An Overview of Web Conferencing
In the genre of telecom services, there is a broad area called web conferencing. This service encompasses audio, video, and web-based communication in various, different formats.
As a technology negotiator, we at Conectrix want to provide our clients with the best, objective information possible so that you can pick the best provider to fit your business needs. This blog will then focus on the various web conferencing platforms and the strengths they bring to the table.
General Overview of Web Conferencing
The purpose of web conferencing is to save you time on travel and the cost of travel. Audio, video, and web conferencing all make a meeting with distant contacts easy and just as useful as if you meet in person.
As definitions go, an audio conferencing bridge is offered by almost every phone company in the world, web conferencing is where people share the same screen, and video conferencing is where people are all watching the same footage of something being recorded live. Here are some practical examples of web conferencing saving businesses time and money:
· I can do many more presentations over audio or web conferencing compared to only a handful if I am physically traveling.
· I can train a large audience without having to travel. Additionally, this audience could be made up of people throughout the world, who themselves don’t have to travel either.
· I can use screen sharing to accurately convey business objectives/ideas, just as effectively as if I met with my colleagues in person.
The Platforms and Their Different Offerings
Like in any telecom or computing space there are always different platforms competing against one and another. A welcome result of the free market, but a headache for businesses who have to meet their core objectives first. That’s where we come in… Below are the five main web conferencing platforms that Conectrix agents can supply our customers with.
1. Webex.
Webex is the oldest of all the platforms. They were purchased by Cisco about 20 years ago. Since Cisco basically invited the way the internet is transferred all over the world using routers, Webex has a nice advantage in standardized products and a massive company to support them. They check every box in their offering scheme, but because they are the top-dog they are the most expensive.
2. Zoom
Zoom is the latest platform that exploded onto the scene. Their early success is linked to their massive and aggressive marketing strategy. Zoom was founded by ex Webex people. They are marketing themselves as cheaper than Webex. Their UI is very pretty and their network is very solid, allowing for fewer dropped calls. They have nice connections with RingCentral, which bundles Zoom as one product among many in a one fee package.
3. GoToMeeting
Similar to most of these web conferencing platforms, GoToMeeting was bought by LMI a few years ago. They have a large market share right behind Zoom. They are inexpensive, have a nice user interface, and a lot of fortune 500 companies use them. Additionally, they do not outsource their tech people out of the US. Something to note is that LMI combined Jive with GoToMeeting, so the focus of this product package is mainly video conferencing compared to web conferencing.
4. PGi
PGi has been in business for 29 years so they have a great deal of stability as well as visibility. They built a platform on their own called Global Meet which is run off the back of 25 global locations, letting them connect anyone anywhere in the world. The international calling rate plans are expensive so PGi’s Global Meet plan is a good option if your company does global business. Their UI is very slick, easy to use, has a wealth of features, and they have a superb support staff.
5. Century Link
The last competitor is CenturyLink and they have a unique standing compared to the other mentioned products and platforms. They resell Webex and many of the lesser-known conferencing products (Ready Access and Web Meeting). Resold versions have the benefit of being flexible, having minimum requirements, and being cheaper. Century Link has also recently developed their own product called Engage; it is being received well, but its full potential has yet to be fleshed out.
Additional Thoughts on Web Conferencing
If your concerns are budgetary, technical support, or visibility, there is a great provider we can pair you with. Don’t let the number of platforms or the ever-changing web of whose buying who confuse you; Conectrix is your guide to all things telecom, computing, and web conferencing.