Posts Tagged ‘web conference’

Web Conference – Perfect Solution for Your Business Needs

September 13th, 2010

Web conference – this technology is helpful in conducting live meetings, training, or presentations via Internet. In general, web conference and discussion boards differs from one another, since web conference deals with real-time and live presentations whereas discussion group deals only with text messages. Now-a-days web conference has been adopting the techniques and working process of video teleconferencing and sometimes experts refer to them as the same thing.

Any web conferencing requires some initial setup such having a computer with a reliable internet connection. Web conference involves both audio and: the video feature plays a keen role when the presenter shares the screen of his computer with the other participant to explain something clearly whereas the audio part accompanies to this screen through telephone equipments or VoIP. In web conferencing, audio part doesn’t play the vital role since it’s not mandatory. Even though, some parties do like to use text versions to convey their messages. video

Sometimes professionals and people who are not versed in the advanced technology finds it very difficult to adapt to web conferencing, which is gaining firm hold in the business world. The use of web conference is becoming more popular in corporate sectors. It actually saves time and money in traveling to another city or country to attend meetings, apart from the fact that web conference calls can be recorded for playback option at later times.

Web conference calls are also helpful in business sectors that are more dependent of IT tools and computers. File sharing and other features of web conference make it a must for all IT-based businesses. Web conference has helped not only cut down on the expenditure of time and money but has enabled business entities to reach out to a wider audience where they can communicate with any number of people around the world. The obvious advantage of web conferencing is its interactive feature where one can easily collaborate with people.

In addition, web conferencing solutions can be used for collaborating with potential clients, international suppliers and manufacturers for various business purposes. It not only saves time and money, but proves to be an effective mode of communicating with several individuals.

There are many conferencing solutions like RHUB’s 4-in-1 TurboMeeting appliance that can offer you various conferencing solutions like web conferencing and audio conferencing. However, it is essential to understand the providers market credibility and quality of service before opting for this effective business collaboration tool; which is not only easy to use but also saves substantial time and money that can be used for other business purposes.

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Web Conference – Boon for business people

September 13th, 2010

Online meetings and web conferences aren’t just for large corporations anymore. Video conferencing and webinars enable communication between just a few people to literally thousands. If you’re an entrepreneur or small business owner, it’s imperative that you utilize one such service to help expand your business.

Webinars have proven to be useful and effective as teaching and training mediums. Students from all over the world can connect to online classrooms to study and learn their subjects. That’s why RHUB’s web conference is a boon for business people and for the people who stay away from the families. They can stay in touch now more easily. Webinars are helping business to improve in various ways. Some of them are;

Reducing travel costs
Reducing travel time
Flexibility with meetings
Training staffs without leaving the office
Product launches and promotions
Product training
Educational programs
Press & media releases

There are numerous web conference and remote access software in the market but providers like RHUB (Real-Time Collaboration HUB) offers the first solution ever to deliver four complete collaboration technologies in one appliance – allowing customers to not only do web conferencing, but also to conduct webinars, deliver remote support to clients, and to have remote access to personal PC capability – all with one box.

RHUB TurboMeeting allows the participants log into a system and share information with others involved in the same project. This 4-in-1 appliance offers features like real-time data share, instant message-type chatting between participants, virtual whiteboard for running through ideas, annotations and other more options for being in touch.

This TurboMeeting appliance requires no downloads and no monthly fees unlike software such as Webex, GoToMyPc, LogMeIn and so on. Even though telephone and email

can help you stay in touch and communicate over long distances, web conferencing provides lot more. It enables you to talk, to share files, share your screens, chat, share demos, trainings, presentations, etc. All these things could be done right from your desktop.

The list of uses of this interactive technology will only get longer and more interesting. For a full listing of TurboMeeting appliances and specifications or to learn more, visit www.rhubcom.com.

