8 Common Challenges of Video Conferencing for Virtual Teams

Video conferencing is one of the most popular virtual communications. It has enabled numerous organizations and enterprises to communicate with each other without face to face connection.



With video conferencing, employees have an exciting way to communicate. However, there’re always both benefits and challenges for everything and it makes no difference to video conferencing. Basically, there are mainly 8 challenges of video conferencing for virtual teams.

8 Challenges of Video Conferencing for Virtual Teams

1. Cultural barriers

Time and time again, differences in culture usually affect many aspects in our world. This is no different when it comes to video conferencing. It is one of the major challenges of video conferencing for virtual teams.



This is seen with the global virtual teams where communication is much more difficult between people from different cultural backgrounds.

2. Non-verbal cues

This is one of the top challenges of video conferencing for virtual teams. This is also seen with the global virtual teams mostly. To be coherent and understand what the other’s intended information, both verbal and non-verbal cues must be well known. It becomes a challenge if neither of the parties involved misunderstand the non-verbal cues.

3. Lack of collegiality

Most virtual team members often say that there is not enough time to even build a formal relationship during their virtual meetings. This always results in lack of collegiality amongst them.

4. Lack of trust in virtual team members

In addition to lack of collegiality that results from failure to build formal relationships, the lack of trust among the virtual team members is a very concerning. Thus, it makes it very difficult to build rapport.

5. Difficult decision making processes

This is another interpersonal challenge of video conferencing for virtual team members. Above 50% virtual team members claim that it is much more difficult to make decisions. It results from failure to express ideas or opinions on virtual teams.

6. Differences in time zones

An amazingly 70% of virtual team members claim that the difference in time zones is a strong barrier. We tend to forget on the different time zones that may clash with scheduled video conferencing schedules.

7. Slow internet connections

It may cause a huge problem when trying to establish a connection or during a communication process, the internet connection slows down.



8. Compatibility issues

It do exists compatibility issues with the video conferencing software. This has to top the list of challenges of video conferencing for virtual teams. It can be very stressful when trying to communicate and an unknown error occurs caused by the software or the computer device itself.

3 Solutions to Above-mentioned Challenges for Video conferencing

There are several ways that help to improve your video conferencing experience and reduce the challenges you face. Here I’d like to recommend 3 useful solutions for you.

1. Quality video conferencing software. If you face compatibility issues or unknown errors with the video conferencing software, you should replace it immediately with a more efficient one. 

For example, EZTalks video conferencing provide great functionalities and are very easy to use across the most common three Operating Systems—Android, iOS and Windows.

2. Try as much as possible to build rapport with your virtual teams. You can create an online profile directory for your team members to know more about them including their area of expertise and how they fit to the organization.

3. Use online charts and audio conferences to build a professional relationship with your tea.

Article Source: 8 Common Challenges of Video Conferencing for Virtual Teams

How to Securely Enable Enterprise File Sharing

EZTalks is a certified company that offers and delivers solution in mobile protection and productivity. Allowing users to securely access and share enterprise content, EZTalks prides itself in providing enterprise-class mobile file sharing which is secure. Its mobile version also helps business users to view more than 150 different types of files, share and edit files from an encrypted and secured location directly on tablets and smartphones. Clients can easily use opt for consumer grade solutions that, on the surface, those solutions would get the job done. However, EZTalks thinks differently and better.

We all need something that we can fully trust and rely on and that’s where EZTalks comes into play. EZTalks for Android and iOS just delivers a superior alternative to the ever cumbersome browser based apps that we know. Once a user downloads this mobile app, they just have to login and browse their work space in order to view and find relevant content using a simple yet effective intuitive interface. With the right privileges, EZTalks users have the luxury of downloading an encrypted file or editing a file for offline use. It should be noted that this is achieved without data connection or Wi-Fi. Users can then upload the edited file back to the EZTalks secure workplace.

In today's world, 97% of workers time and time again communicate and collaborate with others in their company as part of their daily routine. As the security stakes increase, clients, workers, and business partners are more dispersed and more is being done online and in digital format such as signing contracts and transmitting and submitting sensitive information.

EZTalks is providing the core file, networking and print services that are fundamental to any company or firm. Enterprise mobility has created an ever present need to keep employers and employees productive in and out of the working area, while at the same time ensuring that sensitive information and data is secure. EZTalks is focused on delivering solutions that keep businesses a step ahead of the major security concerns while at the same time leveraging the business's IT assets instead of the business having to invest in third party cloud solutions. It should be noted that mobility is critical and is equally as important as the need to protect the firm from the risks associated with users sharing information.

EZTalks wants to make it easier for users to access files in your existing storage systems regardless of where you are in the world. At the same time, it won’t compromise on manageability and security. All in all, enterprises are constantly facing new opportunities that require managing, sharing and storing of files and more, EZTalks is addressing all these needs.

