Comments on: Virtual Meetings: A Lofty Yet Impractical and Unwanted Ideal? or Exactly What We Need?

By: C Lin

C Lin — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 02:07:00 +0000

Glance Networks http://www.glance.net is great virtual meeting service that I use quite extensively. It’s in the same vein as Adobe Connect, Webex, GotoMeeting, Yugma etc. but the BEST thing about it is that it’s so simple to use — no dizzying array of buttons to get in the way of what you want to show to your participants.

I typically just pair Glance up w/ a free conference call service and I’m good to go!

By: Shweta Shetye

Shweta Shetye — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:20:41 +0000

Tom,

I have just ventured in this field of blogging and i keep questioning my competencies as a blogger:)I liked your blog and my fingers just ran over the keyboard to say something useful….

I haven’t yet created a blog and would love to hear some useful tips on how do i get started with it…

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Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:24:50 +0000

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By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:17:16 +0000

Thanks for the shoutout for Dimdim. I’m Steve from Dimdim and I wanted to let your readers know that we’ve recently upgraded the service including much more robust audio and video streaming and are in the final steps of releasing an open beta.

Using just the Flash plug-in for screensharing and webcam/microphones allows us to work across browsers/operating systems. We support up to 4 live mics at a time, and most large meetings find it easier to either “pass the mic around” or use Dimdim for screenshare, private/public chat etc and a PSTN dial-in. Of course in some countries where reliable phone isn’t available Dimdim’s built-in VoIP is a godsend

By: PEGroup

PEGroup — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 19:16:19 +0000

I love Talkshoe! I listen live to those that are interactive and I plan on them. I listen to podcasts that are educational after they have been filed (Backyard Astronomer). However, the ability of the Talkshoe conference call to work relies on strong leadership during the conversation. And, someone shouting just gets cut off and then listens. They can text if they want, but if you listened to one that you thought everyone was shouting at each other, then you were listening to a Talkshoe live conference call where the leadership was non-existent. I listen to “American Entrepreneur” every Saturday morning. Never heard shouting. Ron Morris knows what he is doing. So, if you know what you are doing, and can manage people who “put their hand up” to talk on Talkshoe, and you pick them and have a dialogue, Talkshoe is your best bet, and a free one with no degradation in quality with more people on. If you feel you can’t manage the on and off nature of those on the call, or feel you might not be able to nicely cut someone off, which is the leader’s right and responsibility, then probably just talking and saving it for others to listen to (without participation) might be in order. Either way, if you become successful, you really need to have a way to scale your conversations. Talkshoe’s secret sauce is its quality at large group participant levels! THink big! Charlottesville, VA

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WordPress Training -- Online Courses | I'd Rather Be Writing — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 06:06:16 +0000

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By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:03:29 +0000

Shweta, thanks for the recommendation to use netmeeting. Speaking of getting a hold of people for a meeting, I have a hard enough time scheduling a time coordinating times for one person, much less 4 or 5.

Do you have a blog? I didn’t see your link.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:00:10 +0000

Thanks for the tip about Yugma. I guess I won’t find out if the virtual meetings will work until I actually create one.

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 01:10:14 +0000

Tom,

A very interesting post. Virtual meetings can be tough. Aaron and I have done a few with clients and others, but fortunately only with six people or under. Skype worked well in those situations; there weren’t enough people involved to start overburdening the conference.

For screen sharing, we’ve tried Yugma (http://www.yugma.com). It worked fairly well, and has some degree of integration with Skype for voice. The downside is that it’s a Java app and is heavy as far as resources go. But since Aaron and I often use different operating systems (he Windows, me Linux), it’s worked out well.

By: Shweta Shetye

Shweta Shetye — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 07:12:53 +0000

The best way to hold a meeting without anyone necessarily being there would definately be netmeeting. I work as a writer for a renowned mobile phone manufacturer, and getting hold of the marketing folks for any kind of a meeting, be it telephonic or one on one, is a nightmare.

With advent of technological tools, the bridge between SMEs and writers can be bridged very easily. I totally recommend Netmeeting as a reliable source of communication.