2013年7月31日星期三

Suriya interaction with US Fans through video conference - SINGAM2 Success

Milpitas, California: On the special occasion of SINGAM2's 25th Day of continuous screening as well as 100th Show in California Bay Area (San Francisco and San Jose), Suriya joined his US fans from his house at Chennai through web based video conferencing and spent two hours of wonderful interaction with a wide spectrum of fans ranging from four years old child to 50+ years old seniors living in California Bay Area (San Francisco and San Jose area).

Venkatesh Babu, Exhibitor of SINGAM2 for North California (Bay Area and Sacramento) on behalf of ATMUS entertainment, organized this desktop video conferencing with the great support from Suriya and his team. The interaction between Suriya and his fans was very lively and enjoyable. Each fan came with their family and sat in front of the video camera and interacted directly with Suriya by asking questions, while everyone else were watching both Suriya and the fan (asking question) side-by-side in the big screen of Serra Theatres, Milpitas, where the video conference was conducted by the Exhibitor, as shown in the enclosed photo.


Suriya was very open and honest, and gave detailed answers to all the questions from the fans. While answering to kids, he really answered with tremendous amount of happiness! For elders, he gave lot of respect while answering their questions. When a teenage fan put in a request, Suriya instantly delivered the most popular SINGAM punch dialogue "Singatha photo-la paathiruppa, cinema-la paathiruppa...ongi adichaa onra ton weightu-da...paakuriyaa..." with the same furious expressions. Wow! It was a unique enjoyable moment for all the fans attending the hd video conferencing.

Suriya has created records through SINGAM2 and this interactive event through online video conferencing is also a record as this is the first time, a big movie star is interacting with his US based Fans through video conference just like how US Corporations conduct meetings with their India IT team.

On behalf of all the California Bay Area Fans, the exhibitor would like to sincerely thank Suriya for spending his valuable time from his busy schedule and interact with his fans. Its indeed a memorable experience for all the fans who interacted with Suriya and the level of respect for Suriya has increased multi-fold among the fans! Hats off to Suriya and best wishes for all success! Special thanks to Serra Theaters for allowing their facility to conduct the Internet video conferencing right after screening the 100th Bay Area Show of SINGAM2.

2013年7月30日星期二

Consortium uses video conferencing to connect workers, companies, educators

Since January 2007, thousands of manufacturing workers in Minnesota have either lost their jobs due to foreign trade or are in danger of job loss.
Manufacturers across the region are experiencing a severe skills gap – they can find plenty of lower-skilled workers but high-skilled technicians in advanced manufacturing disciplines are scarce.
To attack this trend, Central Lakes College of Staples and Brainerd, along with Pine Technical College of Pine City and St. Cloud Technical and Community College, formed a Minnesota consortium with fellow members of the state’s 360 Manufacturing and Applied Engineering Center of Excellence at Bemidji State University and other schools in the Minnesota State College and University System.
Last year, the consortium created the Regional Advanced Manufacturing Re-Training program, the results of which aim to directly lead to high-wage, high-skilled employment outcomes for more than 3,900 workers in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Playing a central role in the overall education program is video guidance, a leading strategic visual communications company based in Bloomington, Minn. Video Guidance will deploy a new telepresence web based video conferencing system, funded through a Federal Department of Labor TAACCCT (Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training) grant awarded to the consortium, which will connect companies and colleges to upgrade skills of the manufacturing workforce.
College Manufacturing Faculty, in cooperation with Adult Basic Education and College Developmental Education personnel, will offer introductory, core manufacturing courses to expand the educated labor pool. Enhanced online courses will emphasize advanced manufacturing areas of machining, metals, plastics and composites, automation technology and rapid prototyping. The plan is to educate Veterans, and TAA-impacted and other dislocated workers.
In addition to dozens of companies and industry partners, the program also enlists public workforce system partners, including Veterans organizations.

2013年7月29日星期一

Researchers find video conference job interviews bad for companies and candidates

Job applicants interviewed through online video conferencing come across as less likeable, a new study from the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University has found.

