Two quick thoughts about VoIP for web conferencing: 1) choosing a VoIP provider and 2) headsets.
1) VoIP Services. VoIP can be a difficult component of web conferencing. When we have the choice, we prefer to use traditional phone conferencing for the audio component of web conferences. However, phone conferences aren’t always a good option — they can be expensive and difficult for international and government agencies.
For small groups, Skype can often provide satisfactory audio conferencing. You can even use a Skype screen sharing plug-in to do the web conference.
Larger groups (10+ participants) are tougher. We chose Elluminate because of its VoIP support and have been pleased with the quality of the sound and ability of participants to use the audio. Elluminate supports 4 simultaneous speakers which is more than you probably want anyway! However, some participants have had a difficult time joining our conferences. Elluminate has a large download and uses funky ports. I expect the combination of download, java support, and various firewall problems are causing the headaches.
So what other choices have we got? As I mentioned in an earlier post, I don’t think that Skypecast is quite ready. If you don’t need your participants to be able to speak than Mike at my office suggests using audio broadcast tools like ShoutCast or IceCast. These are the kinds of tools that are used for Internet radio broadcasters.
2) Headsets. Using a headset — integrated headphone speakers and microphone – is a very good thing for higher quality VoIP. Using your computer’s speakers and mike is unlikely to work well. I ended up buying a Logitech USB headset which has worked fine. Plantronics got a few shout-outs but I couldn’t find one in the stores I went too (next time I’ll order earlier online).
We tagged a few articles with more advice with the GDLNSS07 tag
July 17, 2007 at 9:36 pm
Hello everybody, I have been using Elluminate and I thoink it is usefull tool, It has a interesting set of integrated tools and is not heavy in term of bandwidth.
July 19, 2007 at 8:08 am
Hi everyone.
I have recently come across what I feel is the best web conferencing and collaboration tool out there to date. I use it on a regular basis and have personally been on a meeting with over 75 people at once and the quality didnt drop an inch. Obviously all 70 people were not speaking at the same time, that would be crazy!!
Excellent audio and video quality on any connection speed. Its all internet based and runs on the microsoftASP.NET platform, all you have to do to join a conference is download the software. (6MB)
The basic package gives you two seats, with unlimited usage for a year for $3990.
After that its $8 per seat per month I think.
The best thing about this I-conference system is that it comes as part of a much bigger business building package. Website builder and 5 unlimited hosting accounts, autoresponders, blogs, e-resource and training librairy, live marketing and business trainings, advertising resources such as a B2B direcotory, traffic exchanges and much more, are all included in the 3year subscription. What awesome package!! I joined up as soon as I was shown the package.
Have a look at the website below to see more details.
http://www.breezebusinessservices.co.uk
If anyone wants to find out more, give Rob a call. (contact details on the site) He will be able to answer any questions you may have.
July 21, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Thanks, in UNED, Costa Rica we are interested to buy web conference software….I like the experience with Iluminate,but I will try to investigate more about breeze…
July 23, 2007 at 3:31 am
In the article “We-Learning: Social Software and E-Learning” by Eva Kaplan-Leiserson (a special thanks to Sheila for recommending the article to us), it says “early e-learning traded technology for human interaction. Now, the personal element is being added back in.”
Participating in the GDLN’s activities for some times, I find the quotation above rather true as the GDLN’s activities tend to follow this pattern. That is, the prominent point of the GDLN is to connect people from different countries and regions to “communicate, share knowledge, and learn from each others’ experiences in a timely and cost effective manner” by using “distance learning tools such as interactive videoconferencing and the internet, and expert facilitation and learning techniques.” Then, in a way, we trade technology for human interactive.
Currently, I can see that the GDLN is moving to the next stage of adding the personal element into the activities. The most obvious example for me is the use of Skype in “Dengue Training Program,” a project initiated by ANU (The Australian National University) – the GDLN affiliate in Australia and CU-GDLN – the GDLN affiliate in Thailand. In this program, the experts from Thailand teach the knowledge of the disease to participants in Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and PNG. There are online lectures via videoconferencing and online mentoring sessions via Skype. By using Skype, the teachers can directly “talk” to their students one by one to help them in understanding the lesson.
In summary, the emeraging use of social software tools brings people together more closely, which not only helps in understanding, but also increases the sense of ‘virtual.’
Finally, I’m not sure whether my comment is totally relevant to the topic. I just want to point out the use of other kinds of tools apart from videoconferencing in GDLN’s activities from mu own experience. Also, I strongly believe that these tools will be indispensable in the near future.
June 19, 2008 at 1:46 am
Somehow i missed the point. Probably lost in translation
Anyway … nice blog to visit.
cheers, Composed.
July 15, 2008 at 7:30 pm
From their website – “VMukti is a Free, innovative, multi-point total communications, collaboration and conferencing engine with built-in support for access to platform features through Personal Customizable Web Interface, Widgets for 3rd party websites, Desktops, and PSTN/ Mobile/ IP Phones. VMukti has been nominated for CCA 2008.”
I want to see this software grow, so please also let your visitors know they can vote for this software on sourceforge here:
http://www.vmukti.com/latest-news/vmukti-calls-on-community-to-win-prestigious-award.html
Winning this award would mean big things for all the users at VMukti like me!
I would like to see VMukti get the support they need from the user community to continue developing a great project. We can show this support by recognizing this software in the SourceForge.net 2008 Community Choice Awards. This recognition will help ensure that their software gets the attention it needs to continue to provide a great set of features to the software community.