In brief
As of April 2020, Zoom, Skype, Cisco Webex and Microsoft Teams all offer free video meeting options. Zoom and Webex support up to 100 participants, but Zoom limits group meetings to 40 minutes while Webex's free version has no time limit. Social apps are convenient but allow few participants, and Teams suits those collaborating on Office documents.
Under social distancing policies, most businesses, schools and employees are now relying on video conferencing to stay in touch with colleagues and classmates. What are the differences between the various video apps on the market? We analyse the pros and cons of each one for you!
ZoomAs the pandemic continues, Zoom has become the best-known video conferencing app. It was originally designed for businesses, but it now also offers a free basic version for individuals, which allows up to 100 participants in a meeting, although meetings with more than two people are limited to 40 minutes.
Pros: Supports up to 100 participants; unlimited one-on-one meetings
Cons: Group meetings cannot exceed 40 minutes
Skype has long been a popular platform for one-on-one conversations. Its "Meet Now" feature lets people hold video meetings, and the maximum number of participants varies depending on the user's platform and device.
Pros: Call records are kept for up to 30 days; background blurring; presentation sharing
Cons: It can be used without downloading the app, but some users have reported receiving error messages
Social apps
Many have launched apps that allow free video chats, such as Facebook, WhatsApp and FaceTime, making them convenient for users to use anytime, anywhere.
Pros: More widely used; easy to use
Cons: Few participants allowed, so they cannot meet the needs of businesses or schools; specific electronic devices are required
Cisco (Webex) targets corporate customers and, in response to the current emergency, offers a free version that is worth trying. The features of the freemium version have been expanded from a maximum of 50 participants to 100, the 40-minute meeting limit has been removed, and the ability to receive incoming calls has been added.
Pros: Supports up to 100 participants; no time limit per meeting; can receive incoming calls
Cons: Once the pandemic is over, the free version's offer may change
Part of the Microsoft suite of apps, it is a good choice if you want to collaborate on various Office documents, and it also offers video conferencing. Microsoft is currently offering educators and paying G Suite users 6 months of free access to Office 365 E1.
Pros: Works with various Office documents
Cons: Individual users who only use Gmail or other free apps will be redirected to Skype
Original article: https://bit.ly/2ybkAbk