The study, conducted by Greg Sears and Haiyan Zhang when they were PhD students at DeGroote, shows that using Internet video conferencing for job interviews disadvantages both employers and candidates.
With use of hd video conferencing growing—in recent surveys 50% up to 65% of employers have reported using the technology for job interviews—the DeGroote study raises cautions about widespread use of video conferencing in recruitment.
In simulated job interviews, candidates who were interviewed by video-conferencing were rated lower by interviewers and were less likely to be recommended for hiring. On the other side of the webcam, candidates also rated their interviewers as less attractive, personable, trustworthy and competent.
"Increasingly, video technology is being used in employment interviewing because companies feel it provides convenience and cost savings. Despite their growing use, our study shows that desktop video conferencing interviews are not equivalent to face-to-face interviews," explains Sears, now an associate professor at the Sprott School of Business.
Accurate assessments of candidates and positive evaluations of interviewers are essential as organizations compete for talent. Candidates who evaluate their interviewers more positively are more likely to accept a job offer.
Study co-author Willi Wiesner, associate professor of human resources at DeGroote, says, "These findings suggest that using multipoint video conferencing can adversely affect both applicant reactions and interviewer judgments. Video conferencing places technological barriers between applicants and interviewers. Employers and applicants should work to reduce the barriers that arise through video conferencing and improve the interpersonal aspects of the interview process."
The researchers recommend that web based video conferencing be used only for preliminary screening interviews. Final selection of candidates should be conducted through face-to-face interviews.
The study is published in the journal Management Decision. The research was funded by the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).
McMaster University, one of four Canadian universities listed among the Top 100 universities in the world, is renowned for its innovation in both learning and discovery. It has a student population of 28,000, and more than 159,000 alumni in 139 countries.
10 tips for using video conferencing for job interviews
  • Use the same interview approach on all candidates who are competing for the same job. Don't interview some by video and some in person. Candidates might first be interviewed using video technology, with successful candidates invited for on-site face-to-face interviews.
  • Both interviewers and applicants should use the best equipment and internet connections they can afford to lessen delays or technical limitations which can lead to conversations becoming less fluid or interactive.
  • Body language is important, but facial expressions are most important. Ensure that cameras are positioned close enough to catch facial expressions of both the interviewer and the candidate.
  • Because people are looking at the image of the other individual on the screen and not the webcams mounted at the top of their screens participants report a lack of eye contact in VC interviews. Place the webcam as close to eye level as possible.
  • The lack of physical proximity, signal compression, and participants' nervousness in communicating via technology tend to make for stilted, flat communication. Just as screen actors need to be particularly expressive with their faces and voices in order to convey feelings or emotions on camera, interviewers and applicants should be more expressive than usual. Practice nodding more noticeably, smiling more broadly, making greater use of hand gestures, varying vocal pitch, tonality and emphasis.
  • Given the added novelty and nervousness that may occur from a VC interview, preparation is key. Practice with readily available technology, such as Skype or FaceTime. Conduct "mock interviews" with friends and family.
  • To make a good impression on a candidate, interviewers should take extra time at the start of the interview to outline the process and engage in small-talk to allow the applicant to get comfortable with the technology.
  • Add a more personal touch to the selection process. Provide candidates with an informational video showing existing employees and their work/non-work activities. Allow candidates to speak directly with employees about their experience at the company.
  • Have a notetaker, so that the interviewer does not further distance him or herself from the applicant by constantly looking down.
  • Reserve cloud-based video conferencing for preliminary screening interviews. Final selection is still a job for face-to-face interviews.
Article Source: Researchers find video conference job interviews bad for companies and candidates

2013年7月28日星期日

The increasing benefits of video collaboration for enterprise

Video collaboration is by no means a new concept, but it’s one that’s becoming increasingly relevant to modern enterprises in a competitive marketplace. This is not only because faster internet speeds and the advent of the cloud has increased the necessity and ease of collaborative working practice, but it is also being driven by strong mobile and tablet growth.
A study carried out earlier in the year by Wainhouse, End-User Survey: The ‘Real’ Benefits of Video found that Internet video conferencing is also being used more and more by enterprises in order to make contact with clients and partners.
Video Collaboration in the Enterprise

Of the 5000 asked, more than two-thirds of them said that they use video services in such a way. Indeed, it seems that video can be put to good use across various enterprise departments, as HR executives reported that it’s often being used to conduct interviews too.
This is ideal for finding candidates in other locations, especially since the skills gap remains glaringly wide in the UK.
Today’s talent is digital savvy and wants to be able to use video alongside mobile in order to create a collaborative work environment that means they can perform at their best. When mobile is thrown into the mix, this is even more the case, especially since video streaming is increasingly taking up more internet traffic.
Security representing a barrier?
For some time now a barrier to widespread adoption of online video collaboration has been based on concerns over performance and security. For the former, this is becoming less of a problem as the world continues to adopt faster internet speeds. However, the latter remains an issue for some CIOs, especially with BYOD meaning that many employees can carry out video collaboration using personal devices.
In the past, solutions such as using a series of cloud gateways that allow workers to connect to the enterprises video network have been considered and rejected, and so has the idea of providing a basic video client for download. The problem that has been found with these solutions range from limited functionality alongside questionable security. In essence these solutions are not business grade solutions and are therefore unsuitable for enterprise use.
However, as web based video conferencing has matured, so too has the approach to ensuring an agile and secure business solution. A web browser can be used by all employees who need to connect to the video network, no matter where they are or on what device.
This involves users connecting natively to a cloud-based secure video network and allows for a robust collaboration experience which allows users to access full enterprise features, such as contacts, once they have logged into the network.
This can be done even with users that initially access video using consumer products such as Skype. The difference then is that they are discovered and connected on a secure URL, rather than just the internet connection wherever they are situated.
Solutions tailored to each organisation
The beauty of this is that, depending on the chosen video vendor, different bespoke solutions can be offered for each organisation or industry. For example, the legal profession and the healthcare industry will have specific regulations that they will have to adhere closely to.
Independent systems integrators specialising in video collaboration, like Videocall, will work closely with such organisations in order to ensure that all regulatory conditions are met, without compromising on performance. This allows for a level of collaboration that can significantly increase productivity.
Whilst in the past, desktop video conferencing has been subject to dropped or poor quality connections, the use of a common browser to connect users has done away with this. Further to this, consumer video solutions such as Skype and Google Talk have always had the potential for security issues, which is unacceptable to the enterprise.
Reduced costs for business travel
In addition to the obvious benefits to productivity, a hd video conferencing facility that is secure and suitable for enterprise use can save a significant amount on travel for many companies. It’s estimated that companies spend around £600 per employee on business travel, but with video conferencing this is no longer necessary.
Given the reduced costs that cloud services can also offer to businesses of all sizes, this means that today’s modern enterprise can significantly improve margins and increase competition amongst medium and large enterprises.
The benefits of choosing a well-respected service provider that can offer unified solutions which are agile and secure, as well as having the ability to allow regulatory issues to be addressed means that enterprises can take advantage of online video conferencing to ensure strong growth in the future.

