Video conferencing has revolutionized the way in which people communicate in today’s time. It is a technology that facilitates live interactions between two or more people located across different geographical locations.

In the recent years, with the help of sophisticated resources, this technology has become highly accessible. Now people can access video conferencing on their smartphones for free. Applications like Apple’s FaceTime, Google Hangouts, and Skype offer free video conference calling services to their users.

This system can be used on both computers and smartphones. And, not just for personal communication, video conferencing is popularly used across the globe for business meetings, online education, and various other reasons. For small and large organizations, there are plenty of options available. Some best-rated video conferencing software programs for businesses are RingCentral, Intermedia, Join.me, ezTalks, Cisco Webex, and Adobe Connect.

This technology has evolved significantly over the past few years and has become popular because of its innumerable benefits. Whether you already use this technology for personal or business purposes or if you’re a new user, it is imperative to have a basic knowledge about it. Here is the ultimate guide that will help you understand video conferencing.

What is video conference calling?

• Video conference calling is a way to communicate with people in separate locations.
• It provides transmission of video and audio between people in real time.
• It is a cost-effective way to connect and communicate with people located in multiple diverse geographical regions.

What are the different types of video conferences?

• Point-to-point video conference – It is popularly referred to as one-on-one video conferencing. In this traditional method, just two people communicate via video and audio.
• Multi-point video conference – This revolutionary setup enables three or more people in separate locations to communicate with each other. Multi-point video conferencing is widely used by businesses worldwide to host online meetings.

What are the uses of video conference calling?
Ideal for both personal and professional use, there are multiple uses of video conferencing, some of them are:

• It is a great way to connect and communicate with friends and family members located in different geographical locations. This system can easily break the barrier of time and distance.
• Video conferencing has become more of a necessity in the current era that we live in. It connects businesses with clients or employees located in different locations. Additionally, plenty of business-related tasks and projects can be achieved with the help of this innovative technology.
• Teachers and professional trainers in different fields often use video conferencing systems for webinars and online courses.

What are the benefits of video conferencing?

• When used for personal uses, video conferencing systems whether apps or software, can make a conversation more realistic and eliminate the distance and time barriers.
• On the other hand, when used for business purposes, video conferencing can be beneficial for reducing travel costs, increasing the productivity and efficiency of the employees, and preventing delays in meetings and improving communication.

How many people can participate in a video conference call?

• The number of participants allowed in a video conference call varies from one software/application to another.
• Free video conferencing solutions like Skype and Google Hangouts allow up to 10 users to participate in a video conference call. Paid services like Join.me, RingCentral Office, Cisco WebEx Meetings, etc. allow a considerably large number of users to participate.
• Join.me offers video conference call services for as many as 250 participants.
• Certain services that cater to large businesses are known to offer video conferencing to many participants.

How much does video conferencing cost?

• Video conferencing for personal uses are often free of cost.
• Popular platforms like Microsoft’s Skype and Google Hangouts offer video conferencing services for free on both computers and smartphones.
• For businesses, the cost of video conferencing software may vary depending on the type of package and services opted for.
• The package should be selected based on the functional requirements of the organization. The price for the ezTalks (video conferencing app) desktop video conference package may range between $24 to $79 per month. On the other hand, an organization may have to invest about $100,000 for the equipment for telepresence services. For room-based conferencing, the cost may range from $10,000 up to $50,000.