From on-premise servers based solutions, like R-HUB’s suite of servers, to the classical on-line services; there is a world of opportunity to get inexpensive and performing virtual meeting products. The trick is to exploit the free packages that are generously offered by many platforms. If it is true that their features are fewer than the ones of paid plans, it is also true that this creates no issues to small businesses in most cases.
A tight budget does not necessarily imply being compelled to fall back on worse web conferencing products. On the contrary, it can be the right occasion to reflect upon possible (and inexpensive) alternatives. Here comes a list of the 4 best web conferencing solutions that I found browsing through the web.
R-HUB Web Conferencing Servers
R-HUB’s on-premise web conferencing servers have been purposely thought to offer a valid alternative to the traditional web platforms for small businesses. The result is a product that is highly performing and easy-to manage, yet inexpensive.
Just to give you an idea of R-HUB’s web conferencing server’s capabilities, consider that they can host up to 3000 participants for each conference room. The set of tools is rich and includes useful features, like command, document and screen sharing. The quality of the streaming is always good because R-HUB’s technology relies on, On-premise servers based technologies and it is not dependent on your web connection.
Maintenance and installation are not real issues: R-HUB’s web conferencing servers are self-configuring, self-updating and self-installing, so that no dedicated IT team is necessary. Another interesting feature is that they are so silent and take so little space that you can put them on a shelf of your bookcase.
Coming to pricing, the free trial lasts 30 days. Then, you have to buy one of the several products of the suite. Prices start from $295. For further information, please visit R-HUB web site at http://www.rhubcom.com
FUZE
Among the on-line platforms that offer web conferencing free plans, Fuze is probably the most generous in terms of max participant’s number, as it supports up to 25 guests per meeting. To make a comparison, consider that usual free plans do not allow more than 10/12 participants per meeting.
The on-line space includes all the necessary resources to run successful web conferences, like 1 GB to store documents, desktop and application sharing, audio conferencing via VoIP and 12 simultaneous video feeds.
Unfortunately conference recordings are not included in the free package. You have to upgrade to the paid plan in order to get this important feature.
MEETING BURNER
Their free conferencing plan allows you to meet up to 10 people and includes all the collaborative tools of the paid plan. However, this is not a great advantage, as this platform is not very rich in instruments to engage the audience. For example, you may not download files and give control of the screen to someone else.
Despite these limitations, Meeting Burner could be a solution for those who need a simple and fast online instrument for collaborating with their teams, thanks to the high number of conference guests that are allowed.
CISCO WEBEX MEETING
Despite the max participants number per meeting is only 3 people, WebEx is still an excellent solution for small businesses because of the rich variety of its collaborative tools. In fact, the free plan offers you the ability to take down notes, to share files, to use chat boxes, and some other useful features.
Another interesting aspect of WebEx is that the free period is unlimited, and there are no limitations on how often you may host meetings through the free plan.
In one word, WebEx is a great solution for those who need a one-on-one conference solution to meet clients, partners and staff members.
These four products are just the tip of the iceberg. Choosing the right one depends on your company needs; if it is true that some special features are not available on most free plans, it is also true that you often do not need them at the early stages of your business. So, the trick is to be able to find the product that offers the tools for free that you really need. Considering the wide number of platforms that are available on the market today, this shouldn’t be a difficult task.