LIST OF TECH WORTHY AND AFFORDABLE MEETING APPS
Virtual meetings are on the go , with the covid 19 pandemic it has caught pace and have become in separable tool for any organisation, specially the ones which are in collaborative workplace methods.
How did we come up with this list? We auditioned many of these tech tools through our own experiences, watching demos, research, and videos. We selected tech that had free or less costly options to keep them in line with limited budgets. If you’re seeking an enterprise solution, these tools are good but you may be able to find a more customizable solution for your precise needs and it can attract additional cost to it.
The best ones which offer most of the features and are affordable are being listed here based on a few different measurements including:
Compatibility: We wanted options, We looked for compatibility for Macs and PCs, mobile, and desktop. When there were limitations, we noted them.
Industry: Some tools are better suited or designed for a particular industry or need (such as marketing agencies). We tried to select tech that could be used for general purposes but did note if there was a specific design intent.
Additional features (value) for the price: There are so many parts to a successful virtual meeting – from the actual meeting viewing software to tools to engage the audience and keep them contributing. Ideally, one program would do it all so there wouldn’t be compatibility issues
Integration: Does this tech play nicely with other things you’re currently using? While we can’t know everything you use,Technology will keep all of your participants on the same page and enable them to stay connected and be part of the conversation or problem-solving at hand. Without technology, your event is just a phone call or perhaps, smoke signals.
VIRTUAL MEETINGS APPS
Noteworthy and popular virtual communication apps include:
FACETIME
FaceTime is a proprietary videotelephony product developed by Apple Inc. FaceTime is available on supported iOS mobile devices running iOS 4 and later and Mac computers that run Mac OS X 10.6.6 and later
Yes, you can use this video communication app for business too. Apple just announced that it’s launching group chats for up to 32 people with iOS12. The new FaceTime will have tiles of participants’ faces and highlight those who are talking. Users can also manually select who they want to highlight/see in tiles. Unfortunately, this app is restricted to Apple users only.
SKYPE
Skype is a proprietary telecommunications application that specializes in providing video chat and voice calls between computers, tablets, mobile devices, the Xbox One console, and smartwatches over the Internet. Skype also provides instant messaging services. Users may transmit text, video, audio and images.
Initial release date: August 2003 Windows, desktop: 8.68.0.96 / 21 January 2021; 2 days ago
Windows, UWP: 15.68.96.0 / 21 January 2021; 2 days ago
Developer: Skype Communications S.a r.l., Microsoft Corporation
This basic video communication app, allows groups or individuals to conference in with one another without long-distance fees. A significant benefit of choosing Skype is that most people are familiar with this online meeting app and may already have a personal account.
GOOGLE HANGOUTS
Securely connect, collaborate and celebrate from anywhere. With Google Meet, everyone can safely create and join high-quality video meetings up to 250 people.
Key features:
Host unlimited high-definition video meetings
Meet safely – video meetings are encrypted in transit and proactive anti-abuse measures help keep your meetings safe
Easy access – just share a link and invited guests can join with one click from a desktop web browser or the Google Meet mobile app
Share your screen to present documents, slides and more
Follow along with real-time captions powered by Google speech-to-text technology
Google Hangouts has come a long way since its introduction in 2013. In 2017, Google launched an enterprise-friendly version focused on business solutions and video conferencing under the name Hangouts Meet. The communication platform offers video chat and conferencing for up to 50 participants, and SMS. The app works on Android and iOS. Meet will also soon be compatible with Polycom, Skype, Cisco and several other third-party products. Meet is fully integrated with G Suite so you can join a meeting directly from a calendar entry or email..
ZOOM
Announced as one of the leading meeting APP for the fifth consecutive year ,Zoom video communications software offers a lot of options that fit every budget. From a free plan through its enterprise option, which starts at $19.99 per month per host, Zoom can handle up to 200 participants with unlimited cloud storage (in its large enterprise plans).
Even the free option allows for up to 100 participants..There is a 40 minute limit for group meetings on the free version.