2013年7月26日星期五

6 myths stifling videoconferencing growth in business and government

What priorities do businesses and government agencies share in common?  Head and shoulders above the rest, few would argue against higher productivity and lower costs.

Findings from Mobile Work Exchange show that web based video conferencing can deliver massive potential improvements on both counts.





Mobile Work Exchange’s September 2012 research found that if half of all federal government workers used desktop video conferencing, they would achieve an average productivity increase of 3.5 hours per week, shave about $4.95 billion from annual travel costs, and in total save an estimated $8 billion a year.  In the wake of these findings, Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick and others are promoting a new bill highlighting videoconferencing as a way to reduce Federal Government travel spending by 50%.  The title of the bill says it all: the Stay In Place, Cut the Waste Act of 2013

There’s no denying the obvious benefits –- less travel, lower costs, higher productivity rates — and they apply just as much to businesses as to government.

So why are organizations of all kinds not adopting videoconferencing en masse and why do analyst reports paint a gloomy picture of the traditional online video conferencing market? Infonetics Research described 2012 as a ‘rotten’ year for the industry and IDC’s report for the first quarter of this year illustrates a similar lack of growth.

The problem stems from a market that has for long been polarized and now, with a plethora of new offerings, is confused as well. Until recently, there were very few viable alternatives for the middle ground between high end, high cost, high maintenance boardroom installations and software-based systems like Skype or FaceTime.  Now an avalanche of newer products with widely differing functions and formats are aiming to serve the beyond-the-boardroom hd video conferencing needs of small conference rooms, cash-strapped government agencies and remote collaboration teams.

This new wave of Internet video conferencing comes not a minute too soon.
Even organizations with videoconferencing facilities already in place only have them in 5% of available meeting rooms – primarily because of the high cost of adding to a traditional system, or because more affordable systems did not work with what was already there.  Person-to-person systems don’t serve the need of group meetings, as anyone who has crouched three to a chair behind a PC screen or held up a laptop to a whiteboard can attest. There is pent-up demand for videoconferencing from an estimated 20 million secondary conference rooms worldwide.  So what’s keeping more organizations from getting connected?

Too many options is one reason. How to choose between cloud-based, virtualized, software-centric, browser-based or HDTV-based systems?   The biggest problem lies in what people think they know, but actually don't.

These are the six top misconceptions muddying the videoconferencing waters.
1.  Video conferencing equipment is very expensive
No longer true.  Even on a small budget, you can hold out for high quality, business-class equipment that doesn’t require a resident Einstein to make it work.  Standards-based, multi-point video conferencing, content sharing and security is available at less than $1,000 per room via some of the newest, all-in-one systems that have been introduced in the last few months.

2. You need a specialized video infrastructure and that’s a major cost
Again, not true. New product options mean you can use a virtual cloud-based infrastructure instead of making a heavy investment in servers and other hardware.  Some new offerings work both with existing, in-house infrastructures as well as the cloud.

3.  Video conferencing is complicated and needs dedicated IT support every time it’s used
Newer solutions are designed for the least technical of users.  Lightest on IT support (and budgets) are the latest all-in-one, HDTV-based systems.  Because they don’t need to be connected to a PC with separate speakers, microphone and camera, they are easier to use than your average cable TV remote.

4.  New room systems must be the same brand as existing boardroom video systems
Not any more.  Newer, standard based videoconferencing solutions work with most of the traditional cloud-based video conferencing vendors’ equipment and will connect multiple different systems – even mobile users – to sync up with whatever you (or your partners and clients) already have in the boardroom, without missing a beat.

