Video Conferencing Vs Web Conferencing Services for your Business

There has been a bit of confusion associated with the terms video conferencing and web conferencing. Although they are often used interchangeably, the fact of the matter is that video and web conferencing share more differences than they do similarities.

Video conferencing involves a set of interactive telecommunication technologies that allow two or more locations to interact via simultaneous two-way video and audio transmissions. Video conferencing, requires an audio connection – either standard telephone lines or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) – the use of a webcam or additional video equipment, and a large amount of bandwidth to support the connection. In addition, most video conferences require the use of a designated conference room that holds the specialized video conferencing equipment as well as a screen on which one or more participants can view the conference.

Web conferencing, on the other hand, is used to conduct live meetings, presentations, training, etc. via the Internet. Most modern web conferencing solutions are available on virtually any device and require only a web browser and an Internet connection. One of the biggest differences between video conferencing services and web conferencing services is that web conferencing services provide a comprehensive set of features that aid in increasing participant engagement, including:

• Polling
• Q and A sessions
• File transferring
• White boarding
• Remote control
• Desktop sharing
• In-conference chat (both private and public)
• Record and store
• Outlook integration

One often overlooked fact, however, is that many of today’s top web conferencing services (such as PGi’s iMeet solution and Cisco WebEx) offer real-time video capabilities with the use of a webcam – something that is already installed on most computers, tablets and smartphones. Moreover, because web conferencing is available on multiple devices, participants can either host or join a meeting from anywhere, anytime, and are not limited to a designated conference room.

Want to know more about conferencing solutions from today’s leading audio, video and web conferencing providers? Give one of our professional account managers a call today or sign up now for conferencing services and we will help you find the ideal conferencing solution for your business!

Additional Information

According to a recent study conducted by the University of California at Los Angeles, more than 50% percent of what an audience learns comes directly from the visual messages seen during a presentation, compared to less than 40% from audio messages. By combining audio and visual presentations, presenters can ensure their objectives are met.