| If you are thinking about getting into web | | | | view a website. |
| and video conferencing, then it is important | | | | |
| to know what is required to operate any | | | | 3. People anywhere in the world can go online |
| proposed conferencing system. Some systems | | | | and join the conference. With no equipment |
| run on proprietary software and need special | | | | installation and no software installation to |
| equipment, while browser based systems | | | | take care of, the door is open to widespread |
| usually do not require the installation of | | | | participation in your conferences. The only |
| special software or equipment. Many | | | | thing that you have to do is to notify your |
| organizations and individuals will find | | | | people and provide them with a url and a |
| browser based solutions easier to use. Here | | | | password and they can join in. |
| are a few reasons why this is so: | | | | |
| | | | 4. There is no problem with firewalls. Most |
| 1. They work on all operating systems. Do you | | | | offices and many individuals protect their |
| have some users on Mac and some on PCs? Do | | | | computers and networks from hackers by using |
| you have some users who have Linux? If you | | | | a firewall. This is good for security but can |
| want to connect all of these people together | | | | become a problem if you are trying to join |
| in one conference it may be impossible if you | | | | people together in a conference. Many web and |
| have to install special software to run your | | | | browser based systems are not affected by |
| conference. In this case a browser based | | | | firewalls and no special instructions have to |
| system that can run on all operating systems | | | | be given to conference participants whose |
| and all browsers allows you to connect with | | | | computers may be protected by firewalls. |
| all of your staff or clientele without any | | | | |
| worries about what kind of computer they are | | | | All of these factors add up to one very |
| operating. | | | | strong advantage of using browser based |
| | | | conferencing systems: they allow you to get |
| 2. You don't have to download and install | | | | maximum participation in your online events. |
| software. Sure, people are becoming more | | | | With little or no technical obstacles, such |
| computer-literate as time goes on, but | | | | systems make it easy for large numbers of |
| downloading and installing software and | | | | people, using diverse equipment and with |
| getting the software to run properly can be | | | | varying degrees of computer skills, to take |
| an obstacle to some people. The good news is | | | | part in online meetings. So, take a look at |
| that with many browser based systems there is | | | | the various conferencing packages on the |
| no software to download, because the | | | | market at the present time and pick out one |
| installation is done on the technology | | | | that is both easy to use and powerful enough |
| provider's host computer. Participating in a | | | | to meet your communications needs. |
| conference is as easy as going on line to | | | | |