5.  We need to decide between cloud-based and on-premise options
See Item 2 above.   Cloud-based and on-premise options are now available on the same appliance-based solutions.  And you can mix and match these options in different conference rooms within the same organization.

6.  With so much discussion about WebRTC, shouldn’t I wait for that to be commercially available?If you’re willing to wait a while, go ahead. WebRTC is exciting, but it is still some time away from being a universal standard. When it matures, it will be incorporated into a number of upcoming offerings. For immediate desktop video conferencing needs, buy a system from a vendor that’s committed to a universal standard with WebRTC, SIP and emerging standards in their roadmap.

If more of us (Federal purchasing departments included) understood the truth concealed behind these myths, we might see hd video conferencing begin to make some major contributions to US and global productivity and cost reduction.

Article Source: 6 myths stifling videoconferencing growth in business and government

2013年7月25日星期四

Infographic: businesses beginning to utilize the power of video conferencing

The business world and the way business meetings are conducted are evolving. What was once thousands of dollars worth of time and travel expenses is now being replaced with amazing web based video conferencing.
With the rise of desktop video conferencing business owners around the globe are making the switch to video conferencing over wifi. But don’t take our word for it, check out the infographic below:

2013年7月24日星期三

27 webinar softwares for small business owners

When combined with great resources, useful downloads, and soft sell approaches, webinars offer a way to engage prospects and customers at a higher level.
Here are 26 webinar services for you to consider.  Most of these define meetings differently from webinars, in both number of participants and pricing,  so if you simply want to run an internal meeting with remote users there are affordable options within this set of providers.
Most of these offer the ability for you to present from a video camera (web cam) or just from your computer microphone via VOIP or via a regular phone. Most do not recommend calling in from a cell phone if you’re the presenter/moderator.  All of these allow you to share your screen, which is usually at the core of any webinar presentation.
Six heavy hitters:
The first five are the well-known heavy hitters in the webinar platform world.  They offer a track record and stability that you have to admire, but if you happen to need other options, we include 21 more!
1. CUMeeting is a powerful but easy-to-use web based video conferencing software, let you connect with anyone, anywhere and anytime to help you save time and money, enhance communication and collaboration and improve work productivity and revenue etc for almost all industries business, government, education, finance department, healthcare etc.
2. Verizon Small Business Web Conferencing is part of the Verizon Business focus. You can join the collaboration center and get online meetings and more starting at $24/month, but you need to call a small business representative to get pricing on the web conferencing platform.
3. Microsoft Office Live Meeting starts at $4.50 per user, per month with a 5 person minimum.  Its standard version allows up to 250 webinar participants. There is no setup fee and with a Windows Live registration you can try it out for free.
4. Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro has a reputation of being one of the most elegant conferencing solutions and wins awards regularly.  It works as a webinar tool, but adds e-learning components if you need to track how people interact with your material and if they complete certain courses. They offer a 30-day free trial. Monthly fees start at $45, but they also offer a pay-per-use pricing plan which is nice.
5. Cisco WebEx offers unlimited meetings a month for up to 25 people is $49/month.  They are one of the best known web conferencing solutions and offer mobile access (even from an iPhone or iPad), attendee polls, and all the other cool features you hope for in a webinar.  I’ve used this service a great deal for one-on-one meetings with sales prospects. Offers a 14-day free trial.
6. GoToWebinar is probably the service I’ve used the most and had good experiences for webinars. Their pricing model changed recently (increased) and that’s probably the only deterrent for small business.  For up to 100 attendees, it is now $100/month.  For up to 15 people, you can use the GoToMeeting service at $49/month. Free trial for 30 days.
Up and coming webinar platforms
One of the distinguishing features of the newer webinar and collaborative technologies is that they require no download of additional software or lengthy plugins – they run in a regular browser. I’ve tried and like GatherPlace, Dimdim, and Brainshark, but the others all have bits and pieces worth considering if you’re shopping for an affordable small business webinar solution.
7. GatherPlace I like their focus on small business and simple-to-understand pricing model.  They offer a free trial with no credit card and I’m using it with part of my Sales Kickstart webinar series.  Pricing starts at $29/month for up to 5 users.  You can run it in a java-enabled browser (most are) or download a small application from them.  I like the obvious pricing tab on the site (shown here in screenshot).
8. Dimdim is one of the new webinar players on the market. They have created an open platform with a forever free plan for up to 20 users.  Paid plan starts at $25 for up to 50 people.
9. Tokbox defines itself as a video chat service, but it does most of the same, if not all, of the things a webinar service offers.  Basic video chat for up to 20 people is free.  Share presentations, documents and videos.  Send pre-recorded video messages.
10. Brainshark These guys are in a category all their own. As I view them, they are a webinar platform, but one that offers major tracking capabilities. You don’t conduct live meetings with them, but create the material and then allow people to consume it as they want, on-demand.  You can then see what and how your attendee uses and moves through the content.  Sort of like Slideshare, on steroids.
