Videoconferencing within the reach of any enterprising
"A picture is worth a thousand words." It refers to a picture and written word.But ... What is also worth a dynamic image of thousands of words spoken? Perhaps incalculable value, but we can live in virtual conversations with our friends and colleagues using videoconferencing technology (or WebConferencia, virtual presence, net meeting, web meeting)that are increasingly easy to use and more advantageous in at least four aspects:
a) They allow the expression of feelings,
b) Eliminate the travel time,
c) They are not polluting, and
d) They are free or very low cost.
In what follows we show an excerpt of the original article by Robin Good, to select only the most simple, designed for personal use or to serve a small number of speakers. Also, for technical reasons, we do not show the comparison table of features, which is stored in the web service Tablefy.com and is quite "heavy" to deploy. In the original post there is also a comparative and a description of a significant amount of video tools for large groups or organizations.
Best Tools Video: Free Solutions, Low cost, for two or more participants - Mini Guide
By Robin Good
To help track the best tools for video, look at this mini-guide are analyzed and compared the best free and low-cost videoconferencing, separated in an appropriate manner between two or more tools to participants.
Before reserved for users for money, powerful computers and high Internet connections, today's online meetings can be created, and hosted events for you for free or for a reasonable price.
More than that, your hardware or operating system does not pose any problem here. Most tools are based video on the web. No need to install any application on your hard disk, you can use any computer and operating. Some of these tools work even on Windows Mobile-based mobile or iPhone.
Video conferencing tools often integrate some complementary features such as VoIP calls, screen sharing, recording sessions of meetings, transfer files or whiteboarding. And all that's in charge. Anyway, if you're willing to spend some money for some features, like better quality for video, more participants, or customization and advanced control for conferences are also available.
To help you choose the best tool in your case, I have selected some basic criteria for the two major groups exist (for two or more participants), and I have prepared two tables comparing to assess more easily so you need.
Here are the criteria:
1) Platform: Type tool (software / web based).
2) Video Channels: The number of conference participants at the same time (only refers to tools that support various components in the meeting).
3) Public Lecture: Ability to have a video conference service.
4) to be embedded Widget: Widget Flash to be embedded in websites or social media.
5) Recording the session: Functionality to record your conference for later review or publish.
6) Chat text: Ability to have a text chat among the participants.
7) Other features: file transfer, screen sharing, live annotation, whiteboarding, etc..
8) Initial Price plan pro: Price and features for the initial values of the advanced level.
Here are the best free tools and low cost of videoconferencing:
1. Skype
Skype is a free VoIP and video for PC, Mac, Linux, Windows Mobile and OS X Mobile to enable calls between two people. Allows text chat (in the group), calls with audio / video, file transfer and more. The Mac version also lets you share the screen. The video calls are limited to only two people, but there are many outsourced software with which you can add more people, and recording sessions. Get widget to be inserted. Account for Pay As You Go allows you to buy $ 10 of Skype credits to call landlines and mobile phones, which must be used in up to 180 days.
http://www.skype.com
2. Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger is a popular free video instant messaging and Microsoft. Available for PC, Mac, and phones based on Windows Mobile, Live Messenger can also be used to transfer files and supports integration with Xbox. A widget is available for websites, but Live Messenger can not be used for public lectures and has no functionality for recording audio or video calls.
http://messenger.live.com/
3. Yahoo! Messenger
Yahoo! Messenger is a free instant messaging and videoconferencing. Available for PC, Mac, Linux, and can also be used to transfer files. Among the main tools is an integrated voicemail, but can record video chat or audio, and public lectures are allowed. Nor has widgets for your site, but there are many options on the web that can be adjusted for this.
http://messenger.yahoo.com/
4. Google Video Chat
Google Video Chat is a feature of Gmail that allows you to have a video chat between two persons within the email window in your browser. Completely free to use, Google Video Chat is available for PC and Mac application is essential and allows you to do just text chat and share your video. No record of the meeting, has not and does not allow widgets public lectures.
http://mail.google.com/videochat
5. AIM Chat
AIM Chat is a web-based service that lets you have video and text chats with your fellow AIM and Bebo. After registering, you can also share media content via the AIM brand new interface (still in beta). Public lectures are not available, or recordings of meetings. Get a widget to be embedded in your website and let people use text chat and video from it.
http://chat-beta.aim.com/
6. SnapYap
SnapYap is a powerful web-based videoconferencing. While completing the registration is quite simple, you can start creating free, your videoconferencing room, where others can join you for a video chat: If you have an account at SnapYap, simply to insert his or her address usernames email to receive an email with how instruccinoes added to the page. Get a messenger and video widget to your website.
http://www.snapyap.com/
7. Boostcam
Boostacam is a solution for video free easy to use, web-based calls between two people. Requires no registration and you can create your virtual room where they will show your webcam and the other participant in the meeting. To share your room, simply copy and paste the URL Boostcam individual who creates for you. No recorded meetings, or functions bringing to public lectures. Neither makes available widgets.
http://www.boostcam.com/
