VIDEO CONFERENCING: Meaning, Types & Free Platforms

Video conferencing, in-app chat, real-time messaging, and other adaptive solutions are just a few examples of the kinds of modern online technologies necessitating workforce collaboration systems. Due to its usefulness in a wide variety of business contexts, including the management of workgroups and the conclusion of international transactions, video conferencing has rapidly become an indispensable tool for organizations of all sizes and types. The evolution of VoIP over time has resulted in the convergence of several functions into one unified video conferencing platform. This solution’s strength lies in the fact that it can be accessed anywhere with a mobile device and used as a powerful communications and collaboration tool. Neither customers nor employees need to put up with mediocre interactions from businesses anymore. The greatest video conferencing apps and platforms, with high-definition video streaming and noise-canceling audio, may revolutionize your company processes, making virtual meetings feel more like face-to-face ones.

What is Video Conferencing?

A video conference is an online meeting that allows participants in various locations to see each other as if they were in the same room. It is a type of electronic communication in which audio and visual content are transmitted in real time between multiple users who are physically separated by great distances.

Video conferencing app serves as a method through which many people can communicate visually and verbally via a network. At first, users could only make video calls to one another or join existing video conferences. However, as technology has progressed, video conferencing software has gained many useful tools and capabilities for distance communication and education.

Video conferencing is now just one feature of a larger video collaboration and unified communications platform that now includes whiteboarding, slideshows, recordings, instant messaging, project management tools, and telephony connectivity. It is basically changing the way we interact socially, academically, and professionally as more and more businesses adopt remote work.

Because of the time, money, and headaches, it eliminates, this technology is ideal for business users in separate locations or even nations. Video conferencing can be used for a wide variety of purposes, including the conduct of regular meetings, the negotiation of corporate deals, as well as the questioning of potential new hires.

How Video Conferencing Works

The primary benefit of video conferencing over phone conference calls is the enhanced ability to form personal connections between participants.

Video conferences can be held in a number of different formats. Generally, people can utilize desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones with built-in or external webcams. But, it is possible to connect for video conferencing using smartphones and other linked mobile devices equipped with cameras. Communication in such cases is often sent using an application server to transport data over the internet.

Some companies have specialized video conferencing rooms fitted with top-notch cameras and screens to guarantee a seamless and error-free teleconference. Installation and assembly of the video conference equipment are generally handled by a third party.

Types of Video Conferencing

Corporations are swiftly adjusting to the video conferencing infrastructure requirements. All of the conference rooms have high-definition cameras and other equipment basically to ensure a productive meeting, including cable internet access and powerful audio systems. In addition, the user experience can be greatly improved with the help of purpose-built hardware for video conferencing meetings and integrated audio and video conferencing software.

Given the widespread adoption of this medium of communication, video conferencing is popular with two distinct types;

Point-to-point conferencing and
Multipoint conferencing.

#1. Point-to-Point Conferencing

Because of the nature of this technology, only two people can engage in real-time communication across vast distances. Face-to-face communication is the focus of this type of video conferencing function. For instance, video conferencing is a great option for conducting job interviews since it allows top companies to save time and resources by conducting interviews and other hiring processes remotely.

This choice has proven to be very popular in the covid scenario, as it offers a great deal of adaptability to businesses that rely on remote workers. It also enhances the current, individualized customer service that companies provide. It generally offers a direct line of communication between the company and its customers. This may include the ability to address their concerns and answer their questions, which is guaranteed by using a top-notch app as well as video conferencing hardware.

#2. Multipoint Conferencing

The core of group video conferencing is the participation and interaction of three or more people via video connection. In essence, this function is generally distinct from the standard three-way calling found in most corporate telephone networks.

While hosting a multipoint conference, the host generally provides links for attendees to join the conference as a bigger group. It acts as a hub for multipoint conferencing, helping firms with several offices and remote employees. Multiple-point conferencing is an answer to the problem of hardware as well as software bridging needed to host big conference calls.

What Are 3 Uses of Video Conferencing?

#1. Save your time:

You can hold mobile video conferences with distant coworkers directly from your computer or conference room. In addition, you can avoid wasting resources and time on business trips and lower event management expenses, etc with a video conferencing app.