11. Fuze is figuring out the mobile aspect of running a meeting better than almost any of the other webinar platforms.  You can instantly start a meeting from your iPhone or certain Blackberry models.  You can snap a photo and share it in your meeting, too.  Runs great from a desktop.  30-day Free trial, then starts at $29/month for up to 25 users.  Oh, last cool feature Fuze Fetch: You give them attendee phone numbers and they call them for you.
12. Freebinar I’m testing Freebinar along with others listed here.  They have a forever free plan for up to 150 people per meeting/webinar. Unlimited number of meetings.  They have an advertiser-based model to support the forever free plan.  Browser based and also has custom registration form options, which is a good feature.
13. MegaMeeting is a high end web conferencing platform that offers a standard subscription that’s good for small business. They also offer the software for purchase and use on your own servers. It comes at a high price point, but if your business depends on webinars it might be worth a look. Offer a free trial and then plans start at $45/month for up to 3 users.
14. Free Conference Calling There are times when you don’t want all the screensharing and video options and just need a conference calling option, so I’ve included one that looks pretty dependable and robust.  Also, you may have some screen sharing capability and only need the phone portion. This would be on to look at.
15. ReadyTalk calls itself a white glove solution.  It offers a 30-day free trial and then $49/month for up to 15 users.  They call it white glove because they offer a event support for your important high value events, so you’re not alone in trying to coordinate the many details that often go with supporting a webinar.
16. Zoho offers a completely free one-on-one online meeting option and then prices start at $12/month for up to five users.  That is one of the best prices in the market.  They also offer a cool feature called Embed Meeting so you can insert the meeting details into your website or blog and actually conduct the meeting right there.
17. Yugma is one of the innovators in the small business webinar space.  They are one of the only webinar platforms I’ve seen that offers a special subscription for Skype.  They offer a completely free option and then prices start at 14.95/month for up to 20 users. They have a special running until the end of April 2010 for only $75/year for the 20 user package – that’s 50% off.
18. IBM Lotus Unyte.  Okay, these guys are clearly 800 pound gorillas and should be listed above, but hardly anyone I knew realized IBM had a webinar platform.  They offer a free 30-day trial with unlimited use for up to 14 people.  They also offer a completely free one-on-one option that you can use for desktop sharing.  Events subscription starts at $99/month.
19. Elluminate offers a few different online collaboration products and has an e-learning background.  So if your program or offering has an educational focus, then their products might be very useful. They offer a free trial and product starts at $499/year for up to 50 users.
20. Intercall is an audio, video and web conference tool and I was impressed with the iPhone and Blackberry add-ons they have built into it.  They have a Small Business Plan section that they just introduced and it starts at $39/month for unlimited webinars.  Free trial, of course.  Also, they offer a pay-as-you-go for 17 cents per minute/per user which might appeal when you only need something every now and then.
21. Saba offers Saba Centra which has an eMeetings option which is good for up to 25 people at $59/month and then bigger packages, if you need them. They offer mobile phone options, too.  It appears to be more like some of the heavy hitters above, but since they were not as well known I listed them here.  Free 30-day trial.
22. Nefsis makes some bold claims that they are more powerful than Webex and so it made me pay closer attention.  Having done a bunch of webinars,  many platforms can have issues with audio feedback.  This is when you have someone with an open microphone somewhere and it causes static and screeching.  Nefsis states they’ve solved this.  They offer a free trial but their pricing is at the higher end of the scale for SMBs: $70 per user, per month.  It might fit a specific need for the advanced small business owner doing remote meetings and webinars.
Customizable webinar platforms
These last five appear to be more customizable.  I could not find pricing information without a demo or talking to a sales rep, but the home page summaries inspired me to include them.
23. iLinc offers e-learning, webinars, meetings and a way to tie it all into Salesforce.com and create a great customer tracking option.  This will be an important option for many small businesses that have automated much of their marketing work.  They offer a free 30-day trial.
24. STREAM57 is a Flash webcasting software product that appears to be quite robust and high quality (the demos I saw look like professional newscasts).
25. StageToWeb offers a technology platform for your web events and much more.  It is a high end custom solution and they help you set up a virtual room and there’s live support to guide you through an event.
26. PGi Better Meetings appears to offer several solutions — its own, plus Adobe, Microsoft and other webinar products as part of its custom approach.
27. Dialcom offers a collaboration software tool called Spontania that is a client-server solution.  There was no pricing available, but it is used by many large corporations and some smaller ones.  They offer some useful case studies to show how banks, healthcare, and manufacturers have used their video conferencing and collaboration software.
Let us know which platform or service you like and use in the comments.  We love hearing from you.

2013年7月23日星期二

Video conferencing moving to smart gadgets, influenced by social networks

The rise in popularity of social networking over the past few years has meant that web based video conferencing is now moving away from the boardroom and on to handheld gadgets such as smartphones and tablets, according to an industry expert.

