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Sick of endless emails and staff meetings? Enjoy the freedom to work and study from anywhere with video conferencing. Start your meeting in one click and cut it in half with screen sharing and video recording. Add a personal touch to your work communications with TrueConf!

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Video matters

What is Video Conferencing?

Video conferencing is a visual communication session between two or more users regardless of their location, featuring audio and video content transmission in real time.

In broad terms, video conferencing software is a solution that allows two or more persons to talk and see each other remotely. Initially video conferencing software only enabled users to make video calls or hold group video conferences. However, as technology advanced, video conferencing software acquired plenty of helpful tools and features for remote communication and learning.

Today, video conferencing is rather a tool for integrated into video collaboration and unified communications platforms that also offer screen sharing, slideshow, recording, instant messaging, project management tools, telephony integration among other features. As an increasing number of companies switch to remote work, video conferencing is gradually becoming the new normal, shaping the way we communicate, learn and work.

Video conferencing benefits

You can run video meetings with remote colleagues on the run right from your desktop or meeting room. With a video meeting solution you don’t waste your time and money on business vacations, cut event management costs, etc.

You just need to schedule your video meeting, invite your colleagues and start video conferencing right away! Your conferencing software will also send you a notification to remind you of your meeting. Video conferencing platform interface is extremely user-friendly and does not require training.

For an efficient workflow video conferencing system often features different collaboration tools, such as content and screen sharing, slideshow, or instant messaging. Collaboration tools allow multiple users to work on a joint project, share their results and brainstorm ideas.

During a video meeting you can see the user's emotions and articulation and establish eye contact, which is crucial for social communication and especially business interactions. Additionally, video conferencing systems do not allow users to distract, making it easier to focus on the communications as if they were in a real meeting.

Modern video conferencing systems are based on specialized codecs, proprietary protocols and actively using encryption, which is why security risks can only be caused by a human factor.

If stringent quarantine measures are put in place in your country, video conferencing gives you an unprecedented opportunity to work from home without being exposed to health risks.

Video conferencing trends

In 2020, video conferencing apps have seen an unprecedented rise in downloads due to COVID-19 pandemic. According to Transparency Market Research, the video conferencing market is expected to grow from $6.1 billion in 2019 to $11.56 billion by the end of 2027. What are the main growth drivers of the video conferencing market?

The rise of remote working

An increasing number of companies tend to switch to remote work and online collaboration. This trend has persisted for a number of years, however, it has certainly become mainstream due to the far-reaching implications of COVID-19. Many businesses have to adopt video conferencing solutions in effort to maintain their efficiency amidst travel restrictions and quarantine. In many ways, recent events have made it quite clear that effective video collaboration tools are critical for the proper performance of any organization.

Ease of use and no downloads

Video conferencing software should be easy to adopt and use by non-experienced IT users. It should be simple to start or join a video meeting, invite meeting participants or manage your conference from any device. It is also important to allow users to connect from their browsers without installing any apps. This opportunity was opened up by the development of WebRTC technologies facilitating in-browser communication.

From meeting rooms to huddle spaces and workplaces

Users do not want video communication to be limited by the boundaries of conference halls and meeting rooms. Instead, video conferencing has become a simple day-to-day communication tool that is used on workplaces: you can take part in large video meetings, share your content, record conferences, exchange messages - all of it from your own PC. Such changes have been made possible by the wide adoption of SVC (scalable video coding) architecture allowing organizations to hold thousands of conferences on usual servers. Besides, this technology has made it easier and less costly for businesses to connect new users.

Security and reliability of your meeting solution

Meeting solutions should be able to operate in changing network conditions or low bandwidth to allow consistent video conferencing experience. This is essential for users working from home in regions where there’s insufficient internet bandwidth.

Video Conferencing Modes

Point-to-point video calls

Point-to-point video calls

Video session involving two participants who can see and hear each other simultaneously. Video calls are perfect for face-to-face communication with your colleagues.

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Multipoint video conference

Multipoint video conference

Full-duplex video session involving more than two participants who can see and hear each other simultaneously. Multipoint video conference is similar to a roundtable discussion where all participants have equal rights. This video conferencing mode is perfect if you need to engage all meeting participants.

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Video lecture

Video lecture

Video session where the speaker can see and hear all the students, while the students can see and hear only the speaker. This way, the students easily focus on the learning process and don’t get distracted by other students, while the instructor is able to monitor each of them.

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All hands meeting

All hands meeting

Video conferencing mode featuring two primary types of meeting roles: presenters and attendees. Presenters can participate in a meeting with audio, video and content, while attendees can engage using chat, reactions or push-to-talk. This mode is perfect for large-scale meetings and product demos.

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Key features of video conferencing software

Nowadays, video conferencing allows users not only to communicate by video, but also to use collaboration tools, which are essential for corporate communications.

