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The Benefits of Online Meetings
by Mark Vandorone
http://www.fivemarketing.com
The rising price of fuel is encouraging all businesses to
look at different ways to reduce business travel.
One way is by conducting more meetings online. Technology
experts estimate that online meetings using multimedia
web-conferencing hardware and software can save more
than $2,000 per executive per annum.
The advent of high speed broadband connections has shifted
web conferencing to a higher gear. Colleagues thousands of
miles apart can work on the same files by combining real
time video, audio, instant messaging and application
sharing. Apart from possibly a webcam, the only equipment
needed is a headset with microphone.
There are more sophisticated services available which
allow people to participate in an online meeting using
devices such as laptops, 3G mobile phones, or video
conferencing facilities.
Previously slow internet connections meant that the quality
of both audio and video was very poor during online
meetings. Numbers participating was also restricted due to
the strain imposed on what was limited bandwidth.
Concerns over security provided another reason not to carry
out meetings online. Private conferences held on an open
network always risked a loss of confidentiality. Encryption
slowed the process down even more by gobbling up more
bandwidth.
The good news for business is that these problems have now
largely been sorted out, and a fiercely-competitive market
is growing rapidly attracting internet giants such as
Microsoft. Even better news is that prices are being driven
down by this competition, and fully managed online
conferencing services are now within the grasp of even
the smallest business.
A word of warning before you dive in and book your first
online meeting. First understand what productivity
improvements your business can achieve through the use of
these facilities, and adopt the services which really
improve your bottom line.
Services such as live video conferencing are simply not
required by most businesses. Many organizations will get
most benefit from using a service such as VoIP ("voice over
internet protocol") or an instant messaging facility.
Either could easily be combined with application sharing to
enhance the benefits.
Another trap to be avoided if you will be including third
parties in your web meetings - do not use a service
provider who requires all participants to be using their own
proprietary software.
Finally, if you are using any form of encryption in your
online meeting confirm that it covers all forms of media
that are being used.
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