Thep Ritrangkla, regional manager of Polycom Thailand, told the Bangkok Post that the success of the likes of Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Google+ alongside the astronomical sales of smart wireless devices means that demand for conferencing facilities is being reshaped.


The company is taking advantage of this through its real-presence cloud software which allows contacts from social media networks and business email to be included in a video call.

Mr Ritrangkla explained that in the past conferencing would have just been used with an internal system, however, it is now possible to expand the service to any IP telephony connection to dial in to suppliers, partners and customers.

He turned to a recent survey by Wainhouse Research which revealed that almost three-quarters of respondents said that they used a PC of laptop as their primary device for video conferencing, while the rest opted to use their smartphone or tablet.

And it is these smart devices which are set to take a chunk out of the PC and laptop share over the course of the next year, with "on the move" desktop video conferencing at airports, hotels and train stations becoming just as popular as the boardroom for hosting calls.

Online video conferencing could also be set to grow in the recruitment sphere, with consultants carrying out interviews with applicants via specialist software. Websites such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook are being used to promote job opportunities, and it is this social media influence which Mr Ritrangkla referred to which could see this sector change for good.

In the future, customer services departments might also make use of video calls to answer queries of customers and carry out product demonstrations before they then buy online.

Article Source: Video conferencing moving to smart gadgets, influenced by social networks

2013年7月22日星期一

Six Best Web Based Video Chat Services


If you need a little face time with friends and family that live far away, firing up a video chat has never been easier. These days you don’t even need to install an app or download a heavy client — many services let you open a browser and start chatting within seconds, no matter where you are in the world. This week we’re going to look at five services that give you the best, fastest and most hassle-free video chatting experience


1. CUMeeting

 With CUMeeting video chat with video chat software, you can host your personal chat room or join another person. Besides, you can have PC-to-PC callings which allow you to make a call anyone PC and chat with them just exactly as you will talk on phone. Apart from this, CUMeeting are customized in order to express oneself with effects of texts, emotions and many more.  CUMeeting have the latest program such as pc-to-phone calling which permit anyone to call any phone anywhere right from your computer screen.

2. Google Hangouts




When it Google Hangouts was introduced back in 2011, we praised it as one of the most seamless, easy-to-use video chat services we’d ever seen. That’s still true: If you have a Google account, you can use Hangouts, and while it was initially only a part of Google+ (and remains an integral part of that service), Hangouts is available as a stand-alone Android app and iOS app and accessible from inside Gmail. You’ll need a browser plugin for Hangouts to work, but that’s it — no desktop installation, no client you have to run at startup, and no additional accounts.

Inviting other people to hang out is as easy as emailing them, and if they have Google accounts as well, it’s even easier. Add in the fact that Google Hangouts lets you share your desktophas built-in apps for drawing, collaboration and other featuressupports screen sharing> and is a great online meeting service, and you have a powerhouse tool. Impressive for something that’s just over two years old.

3. Facebook Video Chat


Facebook Video Chat launched in 2011 as a simple and easy way to stay in touch with the friends you already have on a social network you already use. It requires a tiny browser plugin to work, and while it doesn’t offer the battery of tools that some of the other services discussed here offer, it does have the big advantage a massive built-in friends list that you don’t have to re-add or invite to a service in order to video chat with you. Since it’s powered on the back end by Skype, Facebook didn’t have to reinvent the wheel. Depending on who you ask, that’s a good or a bad thing, but many readers find Facebook Video Chat offers smooth video and crisp audio. Being powered by Skype also means that Skype desktop users can video chat with Facebook users, share their screens with them, and enable full HD calling if you have an HD webcam attached to your computer.

4. AnyMeeting



Strictly, AnyMeeting is more of a videoconferencing service than a video chat service, but it fills the role well enough to score a place on the list. It’s lightweight, and only requires a browser plugin to work. The basic version is free but ad-supported, and you’ll see occasional nagging to suggest a upgrade to the $US18/month “Pro 25″ account or the $US78/month “Pro 200″ account. Pro accounts remove the ads, bump up the number of people you can have in a videoconference simultaneously (to 25 and 200 respectively), and add the option to record your meetings and web conferences for future playback. While Google Hangouts can go “On Air” on YouTube, you’re still limited to 10 active participants and 100 people in a group Hangout (if you’re broadcasting, more people can watch). With AnyMeeting, even free accounts can bring 200 people to the party (you just can’t record your meeting). Screen sharing, presentation uploading, YouTube video sharing, and a custom URL for your account and all of your meetings are some of the other features the service offers. You can check out the plans here

5. Meetings.io

If the other services discussed here seem overburdened with features, and all you really want is a hassle-free way to video chat with a loved one — perhaps a technologically-challenged loved one — Meetings.io may be perfect for you. We’ve highlighted the service before, and praised it for offering no-signup-required, no-plugin-or-install-required, easy-to-access one-click video chats, and the service has only improved better since then. While you can log in and create an account if you wish, the real beauty of Meetings.io is that you don’t have to get people all using the same service or signed in to Google or Facebook for it to work. Click a button, start a meeting, send everyone the link via email or SMS, and when they click they’re dropped right into the discussion. Chat organisers can approve participants as they see fit, and share video, audio and notes with other people in the chat. All you need is Flash for the service to work. It’s not the most feature-rich or robust of the services in the roundup, but it’s definitely one of the simplest.



