There’s nothing that is as effective as face-to-face meetings when you want to connect with clients or team members. However, with air travel becoming more and more expensive, frequent in-person meetings are also becoming less viable for most businesses. Gathering your whole team together for any meeting is not always practical and can be time-consuming. Thankfully, though, using the right video conferencing tools can allow you to meet from anywhere thus saving you money and time.
While some video conferencing tools can be expensive there are some that are not only affordable, they are exceptionally good! Here are the 6 most affordable video conferencing tools that will allow you to meet with colleagues, clients or employees from anywhere, using your mobile, tablet or desktop!
1. Google Hangouts
Source: hangouts.google.com
Google Hangouts is one of the easiest-to-use video conferencing tools out there. When you consider especially the fact that all the basic features are free! Businesses will possibly want to invest in a subscription to the Google Applications for Work ($5 per user per month). This adds several work-friendly features including integrated calendars online and the unique ability to collaborate on spreadsheets and documents during video chat sessions. In addition, you will be capable of signing in and out using the branded email address which your company uses already.
2. Adobe Connect
Source: adobe.com
Adobe is not only known for its design and image editing software but also because Adobe provides a top quality video conferencing tool known as Adobe Connect. The platform also has all the necessary tools that you require for a smooth virtual meeting. Adobe users can connect with each other instantly from any internet-connected device. The software has a pared-down interface that is much easier for beginners to use. The attendees can share video slides and documents and can also run polls and make shared follow-ups during a meeting. Adobe Connect has improved features like the ability to create breakout rooms or private video chat rooms for private meetings with smaller groups.
3. Skype for Business
Source: mspoweruser.com
When it comes to video-chatting with friends and family member’s Skype is the widely known and used. For business users with a tight budget, Skype is one of the most competent and affordable video conferencing tools on the market. Video chatting with another person is free on Skype, but upgrading to Skype for Business adds a few vital features such as a group video app. Buying or paying for a premium account opens up group screen sharing so that you and your associates will be able to share spreadsheets documents and presentations and work together. As is, you can share your screen with one person at a time.
4. Cisco WebEx
Source: lsu.edu
Cisco is among of the best tools in providing video conferencing services and also provides the WebEx service for small businesses. Although a free version is available, it can only support audio calling. For video conferencing you have to upgrade to the Premium version which costs $24 per month. Subscribing to Cisco enables up to a maximum of eight users join a meeting at once. It also allows screen sharing of easy presentations. You can also share important documents, spreadsheets, and PDFs for editing. In addition, the service has an interactive whiteboard feature that allows the users to share notes, draw charts and more.
5. Citrix GoToMeeting
Source: pcmag.com
The service makes it much easier for hosts to plan for meetings, and also making it equally easier for guests to join for free by simply clicking an invitation connection from any Web-connected device. The service has other features like speaker identification and screen-sharing tools for business demonstrations. You can also share keyboard and mouse controls with those present so as to enable you to collaborate smoothly.
6. Fuze
Source: Wikipedia
This is an affordable video conferencing service that has a lot of good set features. A subscription to Fuze lets a maximum of 125 people join cybernetic meetings via simultaneous video feeds. The service enables you to share your computer screen or individual program windows for immediate presentations. Fuze also includes a set of markup tools to interpret and edit documents, PDFs and videos respectively. From any Web-connected device, members can join a meeting and the hosts can also record virtual meetings to evaluate at another time.
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