How to Install Video Conferencing

Video conferencing is available for personal or business use. This is helpful if you are a long distance from other parties, as you do not incur additional long-distance telephone charges. For small businesses, conference calls can be expensive. However, you can use software to hold a meeting via the Internet. The free ooVoo software, available for Windows and Macintosh, allows up to six members. Sagaxis Desktop Video Conferencing ($99 as of July 2009) allows high-quality conferencing with no limitations on the number of members.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

ooVoo

1. Obtain the ooVoo video conferencing program. On the ooVoo download page (See Resources), click the "Get ooVoo" button under your specific operating system. Save the program to your drive. Some browsers offer a particular directory for all downloads.

2. Double-click on the ooVoo downloaded software. Press "Run" to begin installation.

3. Wait until the "Preparing Software" finishes. Push "Next."

4. Change the install folder or keep default "Program Files/ooVoo." Press "Change" to select a new directory. Highlight the folder and click "OK." Uncheck "Install Toolbar" as well as "Make 'www.mystart.com' My Home Page." Select the "Install" button.

5. Allow the program to finish installing. The software will begin right away. Establish an ooVoo account. Insert an "ID" and "Password." Enter "Personal Details," which include email address, birth date and gender. Read the "End User Licenses" by pressing the link. Then click the "I Accept" box. Press "Create."

6. Answer the "Additional Information" questions, which are optional. Press "Next" after each page. Click "Finish" when complete. Begin using the ooVoo video conferencing software.

Sagaxis Desktop Video Conferencing

7. Download Sagaxis Desktop Video Conferencing (See Resources). Press the "Download Now" link. Select the "Save to Disk" button. Choose a folder and click "OK." Your particular browser may save in a designated directory.

8. Go to the Desktop Video Conferencing download folder. Double-click on the "DVCSetup.exe" file. Select "Run."

9. Read the "License Agreement." Press the "Accept" circle. Select "Next."

10. Permit the "Preparing Setup" to complete. Select "Next." Press "Browse" to change the install folder. Click on the new directory and then select "OK." Skip to leave the folder as-is. Press the "Next" button.

11. Select "Next" again. When the installation is complete, the software will complete three tests: "Video," "Speaker" and "Microphone."

12. Plug the video camera and microphone into the computer. Turn on the speakers. Select the "Next" button twice to begin the tests.

13. Press "Test" on each window. The test will determine your video-conferencing tools. After each test, press "Next." At the end, select "Finish" to end the installation and start using the program.

Resources

• ooVoo Software Download
• Sagaxis Desktop Video Conferencing