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Web Conference – RHUB Appliances

September 8th, 2010

Businesses at this time of economic downturn are now opting for web conferencing tools to help reduce costs associated with travel and fuel and at the same time increase productivity. Web conferencing is used to conduct live meetings, training, or presentations via the Internet.

There are many online web conferencing tools available to businesses nowadays. Though they are relatively inexpensive compared to the travel and fuel costs, they are still costly. San Jose, Calif.-based RHUB (Real-Time Collaboration HUB) Communications has asserted that their line of Web conference appliances is efficient and affordable.

There are many vendors who offer Web conference appliances as a subscription-based service. But the costs of these services tend to escalate as more business users begin to use them. RHUB’s conferencing appliances powered by its unique TurboMeeting technology not just enable web conference but also offer users remote support, remote control and remote access technologies.

RHUB appliances are also easy-to-use and deploy and will not cost the user any kind of IT maintenance fees. The firmware for the appliances is updated automatically. The newly released TurboMeeting Version 4.0 web conferencing and remote support appliance comes packed with upgraded features such as remote printing, LDAP integration for enterprise models only, video broadcast, and flash-based view-only client with faster and reliable view-only experience that does not require any download.

The appliances offer users full control over their web conferencing technology and its cross-platform compliancy allows users from all different platforms such as PC, Mac, Linux, Unix and even iPhone to join meetings. TurboMeeting can be used for web conferencing, webinars, remote support and remote access and participants need not download nor install any related software.

The TurboMeeting powered ‘4-in-1’ web conferencing solutions from RHUB are available to businesses in various models. The TM-200 model which supports 2 meeting rooms and 10 concurrent users is priced at $995. Users can also upgrade the solution to support four rooms and twenty users. The high-end model has a default capacity of 50 meeting rooms and 200 concurrent users and is expandable to 200 rooms and 2,000 users.

RHUB says that with their solutions businesses’ ROI can be as short as 2.5 months compared with hosted web services.

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Understanding Current Web Conferencing Trends

September 6th, 2010

While the remote connection capabilities of web conferencing have attracted new users it is not the only factor driving interest in its use. Current trends have evolved from the ever changing needs of today’s business. Remote software applications, while useful, do not tell the whole story of current web conferencing trends. In fact simply by examining its operations, a business may find it needs an effective web conferencing solution.

Web Conferencing Trends

The reasons for adoption of these tools vary, but the core purposes are to streamline workflow and to save money. Utilizing a remote connection for example means technicians can diagnose computer problems from a single location. Other trends which influence the purchase of web conferencing tools include:

Training: this is actually being undertaken by a number of companies. There is no need to have an instructor travel to different locations. Trainees also have a great deal more flexibility in terms of schedule. Remote software also allows for hands on guidance when necessary.
Project management: regardless of the size or scope of the project it can be easily handled using web conferencing software. From raw materials purchasing to labor management, these tools allow easy monitoring of daily tasks.
Job interviews: with face to face meetings becoming less frequent, interviews are also being conducted in this format.
Product launches: many companies are now having successful product launches via the Internet. A major advantage is that the audience size is greater than most physical structures are capable of holding.

Capitalizing on These Trends

Any company can experience the benefits of using this Internet based communications tool. From a simple two-person meeting to a large webinar or a remote connection support session, web conferencing can do it all.

Determining the best company for your need is sometimes difficult. Industry watcher Wainhouse Research publishes information on video conferencing companies and their products which can be useful when researching a company. In 2009 it named RHUB Communications as the ‘Influencer and Contender’ in its Audio and Web Conferencing Infrastructure Products report. Most of these companies offer demos which provide a first hand look at their products’ capabilities.

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Should Your IT Department Choose Your Web Conferencing Solution?

September 6th, 2010

IT departments have become a standard feature of many businesses, especially those that heavily utilize computer and communications technology. Basically they offer practical solutions to the company’s technology needs. The IT guy is the one you call when your PC is just not doing all it should, or sometimes when you don’t know quite what it should be doing.

