z+~+Web+Conferencing

Skype

The first thing you need is a Skype Id. You will be issued a unique number, which is tied to a customizable username. The Skype ID is also recognizable to landline telephones as a regular analog telephone number through the Skype Out service. Skype is able to connect to landline telephones as well as digital Skype members through Voice over IP [|technology] , or VoIP. Skype has a very specific, closed-source proprietary VoIP system that uses a peer-to-peer system. This system is based on an overlay network which crates and refreshes the host's cache. This is in direct contrast with more traditional connection methods used by other VoIP providers like Vonage. In this way, Skype is also able to distribute band-with needs among various users. This is also how Skype is able to keep its core services free. There is Skype software for the Windows, Mac OSX and Linux operating systems. Some smart phones also have Skype applications. The software supports web cameras, so users can talk and see each other. There also are [|text messaging] , instant messaging and voice mail features built into the software. Skype has 663 million registered users as of September 2011.The network is operated by [|Microsoft], which has its Skype division headquarters in [|Luxembourg]. Most of the development team and 44% of the overall employees of the division are situated in the offices of [|Tallinn] and [|Tartu], Estonia__. __ Some network administrators have banned Skype on corporate__, __ government, home, and education networks, citing reasons such as inappropriate usage of resources, excessive bandwidth usage, and security concerns. eHow.com
 * Skype competes with other instant messaging networks and applications.[|AOL Instant Messenger]
 * [|Google Talk]
 * [|Google Voice]
 * [|ICQ]
 * [|iChat]
 * [|IBM Lotus Sametime]
 * [|Tencent QQ]
 * [|Windows Live Messenger]
 * [|Yahoo! Messenger]

AIM is different from other clients such as [|Yahoo! Messenger] in that it does not require approval from one buddy to be added to another's buddy list. As a result, it is possible for users to keep other unsuspecting users on their buddy list to see when they are online, read their status and away messages, and read their profiles. In fact, there is a web API to display one's status, away message as a widget on one's webpage.[|[12]] However, one can block another user from communicating and seeing one's status; though this does not prevent the user from creating a new account that is not blocked and therefore can still track the first user's status. A more complete privacy option is to select a menu option allowing communication only with those on one's buddy list; this causes blocking (thus appear offline to) all users not on one's buddy list. AOL recently teamed up with Facebook, allowing you to login to AIM using your Facebook account. However, many privacy advocates claim that the convenience comes at a high price. In order to sign up for AIM Express, the more lightweight, web-based version, you must accept all of their account access stipulations. These include access to your photos, videos, messages in your inbox (including private}, custom friends list, friend requests, and more. You must also allow AIM to access your account when you're offline, as well as post messages and videos on your wall. If you refuse to accept all the terms, the sign-up process stops.
 * Vulnerabilities **
 * AIM is known for security weaknesses that have enabled [|exploits] to be created that use third-party software to perform malicious acts on users' computers. Although most are relatively harmless, such as being kicked off the AIM service, others perform potentially dangerous actions such as harvesting [|IP addresses] and sending [|viruses]. Some of these exploits rely on [|social engineering] to spread by automatically sending instant messages that contain a [|URL] accompanied by text suggesting the receiving user click on it, an action which leads to infection. These messages can easily be mistaken as coming from a friend and contain a link to a web address that installs software on the user's computer to restart the cycle.

Have fun ....

Jessica Lindstrand found- For the site go to meeting some user reviews were... GoToMeeting now supports the iPad. The best bit is you just download the app for free and it so very easy to use. At the moment an iPad user can't participate much and can only view...most users are very satisfied with GoToMeeting and consider it to be one of teh best online conferencing tool available.... happened to really like the fact that the web conferencing software had audio and video recording. So many times, note taking is difficult and distracting while in meetings. This feature allows for you to save the entire contents of the GoToMeeting conference- I could then go back and view comments from my attendees. Another great feature that I found would be very helpful in my line of work was the fact as the presenter; I could control what my attendees viewed. All I had to do was go to the sidebar and choose what exactly I wanted my attendees to view while conferencing. If you want them just to see an Excel spreadsheet or a PowerPoint presentation- you simply go to the pull-down menu and choose that. I often keep several programs opened on my computer at a time- My Messenger, Lotus Notes, and sometimes even the Internet browser. I frequently check and even use these for reference on many subjects. When I choose to just let my attendees see the chosen program- they never know that I have these other programs open. As well, the GoToMeeting software allows for the presenter to turn over the program to other presenters during the GoToMeeting. I used this feature quiet a lot. As the district manager, I was able to present my part of the GoToMeeting- then simply handover the remainder of the meetings to my store managers; all of which were in different cities and even different states....But GoToMeeting allows you to invite attendees prior to the meeting and even during the meeting. As the presenter, you are allowed to choose who speaks at what specific time and basically control the meeting- right from your desk. There’s no talking over anyone else and no confusion over who is presenting. It’s all right there at your finger-tips... Unlike, many other software programs attendees do not have to pay for the software to join a meeting. This allows for you to correspond with clients and colleagues without costing them a dime... It seems that users of this site really enjoy the only bad review I read was they were unhappy of the price, but if its a good program for your company its most likely worth it.

