What Web-conferencing tools have you used?

Posted by wcook

on 9 Nov 2006 3:45 PM

Have you tried a Web-conferencing application? How long did it take to set up, and did it run smoothly? Did you encounter any challenges using it?

If you are interested in learning more about Web-conferencing apps, check out TechSoup's article Web-Conferencing Tools: Right for You?, which offers considerations for selecting a Web-conferencing tool. A downloadable spreadsheet compares the features found in 10 popular products.

Have you tried any of the tools on this spreadsheet? Are we missing a product that you recommend? Share your feedback here.

senior editor, TechSoup

You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available.

Posted by WOF

on 15 Nov 2006 10:00 AM

My non-profit needs a free, cross platform means of conducting online conferences. Most of my board uses PC, but I use a Mac with OS X, but so far, everything I've found is for 10.2 and higher when I am using 10.1 and my G3 won't let me upgrade OS. I'd appreciate a suggestion.

You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available.

Posted by nhr2000

on 16 Nov 2006 6:49 AM

For our internal training classes, we recently started to use ReadyTalk instead of Netspoke (which has not been acquired by Premiere Global). So far I've found ReadyTalk fairly trouble free and the support very good whenever I've had a question.

You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available.

Posted by rotavonni

on 24 Nov 2006 12:38 PM

The Netspoke web conferencing service just had a major redesign and launched Nov 20. No client download is required...so colleagures and anyone outside your office do not require PC admin rights. The new Netspoke is highly cost-effective (aka low price) and supports desktop/application sharing, PPT sharing, multiple presenters, video conferencing, Q&A, polling, chat, recording...but by far the coolest feature is that everyone gets their own "Conferencing Portal" with a unique URL and a site that can be self-branded. Meetings that are designated as public appear on a public page and make it super easy for participants to get into instant and scheduled meetings. Worth a look... http://www.netspoke.com. Netspoke comes pay by the drink for ~$0.15/min or unlimited use (named user) for $39/month/user. That's not bad considering that the average cost for a trip is $1200/person and wastes over 5 hours of completely unproductive time (driving, security, waiting, delays, etc.).

Cheers - Peter (my blog http://www.webconferencinghub.com)

You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available.

Posted by kefcwwg

on 20 Dec 2006 7:09 AM

I ask the same question: Cross platform applications between Mac and PC whereby we can share data and maybe voice. Anything available? Is ready talk cross platform?

You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available.

Posted by bsatterfield

on 20 Dec 2006 3:59 PM

kefcwwg,

To the best of my knowledge, both ReadyTalk and WebHuddle are platform agnostic, meaning that they should support Windows, Mac and Linux OSs.

WOF,

As far as I can tell, WebHuddle should support all versions of OS X. As least that's what their site leads me to believe.

Hope that helps....

Brian Satterfield Staff Writer TechSoup.org

You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available.

Posted by stosher

on 18 Sep 2007 2:53 PM

:thinkerg; 07.09.19 noon-ish local •
umm http://www.webex.com is pretty good..been using it since 1995..
Alo'ha
?

You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available.

Posted by harrysmitghson

on 4 Apr 2008 1:02 AM

I've used mostly webex, however there are new players in the market. www.talkingonthenet.com provides some good analysis of the major vendors.

You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available.

Posted by jonf

on 15 Apr 2008 9:54 AM

We currently use LiveMeeting but that's because Microsoft gave it to us. We're hoping to try out Adobe's Acrobat Connect, which is Flash based. I've attended webinars using some of the other products.

Jon Frank
Training Manager
NPower Seattle

You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available.

Posted by jknauer

on 8 Aug 2008 5:10 AM

We regularly use Glance.net. It is very simple, straightforward and easy for people joining our web conferences to use. It is just a screen sharing tool and doesn't have a lot of the other extra features that other packages have (no shared whiteboard, no video feed, etc.) but that's actually why we like it so much. You can have up to 100 people join in and they don't need to download extra software.

They also have a very easy way to embed the conference in your website. They work on all platforms that we have encountered.

If you just want simple screen sharing over the web, I highly recommend: http://www.glance.net

-Josh Knauer
CEO, Rhiza Labs
http://www.rhizalabs.com

You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available.

Posted by techstev

on 16 Aug 2008 12:44 AM

gotomeeting.com, we recently came to know dimdim.com, we might give a try to use it.

If you have experience with dimdim, please post here

You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available.

Posted by mskalyn

on 15 Dec 2008 7:52 AM

dim dim has recently add new features and we are looking forward to trying it

You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available.

Posted by AngelAdams

on 16 Dec 2008 12:34 AM

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}

Hello all!

I just wanted to share my experience with these softwares. Recently we were looking to switch our web conferencing software for a more cost effective system because we had to square off some budget. Someone suggested the web conferencing system from RHUB. It has been a wonderful experience since they provide a four-in-one web conferencing application. We have tried it for so many meeting types and so far so good. Just thought you should add that to your list! J

The software is available at RHUB http://www.rhubcom.com

You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available.

Posted by lbrown@grfoundation.org

on 2 Mar 2009 5:04 AM

I have used DimDim - a couple of cons: the viewing screen is very small and it is slow to load applications. I'm currently looking for other products.

You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available.

Posted by Center@CMBM.org

on 22 Apr 2009 3:14 PM

We are looking for a good one now. A few key factors are missing from the above article (and spreadsheet), such as # of attendees included in the pricing info, whether ads are displayed to attendees, external publishing of recorded material, custom branding, meeting archive accessibility, and user permission controls to name a few.

I appreciate the spreadheet comparison, but last updated Nov 06?? It is unfortunate that it was so old. It is my opinion that TechSoup could have updated it with relative ease prior to sending out the recent newsletter.

For those reading, here are two sites comparing free web conferencing tools from January of this year.
http://www.webinarcentral.net/2008/11/webinar-central-blog-guide-to-free-webinar-hosting-sites
http://blog.core-ed.net/derek/2009/01/free-web-conferencing-tools.html

Here is a more thorough list of most companies offering web conferencing solutions:
http://thinkofit.com/webconf/realtime.htm

We still haven't determined which one we will use, and of course, our choice will not be the best choice for you. So, do you

I also just came across www.freeconferencecall.com. No video services at all, but free audio conference calling for up to 96 attendees for up to 6 hours! Not bad! I'm still looking for the catch...

Good luck!

~Jay

The Center for Mind-Body Medicine - Offering professional trainings in Mind-Body Medicine, Food As Medicine, Comprehensive Cancer Care, and bringing trauma relief to NYC firefighters post 9-11, New Orleans post Katrina, soldiers returning from Iraq & Afghanistan, and war torn Israel, Gaza, Kosovo, and Macedonia.

You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available.

Join TechSoup

What Web-conferencing tools have you used?

What Web-conferencing tools have you used?

New here?