What Is Conferencing?

Conferncing allows businesses to conduct meetings while in different areas.

The world is more connected than ever. With the creation of high-speed Internet, businesses can conduct meetings over long distances--and this has become the norm. This form of long-distance communication has become known as conferencing, and it is a vital part of today's global communications strategy.

Types

There are three basic types of conferencing available for businesses to use. The conference call is the oldest technology and is readily available for use by most businesses and residential homes. It involves several parties having a single conversation over a phone line. The line can be used in accordance with a speaker designed especially for conference calls. Video conferencing is similar to phone conferencing, except a camera is set up to send the visuals of the meeting or people involved to television screens. The newest technology is web conferencing, in which people transmit voice, video and computer applications via an Internet connection.

History

Video and web conferencing has been around since the 1960s and 1970s. Video conferencing made its debut at the 1964 World's Fair. This first-generation video phone had a futuristic quality and was too expensive to be of any real use. Video conferencing wouldn't become popular again until the 1980s, with the invention of the network video and packet video protocols. However, at that time, it still cost about $1,000 per hour of video conferencing. Video conferencing became affordable with the advent of the Internet. The first video conferencing computers could only send and receive video. As the ability to send more and more data became possible, companies were created that specialized in web conferences, including instant message chats, document viewing and other web applications.

Function

The function of conferencing is for businesses to have a way to communicate with partners, employees, investors and more when they are not in close proximity. For example, if a company's corporate headquarters is in Alabama and there are satellite offices in New York and California, they can set up a conference call or video conference to discuss business instead of having to fly to the main office.

Features

Today's most sophisticated web conference services can provide a variety of programs and applications during a call. A chat box can be open for questions, documents can be viewed and sent directly to people in the meeting and tutorials of computer programs and websites can be given via linked computer. Some companies provide the ability for people to virtually raise their hand, so the instructor will know they have a question.

Warning

There may be some issues with compatibility between personal computers and Macintosh computers. If a company uses both types, then a web or video conference using the computer may not be possible. There have been some programs developed to eliminate this issue, but make sure to ask the company about compatibility issues before signing any contracts.

References

• Web Conferencing Zone.com: History of Web Conferencing
• Nefsis.com: Video Conferencing History
• Intercall.com: Products and Services