget maintenance,
reducing travel costs, and gathering the right information
at the right time to make informed decisions. Web
conferencing combines the best elements of face-to-face
meetings with audio teleconferencing, which makes the
conference experience better because of the web conferencing
tools designed to enhance the quality and productivity of
the meeting.
For example, during a web conference, data is transmitted
via the Internet to the participants' computers, and this
data sharing lends itself to stronger collaborative
sessions. Small businesses need to maximize their workforce
in order to gain the most return for their dollar and by
using web conferencing services, their bottom line and
competitive edge should improve.
What is web conferencing?
Web conferencing is a solution that brings people
together from multiple locations to share information in an
interactive environment with other users over the Internet.
All that is needed is a computer, a web conferencing
solution, a phone line, and an Internet connection (a
high-speed cable connection is preferred). The web-based
software allows conference participants to enter a virtual
meeting room after they have downloaded that software onto
their own computers. Add-ons include webcams and headsets
for better sound quality.
During these web conferences, ideas are generated through
shared applications, such as polling and interactive
whiteboards, and real-time VoIP (Voice over IP) technology
is used to accompany the presentations with audio that is
sometimes streamed over the Internet during the conference.
Web conferencing also includes the ability to display and
interpret PowerPoint slides and documents, to send text
messages, and to hold 3-D meetings. Through 3D technology,
work teams can share data and collaborate on projects in
real-time while bridging their distances and increasing
their comprehension of the presentation material. As a
result, conference participants can more easily use
applications, such as spreadsheets and databases, and
communicate through VoIP technology and through streaming
video.
How does a small business get started in web
conferencing?
First, small business owners need to consider the pros
and cons of using a web conferencing hosted service or an
in-house software solution. A hosted service is less
expensive, but the small company gives up some control and
so must ensure that the provider is using proper security
techniques, such as SSL encryption. On the other hand, using
an in-house software solution gives the small business more
control of the technology and the ability to customize their
web-based conferencing solution to fit their growing needs.
Small businesses should weigh how long it will take their
associates to learn the new technology, versus how much it
will cost, versus how much it will save the company in the
long term. Usually after some research, small businesses
will determine that web conferencing can be the right choice
for presenting marketing material, for conducting sales
meetings, and for webinars to demonstrate products and
services. Since web conferencing involves the more powerful
visual element over simple audio conferencing, this
technology gives presentations an extra punch through online
collaboration and allows the conference participants to get
more out of their time spent in the meetings.
Web conferencing features
With web conferencing, the conference facilitator can
share applications from his or her desktop with the
participants, can show PowerPoint presentations, can share
screens, and can use interactive whiteboards. On the
participant end, live chat is available, as are polling and
Q&A functions. A small business owner would be wise to
choose a web-based conferencing solution that offers online
archiving to help guide future presentations and meetings,
as well as one that offers a monitoring service that lists
conference participants against the master roster.
Test before you buy
Above all, small businesses need to find a web
conferencing solution that meets their application and user
needs. To do so, they need to test out the different web
conferencing packages on the market through the free 30-day
trials these companies offer. An ideal web conferencing
solutions should provide a strong support for the small
business, should provide flexibility in its pricing for
adding more conference participants as the business needs
it, and it should not lock the small business into a
restrictive pricing contract. Most importantly, the chosen
web conferencing solution needs to have the capacity for
system upgrades and add-ons as the small business grows.
About the Author
Alice Osborn is a successful freelance writer and
contributor to Audio-Conferencing-Guide.com. Your definitive guide to everything you need to know about
audio driven communications, including audio conferencing,
conference calling services, and VoIP telephony for business
and personal use.
Also See: [
Negotiating
conference call etiquette for more effective meetings
]
[ Conference call
tips when renting conference call bridge lines ]
[
Information of teleconferencing & defining what is audio
conferencing ]
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