JOIN ME
This free screen sharing and online meeting software, allows you to claim a personalized URL, customize your meeting background, and keep administrative control over your account. If you need more options and a larger number of participants, the software offers pricing plans starting at $10 per month per user.
The whiteboard feature provides an engaging interface. There are no alerts when someone joins your meeting.
GO TO MEETINGS
This online meeting software is the longstanding option selected by many businesses as it’s been offering video conferencing services for a long time. It offers a free 14-day trial and after that plans begin at $19 a month, billed annually.
While their pricing is higher than a lot of options out there, all plans offer unlimited meetings and are based on the number of participants. So if you have a lot of meetings but only a few participants each time, the cost may be worth it.
It takes a lot of band width as well needs a stable internet connection The download can be problematic. There are no options to participate from the cloud., the Chat option is somewhat limited to its features.
CLICKMEETINGS
You can use ClickMeeting as virtual meeting software but a lot of its features seem more webinar-related. ClickMeeting is a browser-based webinar solution, brings the power of webinars to organizations of any size, from one-person firms to multinational enterprises. The web-based solution is easy to use and covers the entire webinar process from preparation to presentation It does a lot more than simply allow your team to see each other.
ADOBE CONNECT
Adobe Connect is a suite of software for remote training, web conferencing, presentation, and desktop sharing. All meeting rooms are organized into ‘pods’; with each pod performing a specific role Adobe Connect was formerly part of the Adobe Acrobat family and has changed names several times.
Robust featured virtual meeting tool that allows for participant learning sessions, webinar features, and virtual room options.
CISCO WEB EX MEETINGS
Free Video Conferencing & Online Meetings | Cisco Webex. Meetings lets you host online meetings with HD video, audio and screen sharing, the ease of using a mobile app and they can accommodate up to 40,000 people.
AMAZON CHIME
Attend voice (VOIP, dial in*, call me**) or video meetings
Start meeting, share screen & control remote desktop (1:1 only)
Receive autocall when meeting begins
Chat and share files during meeting
Person-to-person & group chat
Persistent chat rooms
Send files as attachments
Control notifications
Amazon Chime works with Alexa for business
ONSTREAM MEETINGS
Onstream Meetings is a cloud-based online service that allows you to hold online meetings anytime and from anywhere – with no scheduling required. Whether you are a session organizer or meeting attendee, Onstream Meetings will help you to collaborate easily and cost-effectively. Onstream is cloud-based so participants needn’t worry about downloads. It offers screen sharing, whiteboard features, and customizable user interfaces
MIGHTY MEETINGS
The application seems best suited for people who often have to give presentations at a moment’s notice, but don’t want to be chained to their desks. This virtual meeting software is known for its conferencing and presentation capabilities such as sharing content, drawing features, and interactive applications. unlike a standard file sharing service, the link you send from MightyMeeting isn’t just a link to the file — it’s actually a link to a presentation that you can control remotely. Clicking the link brings the attendee to a browser-based viewing window on their PC or mobile phone
MICROSOFT TEAMS
This Microsoft product helps teams collaborate easily. It’s designed to help employees interact quickly and build upon each other’s work. You can invite different types of collaborators, like employees and external clients. You can also join and create groups. Some call it a business social network. One issue is its limited customization options.
I VENT
iVent offers solutions for virtual events, hybrid events, and webinars. The platform doesn’t use templates, is completely customizable and can be fully branded. Their live and on-demand streaming platform allows event organizers to broadcast HD quality video and audio presentations in real time.
WORKCAST
WorkCast is an online presentation and events platform that can be used for the delivery of webinars, webcasts or virtual events, and is fully customizable. Apart from its content delivery features, it also offers event management features, such as detailed analytics. WorkCast offers self-service, monitored, or managed events options, depending on the level of control and flexibility the event organizer wants. The pricing structure has 3 levels: Present+ ($145 per month, up to 500 attendees), Producer+ ($495 per month, up to 5,000 attendees) and Enterprise (no set price – quote needed, for up to 50,000 attendees).
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