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Don't Just Stop at Skype: Alternative Video Conferencing Apps for Businesses

TMCnet Feature

July 25, 2013

Don't Just Stop at Skype: Alternative Video Conferencing Apps for Businesses

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By Alice Koganova
Contributing Writer

When people think of video conferencing, Skype (News - Alert) is usually the first application to come to mind. Video conferencing is becoming a popular way to interact nowadays, especially within businesses. Many companies are finding that video conferencing is just another way of having a face-to-face conversation without actually being face-to-face. This is important for businesses particularly with overseas clients or colleagues who happen to work from home.


Although the first to come to mind, Skype isn’t always the best video conferencing tool to use. In fact, there are plenty of applications you can choose from to fit your business needs. The best part is that these conferencing tools are all available for your smartphone. So, before you decide to take your chances with Skype, consider some of these alternatives.

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ooVoo (News - Alert)

For those social media fans out there, ooVoo is a free video chat app for iOS and Android (News - Alert) that easily integrates with Facebook. All you need to do is download the app, create an account or login with Facebook. The rest is up to you. Whether you’re looking to video chat or simply instant message, ooVoo can make client calls easy and convenient. The app has five navigation buttons including your contacts, phone, history, IM and settings. You can choose to create a group chat with up to 11 other users at a time, but keep in mind that you only see four people on screen at once.
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ooVoo

This app is great to use when you’ve got a scheduled conference but happen to be out of the office. You could be anywhere and still use your smartphone to have a face-to-face conversation with anyone you work with. This free and unlimited app allows you to instant message while you’re in the middle of a video call, which helps you multitask and get things done efficiently. ooVoo even lets you make a status update, similar to one you’d make on Facebook (News - Alert), to let your colleagues know if you’re busy or in the middle of a call.
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Google (News - Alert) Hangouts

If you use Google to search for just about anything, you’ll have no problem using it to search for the right video conferencing tool. That’s because Google created Google Hangouts in 2011, and it can now be downloaded as an app for Android and iOS. Similar to ooVoo, this app allows you to invite people to “hang out” or, in business lingo, join conference calls. All you need is a Gmail account to get started.
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Google Hangouts

In comparison to ooVoo, Google Hangouts only supports 10 users in a group chat (rather than 12). But don’t let that stop you from installing this app. Google Hangouts lets you share your desktop, use built-in apps for drawing, collaborate with others and screen share. You can even use a feature called Auto Backup to save any photo or video shared during a video conference in your own Google+ album.

For those always on the go, Google Hangouts will keep you up-to-date with anything going on in the office when you happen to be out of the office. You can view posts from specific circles of users to see what’s happening right on your smartphone. You’ll no longer have to feel like you’ve got a ton of catching up to do after a sick day. Google Hangouts will feel like your very own virtual office.
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Glide

This app may not be the most suitable choice for holding a client or conference call, but it’s ideal for staying connected with your colleagues. For many of us, work follows us anywhere we go. Keeping in touch with your colleagues is what helps you get work accomplished outside of work hours. While texting is the go-to method when you’re in dire need of having a question answered, it doesn’t always help your message get across. That’s why this app has transformed simple texting into efficient video texting. Now you can send a recorded live video to a user instantly, just like a text message except you can actually see who you’re talking to.
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Glide

With this app, video messages are sent to another user the moment you start recording. Videos are simultaneously saved to the cloud so that you can watch them again anytime. Just imagine yourself trying to get a task accomplished but in need of some extra help. Simply broadcast a video to one of your colleagues asking for help and they’ll send you one back instantly. Now, anytime you find yourself running into the same problem, you’ll have that video as backup. You can even hold group chats to get more of your colleagues involved. Glide is a great alternative to text messaging and useful for businesses looking to integrate a different kind of video conferencing tool.
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AnyMeeting

AnyMeeting is less of a video chat service and more of a video conferencing tool, which is perfect for small businesses. Collaborate, meet and present to colleagues or clients straight from your smartphone. This app is available for iOS and Android, allowing users to hold business meetings right off a phone’s screen. You can join webinars, online meetings and Web conferences to share presentations and applications. Holding a business meeting has never been simpler.
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AnyMeeting

AnyMeeting allows a six-way video conference with screen sharing, chat, polls, meeting recording and more. Similar to the app Glide, you can record your business meeting and replay it anytime. What makes this app stand out from others is that it can support up to 200 participants, which is something you won’t find in just any video conferencing app. While this app is free for users, there is one catch -- you won’t be able to record your video conferences unless you upgrade at a cost. Other than that, AnyMeeting is great for those businesses who want to concentrate on holding virtual business meetings.

With so many different video apps around, don’t you think your business could benefit with a simple download? Skype will no longer have to be your go-to app for video conferencing. Your business could find an app with capabilities that fit your business needs. Take video conferencing to the next level with any of these smartphone apps.


If you know of other great video conferencing apps, please email us at [email protected]

Edited by Rich Steeves


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