Grid℠ for Web Conferencing | Winter 2016

GoToMeeting is Citrix’s business conferencing solution that users considered well-known and professional. They offer a free version with basic features, as well as a tiered pricing model based mostly on the number of total participants allowed in a single conference. GoToMeeting has features such as screen-sharing, multiple presenters, VOIP, toll-free numbers, and presentation recording. Since the Winter 2015 Web Conferencing Grid℠ Report, GoToMeeting has received 47 new reviews.

Users repeatedly commented on how easy it is to start and join a meeting through GoToMeeting. They also enjoyed the quality of screen-sharing, as well as the ability to record when using the Pro or Plus pricing packages. The recording feature was rated at 84% satisfaction, 3 points above the 81% average.

The main dislike from reviewers regarded laggy video and dropped calls, while others cited the mobile app as “lacking.” Another concern voiced was that the price of the solution may ultimately be too steep and while a trial of GoToMeeting’s higher-tier plans was often recommended, many thought the free solution may be equal in performance.

Google Hangouts is a free web conferencing application that has in-depth integration with other Google applications, such as Gmail accounts, contact lists, Google Drive, and Google Docs. Since the Winter 2015 Web Conferencing Grid℠ Report, Google Hangouts has received 31 new reviews.

Ease of use and the Google integrations for Hangouts were the most regularly noted advantages mentioned by users. The chat function was very popular, and some reviewers were impressed by the audio-based switching of the primary video display or presenter. Many users felt hindered by the limit of 10 people per video conference and the lack of recording capabilities. Also, some noted that the quality of screen-sharing is poor. Google Hangouts was regarded as a quick, easy, and free application, but for larger conferences a different platform was recommended.

Skype for Business is Microsoft’s web conferencing and instant messenger platform with full integration to Microsoft Office. Since the Winter 2015 Web Conferencing Grid℠ Report, Skype for Business has received 31 new reviews. Many reviewers recommended the solution for enterprise-sized companies that use Microsoft products due to its seamless integration with Outlook. Users considered Skype for Business to be a feature-rich platform, noting the ease of screen-sharing and file-transferring.

The transition from Lync to Skype for Business, which was officially unveiled in April, 2015, was not always smooth and reviews of the change were mixed. Dropped calls and lagging or freezing videos were also a concern for users. However, most considered Skype for Business a quality web conferencing solution for businesses.

WebEx is an enterprise web conferencing solution from Cisco. It comes with chat, polling, and other interaction tools, and it integrates with many marketing automation systems. Users found scheduling to be very easy when creating meetings through Microsoft Outlook.

The recording feature was widely praised by reviewers and received an 88% satisfaction rate, well above the 81% average. When it came to dropped calls, lag, and overall video quality there were mixed reviews, but ultimately WebEx is rated at 85% for performance and reliability (83% average).

WebEx requires users to download software, which many reviewers found troublesome or unnecessary. Users also questioned the need to pay the premium cost of WebEx when there are a number of free solutions available.

join.me is a lightweight screensharing solution that offers a freemium model with paid options for upgraded features. Since the Winter 2015 Web Conferencing Grid℠ Report, join.me has received 21 new reviews. Reviews were overwhelmingly positive, praising the ease of use and simplicity above all else. Users initiate meetings by creating and distributing a custom link. Users found the service reliable and only a few reported having bad connections, dropped calls, or lag. The most popular feature used by reviewers was screen-sharing which is available with the free version.

Many of the users were subscribers, so they did have access to premium features, such as recording, email plugins, and CRM integration. It was noted that upgrading to a Pro or Enterprise edition of join.me can be costly due to the pricing format of a monthly charge per user.

