The camera on the mobile phone, has whetted the appetite of millions of users for video. Coupled with the availability of free calling apps like Skype Google Duo and Facebook Messenger, it has made it easy-- and affordable -- to ' see as you speak'.
Since so many phone owners are 'prosumers' -- professional consumers -- this has led to a sort of reverse osmosis: instead of professional tools 'trickling down' to lay users, consumer apps like Skype are seeing an upward mobility into corporate corridors and have seen a new wave of attractively priced video conferencing tools. These are aimed at 'huddles': small groups of 3-4 people connecting wirelessly with similar-sized teams at multiple locations, anywhere, anytime.
Indeed, surveys show that over half of all corporate con-calls or conference calls involve such small numbers of participants whose interactions are short-n-sweet, frequent, spontaneous and unstructured. This rules out the old-style, pre-planned video conferences using third party networks, proprietary software, passwords....
Logitech, who many of us may recognize more easily, as a maker of keyboard and mouse, has emerged as a leader in this New Age videoconferencing business. Some tools in their video collaboration catalogue can be as simple as a Rs 12,000 table-top speaker phone into which you can stick a mobile phone and get started -- or as elaborate as a Rs 1.2 lakh 'Group' videoconferencing system for mid-to-large rooms. I had occasioned to tryout their latest product which is somewhere in between: MeetUp is a ConferenceCam, ideal for the huddle room which seems to be a feature of new style open-plan offices. The main unit is about 40cm wide and weighs one kg. It incorporates an ultra HD (4K) video camera with a 120-degree field of view, which can be panned, tilted or zoomed from a separate remote unit; 3 echo cancelling microphones and a speaker. If the room is bigger you can add more mikes. A 5-metre USB cable connects the main unit to PC, laptop or a Chrome-based device and you can also connect to a large screen via HDMI.
The beauty of a solution like MeetUp is that it works with standard video-calling software like Skype for Business or Cisco Jabber without imposing its own proprietary tool. So you can do a conference with other platforms as long as all use the same software. It needs to be said that none of the currently available software solutions support 4K video. Think of it as future proofing!
MeetUp was recently launched in India and costs Rs 99,995, something most small business might consider a good investment.
Meeting on the move - Cool new conference software, for all.
NowConfer is a new audio-video conferencing app for mobile users that has seen nearly 1 lakh downloads, to become a Top Ten conferencing tool in Google Play. Developed by Indian engineers for Singapore-based Comverg Technologies, it appeals equally to lay and corporate users with its stark simplicity: no dial-ins, PINS, pass-codes, just download the Android or iOS app and get started.
Unlike Skype, where all participants need a Skype account, only the call organiser needs to have NowConfer app, the call participants need not have the app; NowConfer will dial to each of the participants on their number. Just wait for the ring on your phone, accept the call and join the conference. You can use phone, tablet or PC and any form of connectivity: phone or data. Up to 5 persons can join in a video call. While it is great for getting together with friends or for those increasingly popular kudumba yogams, we think even professionals on the move will appreciate NowConfer for its no-hassle set up.
The free version which you can find at www.nowconfer.com is good for conferences up to an hour long; 9,000 minutes of audio or 3,000 minutes of video in a month. For unlimited usage, there are paid versions at around $10 (Rs 650) per month.
—IndiaTechOnline