In spite of their obvious technical know how, the IT staff is sometimes at odds with the company’s decision makers. Not surprisingly most of these little squabbles revolve around money. IT guys are sometimes notorious for wanting to shell out money for the most expensive equipment. With communications technology there are lots of grey areas where cost is concerned. Sometimes it makes sense to go all out to get wired, sometimes it doesn’t.

The Web Conferencing Dilemma

Deciding to use web conferencing is not much of a quandary these days. There is ample evidence that supports the idea that this one of the best routes a company can take. However, with there being so many vendors out there, making a decision can be hard. It can all get a bit confusing for the uninitiated. Just remember that certain features are considered essential, such as:

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
Screen sharing or remote desktop
File transfer
Text chat

These are pretty much standard with most web conferencing solutions. Just keep in mind that the quality of these features varies depending on provider.

Butting Heads with IT

The thing to remember is that IT staff usually knows what they are talking about. Still, it can’t hurt to do your own research. With web conferencing, high cost does not always denote quality. Once you start out with a clear picture of what your company needs, choosing a web conference solution is simplified.

Choose a solution that is scalable, that is, capable of growing as your company does. You’ll find that on this issue, you and the IT department will be on the same page.

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On Choosing A Web Conference Product

June 25th, 2010

A webinar is a neologism to describe a specific type of web conference which can be collaborative and include polling and question & answer sessions to allow full participation between the audience and the presenter. In some cases audiences participating in a web conferencing make use of telephone lines for audio communications and make use of the internet to transmit visual elements.

Web conferencing is claimed to be one of the most revolutionary development in communications technology and offers major advantages to businesses in terms of reduced costs, increased employee productivity, enhanced customer support capabilities, and reduced time to develop products and communications.

Also users can participate in a web conferencing in the comfort of their living rooms and need not travel to a common location for conference which reduces travel costs and saves fuel. Conventional conferences take a lot of time for preparation but online conferences can be arranged anytime anywhere which reduces the consumption of materials required for implementing face-to-face meetings.

A lot of companies have also acknowledged that their productivity has greatly improved by adopting to web-based on demand conferencing services.

Since webinars has become a rapidly growing market there are hundreds of providers to choose from and companies that are considering deploying web conferencing services should look into a lot of factors in order to pick the optimal web conferencing provider.

Below are a few guidelines that could help users choose the right meeting software vendor:

Price – Companies have to analyze the amount they are willing to spend on web conferencing and they have to look for a provider they can afford. Some providers offer different types of services with different price tags and companies can choose the model that satisfies their requirements. Apart from basic charges users should carefully check whether there are additional or hidden costs they have to pay for a web conferencing tool. It is always better to choose a vendor who has a transparent pricing policy.
Scalability – it is imperative to look for the number of participants that a web conferencing service can support. For instance there are some providers who even offer conferencing service for free but they support only a limited number of participants. If a company schedules a conference for limited number of persons than they can opt for the free service but if they expect a lot of participants to join in then they have to look for a model that scales accordingly. Or, can the service be expanded to be used for video conferencing.
Demo – Users should attend a product demonstration if it is available to get more detailed information about the meeting software. A real-time live demonstration is the ideal time to check the vendor’s potential to be a stable, supportive and a long term partner. At the demo users can also query about the product and try to figure out whether a vendor is willing to take in customer feedbacks and is able to distinguish their solution’s advantages from products offered by other competing vendors.
Advanced functionality – users need to check the technology behind the web conferencing service they are going to pick because high-end technologies enable high quality conferencing even at lower internet speeds. Users should also check the security measures that a vendor has implemented in order to protect the systems and privacy of the user and their web conferencing participants.
Review – Users cannot acquire a detailed view about a service by looking only into a prospective vendor’s marketing brochure. They have to see into the expert reviews and other users’ comments about the web conferencing tool that they are considering to buy. Doing a web conferencing comparison of service from different vendors will also provide users with the knowledge about the additional or lack of features that a web conferencing service has.