Webex: Webex is a great tool and can be used for a wide range of reasons. For example, Webex can be used to hold online meetings, webinars, sales, demonstrations, training, and more. Like GoToMeeting, Webex also supports iPad. Additionally, Webex can be used with a mobile device such as 3G smart phones. Webex allows people attending the conference to change leaders. This allows individuals to update documents during the meeting in real time. Webex also has a wonderful monitoring tool. The tool allows all the collaborators to see who is logged on, how they are logged on, and who is using a webcam. Webex claims to be able to get all collaborators on the "same" page. I love this type of collaborating. Teams can work on presentations together, excel documents, word documents, etc. Webex has been popular because there are n o hardware installation or software maintenance, it works on any platform — PC, Mac, Linux, or Solaris, and upgrades and patches are automatic. Another awesome benefit is the the ability to record a meeting. This allows members who are absent to view the meeting at a later time. Additionally, it allows members to go back and refresh their memories about the contents of the meeting. This is an intereting tidbit, the meetings are stored and delivered through the Cisco Collaboration Cloud. I love it! I think this type of communication is wonderful. It can cut down on expenses while providing the ability to work in teams. While, I don't particularly like to see my face on the webcam, I think Webex and GoToMeeting are wonderful resources to use. Facts: Webex claims to host on a daily average 320,000 meeting a day, has 5.4 million registered users, 23 million participants, and serves in 230 different countries.

Amy Mazzola FaceTime: You can FaceTime on the iPad2, iPhone4, iPod Touch, or a Mac. And you can call someone on one device and the person you're calling can answer on a different one. "From the tiny camera on your Mac comes a huge video-calling experience. The window frame and controls fade away so you can enjoy your conversation without distractions. With picture-in-picture view, you can see how you look to the person you’re calling...And everyone can gather around the Mac screen and get in on the fun. When you call someone on an iPad 2, iPhone 4, or iPod touch, you see everything on the other end without a hitch. Whether they use the front or rear camera or rotate from portrait to landscape, FaceTime for Mac smoothly adjusts the view (http://www.apple.com/mac/facetime/?cid=wwa-naus-seg-mac10-046&cp=wwa-seg-mac10-videochat&sr=sem)."

Google+:
 * "**Hangouts**" are places used to facilitate group video chat (with a maximum of 10 people participating in a single Hangout at any point in time). However, anyone on the web could potentially join the "Hangout" if they happen to possess the unique URL of the Hangout. [|[27]] On August 18, 2011 Google added a new addition to "Hangouts" - clicking on the Share button under any YouTube video reveals an icon that suggests watching the video with friends in a Google+ hangout. [|[30]]
 * Mobile Hangouts currently supports Android 2.3+ devices with front-facing cameras (and iOS support is coming soon) are available since September 20, 2011.
 * Hangouts On-Air gives users the ability to create instant webcasts over Google+. The broadcasts can also be recorded for later retrieval. This feature, announced on September 20, 2011, is at the moment limited to some videocast personalities, but the announcement indicates that it will be opened up. The first publicly broadcasted Hangout was with [|The Black Eyed Peas] ’ [|will.i.am] on the night of September 21, 2011. [|[31]]
 * Hangouts with Extras, currently in a preview state, will allow users to share documents, share a scratchpad and share their screens with other users. [|[32]]
 * "**Messenger**" (formerly: Huddle) is a feature available to Android, iPhone, and SMS devices for communicating through instant messaging within circles. Additionally, you can now share photos in Messenger between your circles. [|[27]]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google%2B