Video conferencing

Gather your team and simplify workflows faster and more efficiently.

Video conferencing

Instant messaging

Connect with teams before, during, and after meetings in personal and group chats.

Instant messaging
Video conference recording

Video conference recording

Record conference to refresh the details of the earlier discussion at any time. Share video conference recordings with colleagues to keep them well-informed.

Support for multiple devices

Support for multiple devices

Sign in to your account on multiple devices simultaneously. Your chat and call history is automatically synced on every platform you are using.

Remote meeting management

Remote meeting management

Connect with teams before, during, and after meetings in personal and group chats.

Slideshow

Slideshow

Demonstrate slides, photos, drawings, diagrams, documents and PDF files to remote participants with TrueConf slide show feature.

The best video conferencing software

Which video conferencing platform is right for your business? The answer generally depends on your organization’s unique requirements and needs. While personal communication is not demanding and doesn’t require complicated setups, enterprise customers are usually looking at more advanced features, such as 4K resolution, large-scale meetings, integration with conference room systems, reports and monitoring, etc.

When choosing the best video conferencing software it is important to note that cloud-based video conferencing systems largely depend on an Internet connection and third-party security measures, creating vulnerabilities for enterprises adopting the technology. Privacy-conscious orgs usually opt in for self-hosted collaboration platforms that operate totally offline in your LAN/VPN network to ensure that all communications, meeting recordings and personal data stay within your company network under your supervision.

Here is an overview of the best video conferencing software with a breakdown of features our customers care about the most.

TrueConf
Zoom Compare
Cisco Webex Compare
Microsoft Teams Compare
Jitsi Compare
Deployment type
On-premises, hybrid or cloud.
Cloud or hybrid.
Cloud.
Cloud.
On-premises or cloud.
Offline operation
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Video conferencing features
4K (UltraHD) video support
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Maximum size of video conference
1,500
1,000
200
300
75
Max number of on-screen participants
36. Up to 100 on request.
Up to 49. Up to 25 over H.323/SIP gateway.
25
49
12
Unlimited video layouts
Yes
No
No
No
No
Interoperability
Compatibility with H.323/SIP endpoints
Yes
Additional subscriptions in the cloud or a separate virtual machine for a gateway required.
No
Third-party service subscription required.
SIP compatibility is unstable and requires installation of additional software packages. H.323 support unavailable.
Dial out and telephony
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
SMTP integration
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

What you need to know about Zoom

Zoom

Zoom provides free high-quality video conferencing for up to 40 minutes per group meeting. With a Zoom Pro plan for $14.99 per month, you can host unlimited conferences with up to 100 participants (can be increased up to 1,000 with Large Meetings add-on which costs approximately $600 per year). The Pro plan also adds more features, such as cloud recording and streaming. More expensive Business plan enables recording transcripts, company branding, single sign-on and other enterprise features.

Even if you are using the free version of Zoom, you have a lot of settings to manage meeting participants and customize your conference. For instance, you can change or blur your background with a special setting, which makes it easier to work from home with a sense of privacy. For example, the background of your apartment can be replaced with a picturesque view of the virtual seaside.

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What you need to know about Google Meet (Hangouts)

Google Meet (Hangouts)

With Google Meet, users can host and join online web meetings for free. However, there are some limitations you should be aware of when using the free version. You cannot hold a meeting for more than 1 hour a day, while the number of participants is limited to 100.

Google Meet allows free access to many useful tools such as live closed captions, desktop sharing, gallery view, and many others. However, some essential features, such as meeting recording, hand raise and breakout rooms are only available in paid plans.

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What you need to know about Skype for Business

Skype for Business

Skype is perhaps one of the most popular video conferencing brands. Almost everyone has at least once used the free version of this program. For businesses and enterprises Microsoft has been offering Skype For Business, included in one of Microsoft Office 365 Business plans. Skype For Business provides video conferencing for up to 250 participants, call recording and anonymous polls. However, Skype For Business Online was discontinued on July 31, 2021, while Skype For Business Server will end mainstream support in 2024. Instead, users are encouraged to use the Microsoft Teams service instead, which, however, does not provide a lot of security and enterprise features Skype For Business used to.

Some other Skype features worth mentioning are:

  • Integration with Outlook and other Microsoft apps.
  • Shared workspace. Meeting participants can not only discuss the project, but also collaborate on documents and follow workflow progress.
  • Up to 6 participants on screen.
  • Host controls: if a presenter suddenly forgets to turn off the microphone or someone breaks the rules, the organizer can quickly fix it.
  • VoIP telephony provides cost saving.
  • Security. Skype features enhanced protection against hacker attacks.
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What you need to know about Jitsi

Jitsi

Jitsi Meet is an open source WebRTC engine demo developed by 8X8 Inc. It provides free video meetings available from your browser. Jitsi does not provide desktop client apps, only mobile users can join a meeting from Jitsi app. Jitsi allows only 75 participants per meeting, which makes it an arguable choice for large-scale conferences.

