Web Conferencing Tools
So in reply to Ed Teng’s comment in my post with invites to A.Viary online production tools (if I understand him correctly) I will post some links and comments to webconferencing tools that might be useful for instructional purposes.
ePresence -> Free and open source tool. Has to be installed on your local server. Technical support is offered by the Open Source Consortium. Their webconferencing and webcasting applications are excellent and feature-rich. It is possible to record both webcasting (broadcasting an event, for instance) and make it available on your website. It is possible to record webconferencing (people interacting with a virtual whiteboard in a virtual room) and make it available as well.
DimDim -> Another open source initiative. You can host online meeting without installing any extra program, just go to their website, create a free account and you are up and running. DimDim allows you to schedule and invite anyone without requiring them to install any plugins. Maximum of 20 users in the free ad-supported version of the online web meeting program, but they offer room for up to 100 people for $495/year and an enterprise edition. You can also install locally and free of charge the DimDim Enterprise edition free of charge (it requires more technical know-how).
Elluminate -> Webconferencing tool with many features. Even though the “looks” are more old-fashioned, this program is very stable and well-accepted in the academic arena. They have good academic packages.
Yugma -> Feature-rich webconferencing tool that has a free version. Yugma offers other versions of their packages that allow you to invite more participants at a time. A plugin is required for participant to view the meeting room. An interesting differentiator for Yugma is that they offer a Skype plugin that works seamless with the famous VOIP client.
Vyew -> Web-based tool that has many important features in their free version. No plugins to download and plans that offer more flexibility and storage are also offered.
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Thanks for the post on Dimdim. We’re working hard to make it even easier and more powerful. And you can download the Dimdim server software for free at SourceForge.net if you are interested in running your own web meeting service.
DimDim is a great tool indeed.
If you noticed, it is at the top of my list (one of the first names that pop into my head). 🙂
Thanks for the comments. I actually recollect calling you guys at an early phase of development to give some suggestions. 😉
Great article. Web Conferencing really pays and your customers will love it. I personally use WebEx for my Web Conferences. It’s still the best tool on the market. You can test it for free at http://www.freewebextrial.com
From their website – “VMukti is a Free, innovative, multi-point total communications, collaboration and conferencing engine with built-in support for access to platform features through Personal Customizable Web Interface, Widgets for 3rd party websites, Desktops, and PSTN/ Mobile/ IP Phones. VMukti has been nominated for CCA 2008.”
I want to see this software grow, so please also let your visitors know they can vote for this software on sourceforge here:
http://www.vmukti.com/latest-news/vmukti-calls-on-community-to-win-prestigious-award.html
Winning this award would mean big things for all the users at VMukti like me!
I would like to see VMukti get the support they need from the user community to continue developing a great project. We can show this support by recognizing this software in the SourceForge.net 2008 Community Choice Awards. This recognition will help ensure that their software gets the attention it needs to continue to provide a great set of features to the software community.
I use VMukti for my voip open source needs and has been nominated for the CCA 2008.
Haven’t used VMukti yet? Well I bet you have a need for it already. VMukti is a Free, innovative, multi-point total communications, collaboration and conferencing engine with built-in support for access to platform features through Personal Customizable Web Interface, Widgets for 3rd party websites, Desktops, and PSTN/ Mobile/ IP Phones. VMukti has been nominated for CCA 2008.
Help VMukti get the support they need from the user community to continue developing such a great project. You can show your support by recognizing this software in the SourceForge.net 2008 Community Choice Awards. This recognition will help ensure that their software gets the attention it needs to continue to provide a great set of features to the software community.
You can vote for the software on SourceForge.net by going here:
http://www.vmukti.com/latest-news/vmukti-calls-on-community-to-win-prestigious-award.html
Winning this award would mean big things for all the users at VMukti.
[…]It’s important to remember that having a stable and reliable high speed internet connection is necessary to establish and maintain video conferencing. Using a high-speed internet connection is preferable that way the experience not only workable but also enjoyable.[…]