A serious and reliable vendor will always offer a solution that is both flexible and beneficial to the customers. Also a good product will get rave reviews from users who have already used it. A company that is planning to deploy a web conferencing service should acquire it from vendors who are serious, reliable, and flexible and have also proven themselves as efficient providers.

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Web Conferencing Rates Broken Down

June 18th, 2010

Every company, large or small is bound by its budget. When it comes to choosing a web conferencing product, however, the subject of pricing is not that simple. Even the most basic web conference service offers diverse options. Plus there are a number of vendors in the market. This means not only differences in the type of web conferencing products available, but also differences in pricing structure.

Free Web Conference Services

It is not difficult to find a free web conferencing product. Users must however understand that there are limitations to these offerings. These may include the number of users to the amount of guaranteed attendees, and lower image quality. With some providers ‘free’ actually means a trial offer with an option to buy at a later time. With some providers the free web conferencing product is a basic version of the paid option which they will also offer for more discerning customers.

Pricing Structures

From the outset it is important to understand that there are hosted and on premise options for web conferencing. In terms of functionality there is not much difference between the two. The main difference is whether you are accessing the service online or hosting it yourself in house. In fact it usually comes down to the service provider and the quality of their web conferencing product. A simple search for web conferencing providers or hosted web conferencing online will return a listed of providers. There are also a number of sites that provide detailed comparison of features and pricing for available solutions.

The trade off between convenience and cost depends on your needs. With an appliance no download is necessary, and users can avoid monthly fees. Again, the difference in pricing is evident. Compared with ongoing monthly fees, a self-hosted solution tends to be self owned, meaning once purchased, there are not recurring fees.

Other than the main difference of monthly fees or a one time payment between hosted and on-premise solutions, pricing for web conference services are usually dependent upon the number of attendees, the number of users, and premium features options. Often, web meeting providers would offer bundle packages at additional discounts. Packages might include web conferencing and webinar tools.

Do a web conferencing comparison to understand the difference between conference solutions and how and if the features meet the company’s needs. Having established what is needed and which solutions work best, it is easier to make a final selection based on budget.

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Three Factors to Help You Choose the Right Meeting Software

June 11th, 2010

Web conferencing have a great many uses that organizations and individuals alike can use. There are a lot of choices when it comes to choosing the right meeting software provider, but many organizations decide based on the following factors- ease of use, cost, and purpose.

Cost

Cost is probably the biggest factor when choosing what type of meeting appliance or software to use for most. Because several businesses still consider video conference as a luxury purchase, having an economical price and value will help convince business owners and supervisors to actually purchase the technology. Many companies that provide meeting software often do so at a monthly or annual subscription plan. However, there are web conferencing appliances that may be the most economical approach– these products only have an initial cost, with no monthly fees or subscription costs for the entire life of the appliance.

Purpose

There are several great uses for web meetings, in almost any industry. Many organizations offer free webinars to interested parties as a learning tool. This not only drives traffic to the hosted website, but it also establishes credibility in the industry.

Ease of Use

Facilitating meetings has become so easy- with the right computer and software, almost anyone can do it. Making web conferencing easy to conduct has helped individuals and businesses communicate better with each other, their customers, and other industry professionals. Many organizations are now beginning to use web conferences instead of planning large conferences at hotels or convention centers. This saves a substantial amount of money and, in many cases, is just as effective.

Besides using web meetings as an effective marketing tool, many organizations use web conference technology for internal and client training. Employee orientation or teaching new skills can now be done in any office location. In addition, teaching clients or customers how to use an organization’s products can be as easy as having them join a webinar with an educated instructor.

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How Webinars are Changing the Way Business Communicates

April 26th, 2010

Being able to save big on travel is not the only factor driving the current interest in webinars. Conferencing on the web, along with VoIP and instant messaging are fast becoming the go to options for companies looking to jazz up their communications capabilities. Even basic chat has its supporters among employees who want to stay in touch with partners and clients.