#2. Get real-life impressions:

Video conferencing is significantly more realistic than phone conversations since it involves eye contact. Establishing eye contact and seeing the user’s emotions as well as articulation in a video meeting is important for social communication, particularly in business situations.

#3. Meet with ease:

All you have to do is schedule your video conference, invite your coworkers, and get started right away! In order to remind you of your meeting, the video conferencing app will also notify you of the meeting.

What Are the Two Examples of Video Conferencing?

Video conferencing is a powerful collaboration tool that has grown increasingly crucial for businesses of all kinds. In general, video conferencing is capable of being utilized to conduct online training, webinars, video meetings, as well as multimedia presentations in a variety of areas. Examples may include video conferencing in business, government, education, training, healthcare, law, finance, and also the military.

What Are the Five Benefits of Video Conferencing?

The manner in which businesses work and communicate has evolved as a result of video conferencing technology. To enhance communication within a company, businesses can rely on audio conferencing and video call recording. Benefits include;

Outstanding Communication
Well-Structured Meetings
Boost Productivity
Humanized Conversations

What Are the Features of Video Conferencing?

As a subset of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), video conferencing software relies on specialized algorithms known as codecs or coder decoders to transmit audio and video across two locations.

Video conferencing app focuses on developing areas of echo cancellation and other forms of sound delay. The various features that make up video conferencing programs include;

Screen Sharing
File Sharing
Video Call Recording
Simultaneous Annotation
Device Switching
Chat Box

Video Conferencing Platforms

The finest platforms and apps for video conferencing not only make it simple but also convenient to hold online meetings with friends, family, and coworkers.

Because of the cloud, high-quality video conferencing is now within reach of any business, no matter how small. As a result of the pandemic’s effects, companies are increasingly holding meetings virtually to keep in touch with their remote workers. In addition, the new hybrid mode of work employed by some tech companies serves as another reason why the use of video conferencing platforms and apps keeps increasing.

Moreover, as concerns about the environmental impact of travel grow, it makes good business sense for organizations to look for ways to keep using video conferencing platforms or apps for face-to-face meetings rather than incurring the unnecessary expense to both their business and the environment that comes from holding in-person meetings in a central location.

Yet, consumers may utilize the same video conferencing apps and platforms that businesses use to stay in touch with loved ones back at home. Besides, video conferencing services for businesses and households are often provided by the same company.

What are the Best Video Conferencing Platforms?

Video conferences are so commonplace at this time that they no longer need a separate category from traditional face-to-face meetings. It’s basically true for businesses that allow their employees to work from home, for hybrid businesses, and, increasingly, for traditional businesses with a physical location.

So, poor video conversations affect everyone’s productivity and aren’t only an issue for a specific group. It’s unacceptable to waste time waiting for someone to set up software that isn’t intuitive, and every call that is dropped is a significant aggravation.

Here are the top paid and free video conferencing software apps;

#1. Zoom

Zoom doesn’t need much of an introduction or explanation when it comes to holding an online meeting. Even those who make their home in a cave are aware of Zoom. Basically, Zoom is the best video conferencing app available, and for good reason.

You may confidently send out a link to a Zoom meeting and have everyone in attendance. Every major platform has at least one app, and at this time it’s safe to assume that everyone has the necessary software installed and properly configured. Hence, joining a meeting is a go. To join a meeting then, all you need is just follow the link the host provides. It would be difficult to stress the importance of that. Besides, nothing slows down a meeting like a participant who is unable to participate.

The dependability of Zoom is likewise very high. Usually, it will keep your movie playing via a shaky internet connection, but at a lower quality setting.

#2. RemotePC Meeting

With RemotePC Meeting’s support, you may take use of a variety of video conferencing functions made to make teamwork easier. To begin, a meeting may be set up in seconds and sent out to attendees via a link. Integration with Google, Microsoft, or Yahoo calendars is also possible. While the ability to work with the Chrome extension makes it even simpler to distribute meeting links.

Moreover, VoIP can be used to attend meetings for increased security and in cases when an individual’s internet access is constrained. There is no maximum number of team members you may invite to a video conference, and there are a number of integrated features for both individual and group discussion.