Article Source: How to securely enable enterprise file sharing

Top 5 Tips for Running Effective Meetings

Drowsy and distracted, employees sitting around a conference room regardless of manager’s passionate marketing strategy for the coming month (see the picture below). Ironically, the traditional meeting used to brainstorm or overcome challenges should have become the top killer that reduces work efficiency in the office.





Therefore, here comes the era of video conferencing! It enhances attendees’ sense of participation by advancing the traditional one-to-many conference mode to one-to-one, which makes meeting much more productive. In the following, I’d like to list 5 useful tips for you to conduct effective meetings.


Tip 1: Choose Trustworthy Video Conferencing Software


First of all, you must pick up all-round software that makes online meeting available, stable as well as in high quality. EZTalks is just a well-received one based on best video conferencing software. It offers you a supreme video conferencing experience with HD video and seamless audio guaranteeing clearer facial expression and better eye contact communication, which focuses everyone’s attention on the conference itself.





Tip 2: Notify Attendees of an Upcoming Meeting in Advance


Remember that never notify a meeting at short notice unless it’s urgent. Unexpected meetings would disrupt productivity and reduce work efficiency as employees usually plan their work ahead of time. Hence, schedule online meeting and send email invitation with meeting subject in advance is necessary since it leaves sufficient time for attendees to make full preparation. Namely, your meeting will be more productive.


Tip 3: Share Files Online for Effective Discussion


Share relevant meeting material online and ask attendees to read together rather than individually. All too often, attendees get distracted from thinking over a written proposal. By contrast, discussing and annotating the material while viewing it together on the screen is a perfect way to attract attention.





Tip 4: Record Online Meeting in Video and Audio


Set video conferencing software to automatically record online meeting. As you may have noticed, there must be one taking the minutes in traditional meetings for future review. Though it’s pardonable to miss one point or two, inaccurately conveying information to absentees may result in huge mistakes. Then recording online meeting from beginning to end would guarantee that you’ll be well informed of everything! FYI, EZTalks records online meeting in video and audio by default.


Tip 5: Utilize Whiteboard to Jot down Ideas


Take advantage of whiteboard to draw out or jot down ideas concisely. As Tip 2 points out, attendees who’re fully prepared would come up with creative ideas as soon as the online meeting starts. All you need is to quickly record their thoughts without interrupting them and whiteboard can help you well with that especially in fierce brainstorm.





Of course, above-mentioned 5 tips are far from enough to make your meetings attractive and productive. For more information, please click Tips for Better Online Meetings.

Article Source: Top 5 Tips for Running Effective Meetings

EZTalks for Android 1.0 officially released by EZTalks

Delray Beach, Florida April 22, 2015, EZTalks, a professional online video conferencing software development company is very glad to release its new dedicated Android App, EZTalks for Android 1.0 for Android users.

EZTalks for Android 1.0 gives user flexible option to join a meeting on their Android phones, simple and convenient. Users now have free access to EZTalks for Android, download it and join a meeting on their Android phones anytime, anywhere they need.

EZTalks for Android 1.0 is very easy to use, download and install the App on your Android phones and join a meeting with the meeting ID getting from meeting organizer, and then you can talk with other attendees freely.

Features of EZTalks for Android 1.0:

• Join a meeting via meeting ID
• Join a meeting on any Android phones
• Attend EZTalks sessions wherever you are
• Share your videos with other attendees
• View attendees' video in full screen
• View attendees' video from the video list

•View attendees participated in the meeting

•Display multiple videos in video preview interface
• Adjust the sound volume of the meeting
• Adjust video resolution
• Turn on/off local audio

•Mute the audio of attendees

Free download EZTalks for Android from the Download Center or Google Play and join or host a meeting on the go.

About EZTalks: 
EZTalks Inc. is a professional online video conferencing provider dedicated to make cloud collaboration ubiquitous and services to worldwide customers.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/eztalks
https://plus.google.com/+Eztalks/
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Contact: 
EZTalks PR Team
Website: http://www.eztalks.com 

App Download: https://www.eztalks.com/site/page?view=download

Google Play Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eztalks.android
Email: press@eztalks.com

Article Source: Join a meeting on your Android phones with EZTalks for Android 1.0

Ottawa firm expands cloud-based video collaboration services

Ottawa-based Magor Corp. announced last week new updates to its video conferencing service that includes a new Windows desktop client and three new features to its cloud services.

So far the TSX-listed firm has offered its video conferencing and collaboration software via dedicated appliances powered by Ubuntu. Now the firm is offering a native Windows desktop app that is touch-screen friendly and is optimized for Windows 7 and 8. Magor’s video collaboration software is also available to anyone that can use a Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox browser – including mobile devices.

Magor launched its cloud collaboration platform, Aerus, in March 2013 and is now continuing to build upon its services with three new features. Magor is offering firms that want HD video conferencing an easier way to get their foot in the door, says Steve Anderson, vice-president of cloud services at Magor. Competitors in the video conferencing market often require a specialized infrastructure to be installed on premises before you can start connecting with video.

