COVID-19 has disrupted everyone's lives at some level in 2020. While, at this stage, many businesses are starting to reopen, a lot of jobs are going to continue as work-from-home positions well into 2021 or indefinitely. Video-conferencing is no longer just an occasional meeting with friends who live far away, but now is a vital tool for businesses to continue employing people and keep their operations somewhat "normal". Here, we are going to update you on which web-conferencing tool is best for you, whether you are using it for personal or business use.
For Business use:
These three video-conferencing companies are best for getting a large number of people on a call from varying locations. Many have paid options that will give you access to more user-friendly features.
Cisco Webex Meetings
Join up to 10,000 people in a meeting at once, with a grid view of 25 people at a time.
Share your screen, play a video directly on the video, or use the whiteboard feature for everyone to draw their ideas on.
Get meetings automatically added to your calendar, whether it's Google, Outlook, Office 365, etc.
BlueJeans
No downloads to start your experience. Anyone can click to join a meeting without having to take any previous steps.
Access the Command Center which shows a performance dashboard and analytics to monitor issues before you run into a problem.
Mobile for iOS and Android, so you can join from anywhere with the same features as a desktop video.
Zoom
Have up to 1,000 video participants and over 10,000 viewers.
Record your meetings locally or to the cloud, with searchable transcripts.
Create "rooms" that separate groups can go into for collaboration, these rooms can be on a timer set to bump people back into the main call.
Google Meet
Fully integrated with the G Suite that comes with a Gmail account, you can join a meeting straight from a calendar event or email invite.
"Teams using Skype for Business or meeting systems based on SIP and H.323 standards (e.g. Polycom and Cisco) can seamlessly join a Meet meeting through the Pexip Infinity Platform." (https://gsuite.google.com/products/meet/)
For Personal Use:
While some people may be restricted from seeing others still, this is a great way to catch up with friends and family. These platforms have features that create more of a fun-filled environment while on a video call.
Facebook Messenger
Meet with anyone who you are friends with on Facebook. Create a group or call a friend through the Facebook messenger app or on your desktop.
Free use with Wi-Fi and a Facebook profile.
Use face filters to spice up your video conversation.
Houseparty
Have up to 8 people at a time in a "room" and have infinite rooms that you can transfer to and from easily.
Use with iOS, Android, Mac, PC, or as a Google Chrome extension
Play games while on a video chat such as Houseparty Headsup, Trivia, or Quick Draw.
As we continue to build a "new normal" for life in 2020, we are here to help your new life run as smoothly as possible. If you ever have questions about web-conferencing, give us a call at 855-728-6824 or come by our shop in Woodland Park, CO.