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Chart 1

 
 
Conference Meeting Services Comparison
Service Category Costs / Max Attendees Notes Pros Cons Website
AOL Instant Messenger Audio/Video Chat Free. Unlimited Does not require AOL membership. Must install software Instant Messaging, Chat rooms, Voice & Video, File Transfers. Save conversations with logging.  Messenger interruptions can get annoying. http://www.aim.com
PalBee Audio/Video Chat Free. Still in Beta.  Video, audio, and text chat  Multiple attendees and Videos - Share Whiteboard - You can also upload images or PowerPoint files and use them on the whiteboard. Can record.  Cannot share desktop - Only records host video& audio with whiteboard & chat.  Very buggy http://www.palbee.com/
Paltalk Audio/Video Chat Free For Chat group or Create your own. Need to pay to receive video Chat Rooms - Public and Private Video IM w/up to 10 people Free chats & use cam. Free to set up your own chat room with up to 200 people. Limited access groups available. All people can have cams Must install software - Pay to to view webams http://www.paltalk.com/en/
Skype Audio/Video Chat Free Skype to Skype -  Conference call up to 9 people / Group Chat up to 100 people - Pay Monthly or Pay as you Go - Cost $2-95 - 9.95 /mo for calls out of computer (GoTo)  -  Online number Cost $6/mo + subscription VoIP Phone Free Skype to Skype - Video available - separate portable devices available (Wi-Fi) - Conference calls - Voice Mail  Costs to call regular phones  - Extra to have number for regular phones to call you - Limited to small meetings http://www.skype.com
Windows Live Messenger Audio/Video Chat Free. Requires free membership to Windows Live. Unlimited Must Install software. Part of Windows Live, so same account can share photos, file storage, and more.  Each part of Live are separate, so you cannot show document while texting.  http://get.live.com/messenger
Yahoo Messenger Audio/Video Chat Free. Unlimited  Install Messenger software for your OS. XP, Vista, Mac, or Web. Instant Messaging, Chat rooms, Voice & Video, File Transfers. Many features don't work in Vista or in Web version yet. http://messenger.yahoo.com
DimDim Conferencing Free ($0) 20 people - Pro ($99/yr per 20 people) 100 people - Enterpise ($1999/yr for 20 people) 1000 people Meetings e-learning - business demos - computer help - share desktop/whiteboards PowerPoints/PDFs Up to 20 in free version - Up to 100 attendees for $99/yr. Ability to record session No download for attendees Multiple Presenters Can share screens with Mac & Windows Free teleconfercing No software to install Ads in free version Only 1 or 2 can use video There are still a lot of bugs http://dimdim.com/
Go To Meeting Conferencing Host up to 15 attendees $50/mo or $468/yr. Can buy up to 1,000 attendees for about $1,000/yr Web Conferencing Keyboad & Mouse sharing. Changes presenter. Polling and surveys. Share apps. Record session.  Expensive, but reliable. http://www.gotomeeting.com
Live Meeting Conferencing 30 day demo available, but can only save locally.  No free access.  Prices & number of participants vary.  Minimum 5 users at about $75/mo up to 1250 users. Standard edition maximum 15 and Professional max is 1250 Web conferencing service operated by Microsoft. Includes software that is installed on client PCs, and uses a central server for all clients to connect to. Servers are under the control of Microsoft Live and recorded video, chat, slide and application sharing, VoIP and PSTN audio, and audience feedback tools. Only requires IE plugin. Can record to server for later playback or download. Does record shared screen, whiteboard, speaker video and chat. PPT Sharing - Apps & Desktop Sharing - Whiteboard - Q & A - Polls Fairly expensive. Some training is required to set up & run. Only Prof version records http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/livemeeting
Lotus Unyte Conferencing Allows 15, 25, 999 participants at $48/mo, $75/mo & $99/mo. Conferencing Share desktop & apps. Can record.  1 moderator account http://www.unyte.net/
ooVoo Conferencing Free. Up to 3 Peoplefree. Up to 6 $10/mo. Video Chat High resolution video. Record video. send files during chat.  High resolution video. Record video. send files during chat.  http://www.oovoo.com/
Teamspeak Conferencing Free to non commercial/non-profits.  Up to 1000 slots. Pricing for commercial based on slots. Conferncing host software Free to non-commercial entities. Runs on Win/Max/Linux.  Will require server http://www.teamspeak.com
Vyew Conferencing Free up to 20 participants. Plus ver 25 max & Prof ver 45max. There are ads. Live Web Conferencing Share images, documents, presentations, whiteboard, drawings, notes. Uses VyewBooks where meetings take place. Desktop sharing. Browser based.  Vyewbooks concept is confusing. Recording not available yet. http://vyew.com/
webEx Conferencing Services vary as do costs. $39/mo up 15 attendees, $59/mo up to 25.  Web meeting by Cisco Desktop sharing, Video, audio, private chat. Pass control. Expensive, but it works. http://www.webex.com
Connect Now Online Collaboration/ Remote Control Service is in Open Beta Test  Free - Only Host signs in - attendees do not need account Up to 3 people (free) - Connect Std ($39/mo) - up to 15 people - Connect Pro ($75 PP/mo subscript)  Part of site to create and share documents, communicate in real time, work with others Free - unique meeting room url - Scree sharing, whiteboard, video conferencing chat, remote control of other system - Permission of host needed to join - Free land-line conferencing for voice call-in  Too expensive for more than 3 people. Geared to professional organizations. Still in Beta and buggy https://acrobat.com
Lotus BlueHouse Online Collaboration/Remote Control In Beta and only 3 people supported. On line collaboration Present files, share desktop, hand raising & side chats. On line space to store & share. Still in Beta.  Only host & 2 participants during testing. For small conferences.  Larger, use Lotus Unyte. http://bluehouse.lotus.com/
Justin.tv Video Streaming/ Broadcasting Free. Unlimited users onthe Internet Stream web broadcast Stream video and text chat. Can use video of up to 640x480 No desktop or Whiteboard available. Only audio from host.  Others must text chat. http://www.justin.tv/
uStream Video Streaming/ Broadcasting Free. Unlimited users on the Internet Stream web broadcast Free.  Set up account and broadcast easily. Video clear with audio. Text chat works well. Create your own channel.  Recording and storing on line.It works. Requires specialsoftware to show desktop. Limited size of frame to show video and/or desktop. Chat not recorded. Only audio from host, others text chat. http://www.ustream.tv/
Google Lively Virtual Reality Still in Beta. Unlimited attendees A fun way to have a meeting.  However, be prpared for annoyances if your meeting is open. Create and decorate your own room and then invite your friends over. You can personalize your surroundings with an ever growing catalog of avatars, outfits, furniture and rooms. Good for discussions. Presentations are only available as You Tube gadgets or Photo Gadgets. Requires software to download http://www.lively.com
Second Life Virtual Reality Free access. Subscription ($9.95/mo) Extra cost to buy Second life money (called Linden Dollars), to buy land, plus land maintence fee. Virtual & Real items purchased can be free and up. Unlimited number of attendees Virtual 3-D World Hold in-person meetings - Construct simulations - Good for training - show videos/slides  - open to the world Loads of fun - can be somewhat realistic for classes, training, & meetings Must install special software and sign up for service.  Free access is available. Needs DSL or Cable - Win 2000, XP, Vista, Mac OS x 10.3.9 +, Linux & good Graphics card BIG learning curve http://secondlife.com/