“What our competitors like Cisco and Polycom don’t have is the ability to bring someone else in, to share my spreadsheet with you,” Anderson says. “We’re a decentralized environment. If I happen to be in my office today, I can call any of my colleagues like I would call them on a cell phone.”

Aerus supports multiple video codecs and integrates them through the WebRTC protocol, he explains. So whether a user wants to connect with someone use Skype, Jabber, or another video conferencing tool, they can take the call using their Aerus client. Inviting a guest to take part is as simple as sending them a URL to join the conference.

Magor’s selling point for its Aerus collaboration cloud service is a flexible workflow system.

Three new cloud features were added to Aerus services last week as well: Aerus Invite, Aerus OnScene, and Aerus WebCollab.

Aerus Invite provides a user with a virtual meeting room. Instead of working on number of ports available, Magor lets companies determine the number of users they’d like to support on video conferencing software. The user could both take and place video conferencing calls using the service. Aerus manages the technology being used to answer the type of video call coming in.

“Its best to look at the Magor software as being multilingual and speaking natively with each application,” Anderson says.

Aerus OnScene is a set of services focused on public safety, designed for first responders such as police and fire response teams. Street-level officers could stream back real time video information that is geo-tagged to a command centre to aid in surveillance activities, for example.

“It’s coordinated and we get to see where all the people are on a GIS map,” Anderson says. “What you’re actually starting to see now are a whole bunch of buffet items sitting on top of our Aerus cloud.”

WebCollab lets you connect with video, audio, and desktop sharing in high quality to other participants through a web browser. Perhaps a professor could use this to host a class for students to connect remotely, Anderson gives as an example. The teacher can just share a URL with his students and push out content to the whole class, able to change the view to a different webcam, or a PowerPoint presentation.

Aerus costs $200 per month per user, Anderson says.

Article Source: Ottawa firm expands cloud-based video collaboration services

Managing organizational activities through video conferencing

Videoconferencing is the conduct of a video conference by a set of telecommunication technologies, which allow two or more geographical locations in communicating simultaneously to each other by two-way video and audio transmissions.

There are some misconceptions among people about cloud video conferencing. Most of the people understand it as similar to video calls or videophones calls but the fact is not like that. There are some differences in video conference and video calls as video -conferencing is designed to serve a conference over multiple locations rather that individuals like videophone calls. This is one of the main differences.

There are various kinds of hardware and software involved in videoconferencing. The software used in it is known as video -conferencing software. In these days, there are numerous service providers which provide these facilities commercially throughout the world as per their clients' specific needs and requirements.

The main equipment or products that are used in it are webcams, videophones, webcams, conferencing hardware and relevant systems that are related to video telephony for two-way communication with live audio and video. The primary section of this system includes various devices like webcams, telepresence systems, video-conferencing as well as video phones. There are many other related products like videoconferencing software client and codecs.

The secondary section of videoconferencing system include of Video Relay Services (for hard-of-hearing, deaf as well as speech-impaired individuals), Public Access Videoconferencing facilities, Telemedicine along with various others. These systems have made drastic changes in managing organizational activities in terms of meetings, seminars, important conversations along with various others. This is very helpful for especially those offices or organizations, which have multiple offices across many cities in a state or a country. Official activities and functions can be easily managed by official executives and managers for various locations, where their offices are located.

Most of the businessmen think that video- conferencing would be expensive deal for us but the reality is not like that. In these days, there are many small IT Companies, which have started to provide video conferencing services for a small or medium organization according to their specific needs and requirements. If you have a CEO of a company which has more than two branches at different cities and want to manage your operations and activities efficiently, video conferencing options would be one of the most suitable options for you. If you have no any idea about prominent services providers, go through online resources. You'll be able to choose one of the best video conferencing service providers as per your official requirements.

Article Source: Managing organizational activities through video conferencing

Students to use video conferencing for online debates

A cloud video conferencing facility has been set up at the Kenya National Library Services’ Nakuru complex.

This will now enable school debating clubs to conduct live debates across the country.

The project named The American Corner is a joint venture between KNLS and the American embassy.

In a pioneering pilot project, debating club members from secondary schools in Nakuru and Kisumu will engage in real time friendly exchanges on various topics.

The e-resource centre has been put up at the Kenya National Library Services (KNLS) Nakuru complex in partnership with the USA e-library, a project launched earlier in Kisumu KNLS.

The e-library provides an online database with numerous resources for student researchers, lecturers and the public who can access the content in the KNLS e-resource centres.

Nakuru and Kisumu libraries will host different groups of students from local schools.

The programme will be rolled out countrywide after the official launch by the embassy which is scheduled for later 2014.

Mr Joseck Olala, an ICT officer at KNLS said that the trial session had been hosted with students from Nakuru’s Menengai High School and Kisumu Day Secondary School participating in a live online debate.

“The students from the two schools engaged one another in a very successful debate, ' he said.

He added that students will also use the sessions to bond with one another both locally and internationally.

KNLS Nakuru and Kisumu libraries have been placed under the American Corner project due to their high level of technology.

Article Source: Students to use video conferencing for online debates