According to a report from Fortune Business Insights, the global video conferencing market size is expected to sharply increase over the next few years, with a projection to reach USD 10.92 billion by 2027.
Compared to face-to-face meetings, conference calls or video conferencing meetings save valuable time and money - no more plane or train tickets, and no more on-the-go meals and hotel stays.
Setting up a business meeting on the phone or online is therefore the ideal solution for time management, while also offering flexible working conditions. Conference call services offer the perfect tools to save time and money, if it is well prepared and conducted efficiently. Most importantly, you need to choose the right tool for your business requirements.
As you can now meet with your team members online via webcam or mobile, which service is the best option? How can these tools help your team make online virtual conferences better?
Below is a list of the top 3 most affordable and accessible conferencing software platforms, all capable of delivering high-quality audio and video, as well as comprehensive collaboration tools. All 3 of these tools are ideal for everyone from solopreneurs to larger organizations, and everything in-between.
Zoom Meetings
Since its launch in 2013, Zoom has come a long way. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the company rose to the top by providing one of the trendiest solutions to communicate with family and team members for free, while the population of most countries in the world was being forced to stay home.
If you’re looking for a robust, efficient, secure, and affordable solution to communicate with your team members, Zoom Meetings is one of the best options available. There is a free plan with many options like HD audio/video with up to 49 videos on your screen, waiting rooms, dedicated dial-in numbers, whiteboarding, multi-share, etc.
If you’re a small team, you could upgrade to the Pro version for $14.99 a year per license, to take advantage of higher group meeting duration (from 40 minutes for the free version, all the way up to 30 hours for pro), and other options, such as reporting and better user management.
GoToMeeting
LogMeIn acquired the communication division of Citrix, which offers many enterprise-ready solutions and communication features. GoToMeeting, GoToConnect, and OpenVoice are among the most popular and affordable video conferencing and calling options.
With GoToMeeting’s free plan, you can take advantage of mobile or Internet-based online 40-minute meetings, with up to 3 participants. It is also possible to share your screen and use the in-meeting chat. You can use GoToMeeting for free for 14 days, then you need to decide which affordable plan you would like to use. If you do choose to upgrade, you’ll be able to enjoy no meeting time limits and many other meeting features, such as dial in conference line and a personnel meeting room.
There is a plan for Professionals at $12 per month per organizer (up to 150 participants per meeting), and one for Businesses at $19 per month per organizer (up to 250 participants per meeting).
RingCentral
RingCentral is one of the best solutions if you’re looking for an all-in-one communication experience with integrated video, message, and phone options.
RingCentral Meetings offers a free plan with up to 100 participants and unlimited 1:1 meeting (group meeting limited to 40 minutes). You can also share screens and use other features, such as team messaging and local recording.
To take advantage of unlimited group meetings and other advanced features like phone support and basic reporting, you can use an Essentials account for $14.99 per user per month (small businesses), or an Advanced account for $19.99 per month per user (larger companies).
Bottom-Line
To choose the best video conferencing solution for your team, think about everything you need now, and what you might need in the near future to avoid being constrained by the service you’re using, e.g. when your company hires new team members.