If you're setting Jitsi on your server, you may require custom development and installation of additional software, which raises the need to hire an IT specialist. Finally, Jitsi may not be a good choice if you have unstable Internet connection: it’s very demanding in terms of system requirements and bandwidth.

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What you need to know about Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is a cloud-based team collaboration software that comes with Microsoft 365 and Office 365 Suite. This platform is mainly designed for corporate messaging, calls, video meetings, and file sharing. With Microsoft Teams, you can host meetings for up to 300 users.

Microsoft Teams platform may have certain disadvantages, including confusing file structure, limited security options, poor meeting experience and adoption issues.

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FAQ

What does video conferencing mean?

Video conferencing is an audio-visual form of remote communication between people in real time.

What is the purpose of video conferencing?

Video conferencing is a technology that allows users to hold meetings remotely in real time, often at little to no cost. This time of communication is used in emergency cases, to reduce travel expenses in geographically distributed organizations, for judicial proceedings with the remote participation of convicts, and as one of the elements of telemedicine and distance learning technologies.

How can I arrange video conferencing?

Step 1: Download TrueConf Server Free and get your registration key.

Step 2: Install and register in TrueConf Server.

Step 3: Create user accounts.

Step 4: Install and log in to the TrueConf client applications.

Step 5: Enjoy video conferencing.

Who can use video conferencing?

The software is actively used in the B2B, B2C, education and healthcare markets. Interviews, employee onboarding and webinars can be conducted via video conferencing.

What are the advantages of using video conferencing?

The valuable advantages are improved workflow efficiency and saved travel costs. All the user needs is basic computer technology and video conferencing software.

Why is video communication important for your business?

In today's fast-paced world, video conferencing has become one of the most important tools that helps businesses reach new prospects, meet new partners, and close profitable deals despite long distances and different time zones. This is due to the fact that video-based communication takes formal conversations to a higher level of mutual understanding through face-to-face contact and ability to follow the body language of your interlocutors. In addition, online conferences allow companies to boost productivity of remote workflows, as well as expand business activities outside the domestic country.

What is video communication?

People started wondering what video communication would have looked like back in the early 1920s. However, revolutionary ideas were ahead of their time, and field tests of closed-circuit television in the 1960s and the Picturephone commercial service in the 1970s failed due to high cost. A few years later, in 1982, AT&T launched a ground-breaking Picturephone Meeting Service, with an hour of video communication between two offices costing $2,380. Some success was achieved in 1986 when PictureTel, today’s Polycom, designed a relatively low-price VC system that offered 60 minutes of video communication for $100.

In the early '90s, Tim Dorsey at Cornell University wrote a program called CU-SeeMe, which became the first desktop video meeting solution. However, online meetings were still a quite expensive option that only large organizations could afford. But technology does not stand still and in 1995, group video conferencing was released.

In fact, video communication is a virtual conversation between 2 or more participants, who can hear, see, and talk to each other in real time via video-enabled devices, desktops and mobiles. As for the business realm, a growing number of companies around the globe are taking advantage of online meetings, expanding connections with partners, customers, and suppliers, while keeping remote collaboration processes afloat in today’s hybrid working environment.

How does video conferencing work?

Developing over the decades, video conferencing has become one of the most convenient and effective ways to communicate remotely. Today’s online meeting solutions allow users not only to connect in real-time regardless of location, but also to share messages in chat, display content, take polls, collaborate with teammates on projects, and more. As for how this technology operates, the process can be divided into three major steps:

1. Compression (coding). The camera and microphone capture analog audio-visual input as continuous waves of frequencies and amplitudes: sounds, colors, brightness, depth, and shades. Afterwards, codecs convert the data into compressed digital packets to minimize bandwidth usage.

2. Transfer. Compressed data packets are sent over the network to the service provider, where the media streams are transmitted to conference participants.

3. Decompression (decoding). Once the packets reach endpoints, the codecs decompress the data back into analog audio and video, thus enabling users to see and hear the decoded feed.

What are the best tools for video communication?

In fact, the following 3 tools are required for a successful video conferencing experience:

1. Hardware. These are video-enabled devices, desktops and mobiles, or meeting room systems. For example, you can take either a laptop/PC with a webcam and headset, or a smartphone and tablet with a built-in camera.

2. Software. You need to choose a video conferencing platform you like, e.g. Microsoft Teams, TrueConf, Google Meet, download and install its client app for the operating system running your personal computer or mobile device.

3. Internet. Holding a video conference requires a stable Internet connection and minimum bandwidth of 8 Mbps for download and 1.5 Mbps for upload.

Video Conferencing Software
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Definition of videoconferencing