Video Conferencing Options

Overview:

• Purpose:
  
  • Reduce requirements for travel with consequent costs (personal,
    corporate, environmental)
  
  

Requirements

• Camera and MicroPhone:
  
  
  • Notebooks have built in web cams (quality depending on notebook make
    and model).
  • Some desktops have built in cameras (e.g. iMac's have high quality
    cameras and microphones built in).
  • Higher quality cameras and cord attached microphones can be added to
    desktops or notebooks to allow more easy repositioning.
  • Headsets (earphones with attached microphone) can improve audio
    quality for users. more complex when more than one person per
    computer.
  
  
• Most simple free solutions designed primarily for free use bewteen two
  people.

Limitations:

• Video quality: Can be increased with quality hardware and good internet
  connection speed.
• Lower speed internet connections at either end can create jerky
  movement, video/ audio drop out/ complete loss of connection requiring
  reconnection.

Try this first !! iChat

(Watch video) Reason: Free software and service. Ease of Use. High quality of
video and audio.

• Software Built into Mac OSX
• Supports Multiple Simultaneous Computers (i.e. Users)
• High quality. Ease of set up and excellent features.
• Buying Mac equipment to access is worth the investment for this
  feature alone.

Try this next !! Skype
(Watch Video) Reason: Free software and service. Ease of Use. Medium quality
video and audio.

• Free downloadable software. Any Operating System
• Mac and Windows compatible
• Supports 2 way conferencing

Other solutions:

Microsoft Office Live Meeting

(See Video)

• Software Web Based but requires Microsoft Office 2007 on all computers
• Supports Multiple Simultaneous Computers (i.e. Users)

Windows NetMeeting
(See Video)

• Software built into Microsoft Windows XP
• Supports Multiple Simultaneous Computers (i.e. Users)

XMeeting
(See Video)

• Free Software for Mac Operating System
• Supports Multiple Simultaneous Computers (i.e. Users)

Commercial Videoconferencing via web

• www.webex.com.au -
  No charge rates on internet. So probably expensive !

Commercial Videoconferencing via web OR existing phone line OR dedicated line

• Telstra Conferencing

Room Hire

• Visit a local fully managed facility @
  about $500 per hour ($250 each end)
• There may be an existing facility within or close to your
  own building that could have far lower rates than these.
  
  
• generation-e
• cliftons
• whygo

Build your own dedicated conference room

PS:

Software that is NOT a video conferencing solution

Windows Meeting Space?
(See Video) NO Audio OR Video Support

• Software: Built Into Microsoft Vista operating System
  (Not supported by Windows XP or Windows 7)
• Supports Multiple Simultaneous Computers (i.e. Users)

Windows Live
Messenger No Video