With so many web conferencing options available, it can be hard to know which one is the best. To try to answer this question for ourselves, my company recently completed an analysis of the current web conferencing software packages available including comparing them based on functionality and relative cost.
For the last year, we have been using a pay-for-use service with Microsoft LiveMeeting. Given our ongoing reliance on web conferencing for real-time collaboration with our typically geographically-dispersed client and project teams, having cost effective web conference software is mandatory. Unfortunately, our current LiveMeeting service does not include phone conferencing and the cost of 35¢ per minute per user has raised concerns as to the long-term cost effectiveness of this option for our web conferencing needs.
To get started, research using the Elearning Guild’s interactive research reports on satisfaction with different tools and products (2007) recommended the following four web conference vendors for companies similar to Performance Associates: Microsoft LiveMeeting, WebEx, Citrix GoToWebinar, and Adobe Acrobat Connect. In an attempt to compare apples to apples, the following matrices compare these products side-by-side.
Implementation Considerations:
Industry Recommendations:
Functionality:
Based on the above comparison and considering Performance Associates’ primary needs and usage of different web conferencing features, we are currently using the free 30-day trial period offered by Citrix Online’s GoToWebinar to test their service. If for some reason the trial period reveals that GoToWebinar does not provide the functionality and/or quality desired, then we will consider moving to Adobe’s Acrobat Connect Professional.
Preliminary testing has already revealed Citrix’s GoToWebinar to be an excellent product, especially considering the relatively low monthly cost of $99. Meeting administration functions are simple and provide the ability to easily schedule sessions, send emails to participants (including an Outlook file to add the session to the participant’s calendar), and send reminder and/or follow-up emails. One administrative function I was particularly impressed with was the ability to view real-time reports on who has registered for the conference. Additional functionality that has tested positively includes a conference bridge (where each caller pays for their own telephone charges), and so far it appears that the quality of the images during web conferencing is very high—there is none of the image degradation we’d been experiencing with Microsoft’s LiveMeeting service. The facilitator interface was also very easy to learn and use, and provided additional functionality such as more robust chat and question controls.
The only downside that we’ve identified so far is that there is a limit to the number of polls you can do during and after a session (only 8). Since some of our web conferences require more polls, what we are considering is purchasing the monthly program with Citrix’s GoToWebinar and then using Adobe’s Acrobat Connect Professional pay-per-use for any conferences requiring this additional polling functionality.
All in all, there are many web conferencing options available and there are pros and cons to each one. While this assessment shows how these services compared for my company, your company and needs may be different. However my hope is that, by sharing our assessment of these services, I have provided you with an educated first step if you are also looking to select a web conference provider.
References:
Adobe Acrobat Connect Professional. (n.d.) Retrieved July 11, 2007 from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobatconnectpro/
Elearning Guild Interactive Research (members only). (2007) Retrieved July 11, 2007 from http://www.elearningguild.com/360_reports/
GoToWebinar Features. (n.d.) Retrieved July 9, 2007 from https://www.gotowebinar.com/webinar/pre/features.tmpl
Microsoft Office Live Meeting feature comparison. (n.d.) Retrieved July 11, 2007 from http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/livemeeting/HA102019871033.aspx
WebEx Meeting Center. (n.d.) Retrieved July 11, 2007 from http://www.webex.com/smb/web-meeting-center.html
- Robin
Copyright Robin Donnan 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Performance Associates, Inc.
