There
are many expensive programs for video
teleconferencing. Some even require a
monthly fee. Luckily, we have found
Skype and VSee. These two programs are
full of useful features, easy to
install, user-friendly and, best of all,
cost you nothing to use.
Skype, available at
www.skype.com, is a free program
that allows video and audio
conversations with other Skype users.
All you need is an internet connection
and a microphone. Skype also allows you
to make calls from your computer to any
phone in the world for a small fee (less
than 2 cents a minute).
VSee, from
www.vseelab.com, is a
lesser-known free program that allows
you to share your desktop (application
sharing) while conducting audio and
video conferences. Any window on your
computer screen can be shared with other
VSee users in your teleconference. The
better data collaboration lets you share
ideas as if you were in the same room
together.
Skype vs. VSee
Skype is much easier to use for
communication as there is very little
configuration necessary. As of December
2nd, Skype supports video as well as
audio. The new version is available from
www.skype.com at the downloads
page as the Skype beta 2.0 version. It
works just like the old version of
Skype, except if you have a webcam
installed the person you are speaking
with will see your video as well as hear
you speak. For any one-on-one
conversations you need to have, Skype is
always best.
If you need multi-user video or any
application sharing, VSee is the program
of choice. As of this writing, Skype
does not support multi-user video or
application sharing.
VSee Features:
- Voice/Video Chat and recording
- Application/Desktop/Movie/PowerPoint sharing - you can allow others to
see one of your applications, your entire desktop, a movie, a PowerPoint
presentation, or allow them to control the application on your screen
- Real-time annotation of shared application by other users
- Text chat for those without microphones or to share things such as
internet links that would be hard to explain verbally
- All features are available in 2-10 person multi-user meetings
Please click here
for online instructions on how to install and use VSee for video conferencing.
To download a Word document of instructions, please click here.