The New Business Communication Model

Business communication today involves various points of origin as well as end users. Businesses communicate internally, and they also communicate externally with clients or customers, suppliers, affiliates and partners. For large companies and multi-nationals it is easy to imagine this becoming a mishmash of data traveling back and forth.

This is where the value of web conferencing comes into play. In business, communication is essential, and the right tool provides control over who gets what, and what goes where. While many companies use IM software internally, this is not suitable for the rigorous demands placed on many of the top web conferencing software. This includes rapid transfer of large files, and quality video conferencing. Additionally, managers often worry that IM software can be used for chat that falls outside the company’s sphere.

Business communication also encompasses efforts at self-promotion. Successful companies know that creating the right image can work wonders for the bottom line. Profit making and self promotion aside, possibly one of the most important aspects is probably the legal implications of business communication.

Tying it all Together

So how can any company maintain tight control over it communications capabilities and at the same time put the best face forward? It would be easy to say buy web conferencing tools, but this is not all. Keep in mind that there are free options available for download, but are these enough to streamline communications?

The choice will largely depend on what the company needs, but even immediate needs can be quickly outgrown. This is why many experts recommend scalable options that will eliminate the necessity of constantly buying new software. This is partially what is driving the use of net meeting appliances in the business world. Two companies that provide these devices are RHUB Communications and Bomgar. When compared, the RHUB appliance poses greater technical advantages for the user. Among the benefits of using an appliance for net meeting needs are:

Better overall control of web conferences
Remote access and support capabilities for up to 1000 PCs
They require no monthly fees
Employee desktops can be monitored if necessary

With so many providers out there, prospective net meeting users will have lots of options to wade through. Most if not all providers provide free demos of their software so any company can take it for a test run. With a clear picture of the company’s communications needs, a company can filter through the clutter to find a conferencing tool that is ideal for them. Of course, once a selection is made, it is incumbent on the business to make the most the web conferencing solution chosen.

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Keeping Control of Your IT Function

October 19th, 2009

Web conferencing is set to become one of IT’s biggest service offerings, and in companies where it is a facility they wish to employ, the managers who have the responsibility for administering the IT function in the company will naturally have concerns about maintaining control.

By using an ASP or a remotely web hosted conferencing system, the IT function has to relinquish a certain amount control by deferring to the needs and system requirements of the external service provider. This can have serious implications for the proper control, and perhaps just as importantly, the maintenance of the user’s in house IT system. Why should any user be at the whim of the ASP whenever they decide they have a need to carry out some routine maintenance or implement some critical updates?

An IT manager needs to have complete control which enables him/her to action essential maintenance to all parts of the IT infrastructure as when he/she deems it right to do so. This is one of the main reasons why deploying an in-house web conferencing facility that the company actually owns is becoming the best choice solution for many companies.

The other issue with using an external ASP for web conferencing is the concern about security. When an organization deploys its own in-house web conference system, it does so behind its own firewall system and is not reliant on the internet in any way. This in itself is a big plus as it leaves all the protection in place that is safeguarding the internal IT network.

It is then possible for the IT department to allow external participation in the web conferencing services to be granted access via encryption through either SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or the more recent TLS (Transport Layer Security). Also, through internal deployment, any ready made presentations and even the archive records of previous conferences are all held in perfect safety behind that firewall, so everything is properly protected.

So when organizations go shopping for the appropriate web conferencing product, safety and security must be as high on the list of prerequisites as system performance specification. Systems like the RHUB TurboMeeting 4.0 product meet all of the criteria safety conscious IT managers throw at them. They even protect against interactive conferencing where the participants are sending data back along the link. They also have the programming to navigate around the different firewall protocols that the various delegated PCs or Macs have loaded.

RHUB and one or two of their main competitors supply products that provide best in class secure web conferencing backed up with excellent technical support should you need it.

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