Audio Visual Insights for Web-Conferencing and Live Streaming

Web Conferencing Software Top 5 Feature Lists:

In this review we take the our Top 5 Features we feel are most important for video conferencing software and name our Top 5 software providers who exemplify these features.

• Affordability
• Ease of Use
• Interoperability
• Mobile Perfomance
• Security

Affordability

• GoToMeeting
• Skype
• MeetFree.US
• OpenTok
• Zoom.US

Affordability is an important feature for web video conferencing software users. For our results we tallied up our top features and compared them to the cost of the monthly service. Optional free services are a added bonus which we have included. But most importantly we took into consideration the overall experience, look and feel of our first impression using the software. 

Features:

Ease of Use

• GoToMeeting
• Skype
• MeetFree.US
• Google Hangouts
• Zoom.US

Ease of use is probably the most popular feature request. Video conferencing is become more and more commonplace yet somehow most software providers find a way to clutter their interfaces with advanced features that simply “get in the way”. This comparison is certainly difficult and up for discussion (please use comments). To be fair we simply tried each software as if it was the first time we had ever made a video call. Then we took into consideration the client download process. And we reviewed out the experience from multiple platforms like Mac, PC, ChromeBox iPhone, iPad and Android Phones.

Features:

 Interoperability

• BlueJeans
• Acano
• Pexip
• Zoom.US
• Spontnia

Interoperability is an extremely important feature for dynamic work environments where everyone needs to join the meeting no matter the device or protocol. BlueJeans wins this match with flying colors but they are followed closely behind Pexip and Zoom.US. Don't be surprised to find that BlueJeans is the most expensive option. Pexip comes in a close second with support for almost every device and operating system with support for multiple protocols such as H.323 and SIP. Zoom.US provides BYOD support for almost all devices as well plus adds in H.323 and SIP Support which is scalable. The difference here is that BlueJeans offers unlimited support for H.323/SIP devices and Zoom.US provides a scalable option where you pay for only what you need. 

Features:

 Mobile Performance & Support

For the purpose of this review we use BYOD as a term that means “Bring Your Own Device”. We assume 100% BYOD supports all major mobile device platforms including: Apple’s iOS, Google’s Android based systems and Windows mobile OS. Then we look at the features that are available from each app and what version they are currently operating in. Then finally the most important factor user reviews! We found it interesting who many more reviews were found on the Google Play store! Are the apps made for Google Android devices just better? Well we did some looking into things and mostly the apps look and feel the same with slight tendency for Androids to offer additional features.

Security

• VSee
• SecureVideo.com
• Acano
• MS Lync
• Polycom

Security is an important feature for many organizations using web video conferencing. For the purposes of this review we assume you are not using a “on-premise” software deployment. On-Premise video conferencing deployments are always the most secure but to connect to the outside world encryption will be required and these 5 web conferencing providers made the top of our list. We added 10% point increase for web conferencing software that is HIPAA compliant right out of the box and a 10% point increase for web conferencing software with “on-premise deployment” options.

Sources:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bluejeansnet.Base&hl=en

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.skype.raider&hl=en

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cisco.webex.meetings&hl=en

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.citrixonline.android.gotomeeting&hl=en

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=us.zoom.videomeetings&hl=en

http://acano.com.com

http://bluejeans.com/

http://zoom.us/

http://www.conferenceroomsystems.com/

http://www.pexip.com/

http://www.skype.com/en/

http://vsee.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPad

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WebEx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WebRTC

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VSee

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoom_Video_Communications

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Audio_Technologies

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GoToMeeting

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logitech

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifesize

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FaceTime