The ability to share your screen can also aid in presentations or when trying to convey a point. A collaborative whiteboard facilitates ideation with other meeting attendees, and all sessions can be recorded and stored as video or audio files for later reference.

#3. Google Meet

Maybe the finest aspect of Google Meet is how seamlessly it integrates with the company’s other apps. Every time you schedule a meeting using Google Calendar it provides a Meet link that you and your meeting attendees can use to get on a call at any time. As the call progresses, you can access Google Drive files and send them to the other party without ever having to leave the conversation. Additionally, it’s possible to initiate a call from within your Gmail inbox. Furthermore, there’s the interaction with Chrome, which has a tab-sharing functionality that works well for content-sharing and streams a brief film as a team with little or no lag (it doesn’t, however, operate in other browsers).

Even if competitors like Zoom are closing the gap, Google Meet is still the best option for real-time captioning. Even though it can’t tell when someone is speaking in another language on the call, the captions in English function reasonably well.

#4. Webex Meetings

One of the top producers of video conferencing equipment nowadays is Cisco and the name for their video conferencing software is Webex Meetings. Therefore, the quality of the video transmission is a top priority, and Webex does not disappoint in this regard. One should also understand that the picture and sound quality, as well as the overall reliability, of this service, is vastly superior to that of any others.

Downloading and installing the app or using the web-based version are both viable options for users to participate in meetings. Notable, in particular, is the collaborative aspects. The whiteboard is on par with those seen in other apps. Basically, you can write or type on it, add sticky notes, and even use a “magic pen” to clean up your sloppy squares and circles. Everyone in the meeting can annotate the file without you having to share your screen. It’s a fantastic method for generating group ideas and discussing issues aloud.

#5. Microsoft Teams

Many group messaging platforms either don’t prioritize or have trouble with video conferencing. That however excludes Microsoft Teams, which has some of the best tools available for online meetings.

Excellent whiteboard. An imperfect circle, for instance, becomes a flawless one thanks to the program’s smoothing abilities when you draw freehand. This makes it simple to make on-the-spot diagrams and notes. There are also many other collaborative tools available. For instance, the conversation from the meeting is archived in your team chat application. Meeting notes can be taken using a built-in function, and they are also distributed to the workgroup after the meeting. Even better, you can share the automatically generated meeting transcripts.

If the video quality is poor, everything will be useless. Absolutely no essence. Teams are functional even for huge conference calls, and it has several tools to ensure a successful gathering.

#6. Whereby

There are various services that offer video conferencing through a web browser. While simplicity is the idea, the majority of them try to make it simple for anyone to rapidly generate a meeting link, share it, and begin a meeting.

As far as video conferencing apps go, Whereby is top in its class. Whereby is great if you want to start video conferences rapidly. Making and distributing a link is a breeze, and no one would have any issues joining. With this, you can have a meeting with up to a hundred people, communicate with them, share your screen, and film it.

Also, there is an integration feature that functions differently than any other feature we examined. For collaboration, the majority of video conferencing applications use some form of screen sharing. in which productivity apps are literally embedded right on the platform. For instance, when you activate the Google Documents integration, a document will be brought into the meeting immediately. After logging into Google Docs, anyone can edit the document straight away since it is the exact document itself that is displayed in the window next to your video chat rather than a video of it. There is a case to be made that Whereby connects with Google Documents better than Google Meet. Whereby’s YouTube integration functions more effectively than it does in Meet, suggesting that Google may pick up some tips from this software.

What Are the Four Types of Conferences?

Here are some of the common conference types;

Professional conference
Academic conference.
Peace conference
Trade conference
Settlement conference
Authors’ conference

What Is the Role of Video Conferencing?

When using a laptop, smartphone, or perhaps conference room meeting webcam, it combines audio and video to simulate a face-to-face interaction so you can see others’ reactions while listening and understanding what they’re saying.

Conclusion

A video conference is an online meeting that allows participants in various locations to see each other as if they were in the same room. Video conferencing app serves as a method through which many people can communicate visually and verbally via a network.