6. TinyChat

TinyChat is part free videochat service and part social network. There’s a massive, thriving community of people all over the world using TinyChat’s free chat rooms and video broadcasting services. Starting a chat couldn’t be easier — just click the button at the top of the page for an instant chat room. TinyChat doesn’t require you download and install anything — it uses Flash to access your camera and microphone. When you do start a chat, you’re prompted to share it on Facebook or your other social networks. If you opt to sign up for a TinyChat account, you can add friends, connect with other people or link with your social networks. Upgrade to Pro for $US10/month or $US85/year to strip out the ads, add camera filters and effects, enable higher quality video, and get your broadcasts (if they’re public) bumped up in the global directory. TinyChat is a tough sell — it can be a powerful tool and it’s a huge network, but it does a lot of nagging for you to share and annoy your friends on Facebook, and some of the content can be questionable too. Your mileage may vary.


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2013年7月21日星期日

6 reasons why your business needs video conferencing

Video Conferencing can help your Small to Mid Sized Business

Web based video conferencing gives businesses of all sizes the tools they need to succeed in this fast paced, communication rich business environment. Web conferencing can be especially important for small to mid-sized businesses and organizations because of the ability it gives you to go the extra mile and add a personal touch for your customers and clients. Going the extra mile can be what sets your organization apart from your competition. Listed are 6 reasons why your business needs video conferencing.

1. Video Conferencing Goes Where You Go

Online Anywhere Anytime
Web conferencing allows you to work no matter where you are. Business never stops, and with online video conferencing you can stay connected!  If you have a meeting scheduled with clients from across the globe and in another time-zone, don’t get stuck in the office after hours waiting for the meeting! Many conferencing products and software offer mobile applications so that you can connect to meetings via your smartphone.  Many of these applications offer the same features as the desktop applications and the same video quality.  

2. Easily Share Documents and Data

screen shareDesktop video conferencing also allows you to easily share information and data with clients or co-workers, no matter their location! Gone are the days when you were required to fax information or email information, and wonder if your fellow meeting participant received the documents in time. 

Online video conferencing products offer a file-sharing tool, where you can share documents or spreadsheets instantly, within the conferencing software. This tool ensures that your client or coworker not only received the documents, but that they have access to them during the actual meeting.  You may need certain data and documents to be reviewed at certain time, and this tool makes sure that the documents are reviewed at the time of your choosing. This is key in ensuring that the agenda of the meeting is covered and that you can effectively get your point across to your video conference participants.

3. Web Conferencing Makes Training Easier

Small to mid sized businesses and organizations often hire new employees, and the training process for these new employees can be arduous, especially if your organization has multiple offices across a large area. With web conferencing tools, like Adobe Connect, you can ensure that your organization’s training process remains consistent, no matter the location. Train new or existing employees effectively and efficiently at any time with web conferencing software. This process will improve your training sessions as well as cut costs.

4. Show New Products & Services Efficiently

ProductDemo
HD video conferencing showcases new products or software to client and prospective customers. With the file sharing tool as well as the 1080p High Definition video display you can jump on a meeting with clients and show them your new product and all that is has to offer, while enabling them to give you live, real time feedback. Using online conferencing can develop interested clients into new customers. 

5. Cut Travel Costs

cut costs
With Internet video conferencing you can connect to meetings in the office, on the road or at home with the many desktop and mobile applications that are available. Before video conferencing, organizations had to spend large amounts of money on travel costs for meetings within an organization, or when having to meet with customers across the country or globe. Now, you can attend meetings from your home or office, and you can cut travel costs and improve your organization’s bottom line. For small to mid sized businesses this is an invaluable asset to have.

6. Stay in Touch

Online video conferencing software is a useful tool for your business to keep in touch with those both internally and externally in your organization. Whether it is a shareholder, investor, co-worker or client, video conferencing keeps a constant communication channel open between you and those important to your business. Reach them easily at any time with the click of a button. Communication and collaboration will never be easier as it is with web conferencing.

