Small businesses that want to create a more polished and professional global presences are relying on video conferencing. While some are choosing the simpler solutions, they may face some challenges that can cost them more than they bargained for.
Where to Start
The first question you need to ask is how many users will need to be on at the same time. Based on that, businesses can choose one of the three potential solutions. First, a consumer video conferencing product would be the most basic and cost efficient solution for individuals and smaller businesses. The second would be an intermediate solution that includes some special video components, while the third includes specialized hardware such as high definition monitors that enable multi-party video conferencing.
For some, a free consumer-based service like Skype may be all you need. But using Skype has its drawbacks. Because it is easily accessible to everyone, there would need to be more control over how employees should use them and when. Depending on certain regulations, there could even be legal ramifications concerning how certain pieces of information are shared and with whom. To avoid the controversy and headaches, many companies block these types of free video chat services altogether.
Paying for Quality
If you're planning multi-party video conferencing, then you will probably need a more intense setup that can include duplex audio and simultaneous document collaboration across computers. One of the interactive conferencing features that is becoming more popular among businesses is the whiteboard. Offline, businesses use the whiteboard to share and expand ideas, and with the right conferencing service, multiple users can create and edit whiteboard documents as well as spreadsheets, diagrams and other complex documents.
The Hardware Side
The need to move video, audio and other types of media across a network that may not be able to handle the protocols and traffic is pushing more vendors to offer dedicated servers for video conferencing. These specialized infrastructure solutions better optimize the experience and provide business with the tools to develop their internal video conference capability that will allow them to create a good impression with clients and partners.
When businesses need to integrate high bandwidth features like whiteboard collaboration and multi-party video conferencing, shopping for the necessary hardware involves more than just picking the right webcam and microphone. The great thing about technology is that even small businesses can have the opportunity to achieve a professional presence without busting their budgets.
Where to Start
The first question you need to ask is how many users will need to be on at the same time. Based on that, businesses can choose one of the three potential solutions. First, a consumer video conferencing product would be the most basic and cost efficient solution for individuals and smaller businesses. The second would be an intermediate solution that includes some special video components, while the third includes specialized hardware such as high definition monitors that enable multi-party video conferencing.
For some, a free consumer-based service like Skype may be all you need. But using Skype has its drawbacks. Because it is easily accessible to everyone, there would need to be more control over how employees should use them and when. Depending on certain regulations, there could even be legal ramifications concerning how certain pieces of information are shared and with whom. To avoid the controversy and headaches, many companies block these types of free video chat services altogether.
Paying for Quality
If you're planning multi-party video conferencing, then you will probably need a more intense setup that can include duplex audio and simultaneous document collaboration across computers. One of the interactive conferencing features that is becoming more popular among businesses is the whiteboard. Offline, businesses use the whiteboard to share and expand ideas, and with the right conferencing service, multiple users can create and edit whiteboard documents as well as spreadsheets, diagrams and other complex documents.
The Hardware Side
The need to move video, audio and other types of media across a network that may not be able to handle the protocols and traffic is pushing more vendors to offer dedicated servers for video conferencing. These specialized infrastructure solutions better optimize the experience and provide business with the tools to develop their internal video conference capability that will allow them to create a good impression with clients and partners.
When businesses need to integrate high bandwidth features like whiteboard collaboration and multi-party video conferencing, shopping for the necessary hardware involves more than just picking the right webcam and microphone. The great thing about technology is that even small businesses can have the opportunity to achieve a professional presence without busting their budgets.