Adobe Connect is a robust and customizable solution for conferencing and webinars. Users said it offers one of the most feature-rich products, allowing presenters to customize the layout of the interface with “pods.” Each pod can be an attendee list, document, presentation, chat session, webcam feed, whiteboard, or other activity—even one developed internally for use within the Adobe Connect interface. Presenters can interact with attendees in a number of different ways, and one can initiate breakout rooms for discussion in smaller groups. Reviewers were confident that Adobe could satisfy almost any webinar need.

Many reviewers of Adobe Connect were in the higher education industry and both teachers and students thought highly of the virtual classroom the platform provides. The main drawback mentioned by users was that Adobe Connect comes with a large price tag. Some of the more recent reviewers took issue with the updates and downloading of the software, but overall they found the solution intuitive and benefitted from customer support.

FreeConferenceCall.com is a website that provides a free call-in conference number. Users recommended it for quick and reliable online or tele-meetings. Both options require a phone line. Since the Winter 2015 Web Conferencing Grid℠ Report, FreeConferenceCall.com has received 79 new reviews.

Users said the functionality is basic: a single phone number to use that is ungated, but the quality is good and rarely did they mention dropped calls. Toll-free numbers are available at a fee. FreeConferenceCall.com also offers a variety of features, such as screen-sharing for presentations and recording. Many reviewers were very pleased with the statistics report emailed after each call. One downside reported by consistent users was that there is no option to store contacts, so there is a need to enter the information for all invitees each time the service is used.

While the platform is free, there is a 25 participant limit on the calls and according to some reviewers the connection becomes slower as the number of callers nears that limit. There is an option to upgrade for conferencing with more than 25 users.

ReadyTalk is a full-featured web conferencing solution with pricing options for meeting- and webinar-style use. Features include chat, screen-sharing, passing presenter control, and recording options. Users found the interface intuitive and scheduling easy. Many reviews mentioned the convenience of their marketing automation integrations.

Reviewers gave resounding praise for ReadyTalk’s support personnel. Users said they were devoted to optimizing the setup for a firm’s purposes, troubleshooting issues, and all-in-all providing a great product. This admiration for the ReadyTalk team left reviewers very forgiving of the technical issues that arose during use, and reviews were very positive.

Highfive is an easy to setup and use web conferencing solution, according to reviewers. They provide hardware for on-site video conferencing with the ability to screen-share on a connected television and with those tuning in remotely.

There were mixed reviews in regards to the competitiveness of the pricing for the hardware, but once the hardware is purchased, the cloud-based web conferencing software is free for employees to use when communicating with each other. Many of the reviewers rave about the quality of audio and video as well as the modern but simple interface. Users found Highfive to be very intuitive with a rating of 91% in ease of use.

Users also reported that the platform requires a significant amount of bandwidth and without a sound internet connection there can be quality and performance issues. Highfive also lacks certain features, such as recording, chat, polling, and file-sharing.

Onstream Webinars is a feature-rich, web-based web conferencing software that offers tiered pricing packages based on the number of participants. Most users considered the product to be affordable. While a number of users touched on all the features (screen-sharing, chat, and polling amongst others) the customer support was the most often enjoyed aspect of the solution. Quality of support was rated at 93% (83% average), and reviewers considered the support staff helpful and efficient. Users did have some issues with dropped calls, video quality, and the amount of bandwidth the platform requires. Reviewers found that the ease of use and setup, combined with the affordability makes this an attractive option for web conferencing.

Personify Live is a webinar technology that juxtaposes a live feed of the presenter over a desktop screenshare or presentation slides. Users described gesture controls for interacting with the application while presenting. Reviewers found these webinars greatly improved viewer engagement and were more interactive and enjoyable. Personify Live has not received new reviews since the Winter 2015 Web Conferencing Grid℠ Report, thus this summary is based on reviews received prior to January 2015 and may not represent current opinions.

Utilizing the technology requires a depth camera, and users reported issues finding the right lighting and microphone setup to avoid technical issues when using the software.

Reviews complimented Personify Live’s team and dedication, but they acknowledged that the program had its share of issues inherent to a fledgling product.