2013年7月18日星期四

Plugin-free vdeo conferencing now in Chrome Beta Android

Google is growing ever so closer in bringing the Chrome desktop experience to Android. The company said that the latest browser beta release for the mobile platform now supports WebRTC and the Web Audio API. That means web developers can create real-time communications applications that can be used within the Chrome browser on Android devices without the need for a plugin.
"WebRTC enables real-time communication such as web based video conferencing in the browser," the Chrome team said on Tuesday. "It consists of three independent components: getUserMedia, which provides access to the user’s webcam and microphone; PeerConnection, which sets up calls with the ability to traverse NATs and firewalls; and DataChannels, which establishes peer-to-peer data communication between browsers."
These three features have resided in Chrome for Desktop for quite some time, but now they're also baked into the latest beta for Chrome on Android. Developers essentially have a whole new audience based on smartphones and tablets that can access the same apps they've developed for Chrome on desktop. Watching Google's I/O presentation and making calls within the browser are just two examples.
Also introduced to the new Chrome beta for Android is the Web Audio API. This is a high-level JavaScript API for processing and synthesizing audio, and allows web developers to implement professional-quality audio production applications and modern game audio engines. A MIDI Synth demo is already up a running to show how the API works, but it will only work on Android devices with an ARM-based SoC that supports NEON optimizations.
The new features in Google's Chrome beta, which is located on Google Play here, is one step closer to bringing a unified experience across multiple form factors and operating systems. Online video conferencing using a browser and no additional-plugins or space-eating stand-alone apps, even on a smartphone, is a huge step forward. It will be interesting to see what developers do with these new tools.

2013年7月17日星期三

Huawei TE30 brings plug-and-play to video conferencing

Web based video conferencing is without doubt a time and money saving facility for today's businesses. But it comes with a lot of excess baggage in the form of wires and other paraphernalia. It also exposes the slow bandwidths and low IT skills of these small outfits.

The Huawei TE30 is being touted as a plug-and-play all-in-one video conference solution which tries to fill all these gaps. It is not much bigger than a high-end HD webcam, but comes with the codecs, camera and microphone array all built in. But is it as easy as the company touts it to be? Are there really no cables?

Huawei TE30 makes video conferencing easy

Yes, the TE30 can be set up in under five minutes and you just need a single wire for the same. The HDMI out and LAN connections all end up in a connected box down the line. But you can do without the LAN cable for instance as this has a Wi-Fi option too, easily latching on to the wireless network. Huawei has loaded this device with a new 3D user interface that is quite easy to navigate and understand. But one needs to have a good grasp of the IP addresses within your organisation to be able to connect with colleagues in other locations. Thankfully, there is a wizard to handhold you through the first installation with displays being projected on the connected LCD.

You can give IP addresses names to use the unique voice dialling facility. It could easily pick up my accent as I placed a call to an address in Bangalore. The device uses Video Motion Enhancement and H.264 HP compression to give video quality even at 512 kbps. Even at these speeds you can use the remote to control the camera at the other end. The pan and zoom functions works smoothly. The zoom quality also highlights the camera which gives good detail even in low light conditions. 

The picture quality is really good and the microphone captures sounds within a six-meter radius. Since audio quality is often a problem hampering the success of desktop video conferencing, the TE30 comes with the ability to add up to three additional microphones. Huawei claims the system is inter-operable with other standard endpoints like Lync2010 and Skype.

Huawei, which has just entered the enterprise segment in India, is wooing small business with its new compact offering. However, they have not yet divulged the price of the device, which they claim is at least 15 per cent cheaper that other solutions for the same audience.

Article Source: Huawei TE30 brings plug-and-play to video conferencing

2013年7月16日星期二

CUMeeting introduces cloud-based video conferencing software

Individuals, organizations and businesses now have an option to switch to CUMeeting, a cloud-based video conferencing solution that helps in conducting online meetings, teaching, training, presentations or hosting webinars.
CUMeeting — a flagship product from CUMeeting Inc. — is compatible with Android  OS-based devices, iPads and iPhones. It also supports up to 16-way videos, as well as 720p & 1080p high definition flawlessly.
The new CUMeeting web conferencing software allows participants to view their actions on the desktop in real time, view selected applications and files including PowerPoint, Word, Excel, PDF, TEXT, Image and more. Users also have an option to send files to participants or receive files from a presenter.
The new video conferencing software also supports a whiteboard feature that enables users to add annotations, highlight any specific content on the presentation (support Image, PDF, Word, Excel and PowerPoint), and add notes on a virtual whiteboard. Annotations can be reviewed in real time. Users can also play the most formats including MP3, RM, RMB, WMV, ASF, AVI, etc.
In addition to these features, the meeting host can use this new software to allow any participants to access and control the presenter’s computer from a remote location. If a participant’s camera supports PTZ control, CUMeeting web conferencing software allows them to zoom in and out participant’s camera and adjust the camera’s position with remote control.
This solution also supports texting, through which presenters and attendees can communicate during the meeting through private or public chat.
“CUMeeting is dedicated to offering users the best web-based video conferencing experience,” said the CUMeeting development team.
Company officials said that they are currently offering the new CUMeeting online video conferencing for a starting price of $19/month (hosting eight attendees), but that’s subject to change depending on the requirements.
CUMeeting Inc. is a professional video SaaS provider dedicated to make video collaboration and services ubiquitous worldwide customers