Internet and Web Conferencing - 3 Tips to Avoid Overpaying For Your System

In just a decade or so, Internet / web conferencing has opened up new vistas in at-a-distance personal and business communications of all kinds. Never before have individuals and businesses had the opportunity to communicate not only via high-quality voice, but also via video camera, streaming media, whiteboard, text chat and more with people located across town or across the globe.

When shopping for an Internet conferencing system, you will need to start by singling out all of the major players in the field. You can do so by first conducting a review of what is available, then taking note of which solution providers are considered best-of-breed.

Next, to determine which solution provider's web conferencing product is right for you, it is important to match up the features and strong points of each product to your organization's (or family's) needs. If you don't anticipate ever needing a particular feature, you may not need one of the more expensive systems.

Of course, your goal should be to buy just the right system without overpaying. Here are 3 tips to do just that:

1. List up the main ways you will be using the system:

Start by getting a strong handle on just how you will be using your new system from day-to-day. Here are some common categories:

* simple video camera-supported online meetings (with or without VoIP support)

* online training and education

* remote IT or customer support through permission-based desktop sharing and control

* enterprise work collaboration

* webinars

Which one best describes your usage needs?

2. Decide which features you will need:

Now, within each type of usage category, determine which features you need most. The range of possible system features varies greatly from solution to solution and there are too many features to be listed here. But, for example:

* do you require the ability to stream rich media such as movies and graphics-heavy presentations?

* do you anticipate needing to host your system locally, on your own servers?

* do you mind asking your attendees/users to download an application initially prior to engaging in a meeting or conference?

* how important are attendee feedback features, such as polling and voting, to you?

3. Determine how much effort and resources you are willing to put into system maintenance:

Another key determination is that of post-purchase system management. Systems that allow you to manage user permissions, data authentication and other settings are usually on the more expensive end of the range, and many of these systems have local hosting options. However, this might be overkill. If you suspect so, then a web application-style system may suffice and will likely save you money.

The key in purchasing the right web conferencing system is to make sure you do not buy more system than you really need. Follow these 3 tips to help you avoid overpaying for a system.

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