Until recently, a videoconference could only be held in specially equipped rooms. Now, this feature is available anywhere, even in the car, and on any device. From expensive pleasure, video conferencing has become a free opportunity for working meetings and business negotiations with partners. All you need is access to the Internet and a program suitable for your purposes. You can learn about other useful apps and life hacks on Android here.
#1. GOOGLE + HANGOUTS
Powerful and easy to use video chat from Google.
Pros: No need to install a heavyweight program, just download the Hangouts plugin app from Google Play. Video conferencing takes place directly on the Google+ page.
A user can start a conference in one of his circles with those participants who are now interested in this, and then, during the dialogue, other users can connect to the conversation. Participants in a video conference can share files from Google Drive, collaborate on notes and documents, and save files on a shared virtual disk.
Integration with Google calendar allows interlocutors to make appointments to each other right from the service window and share plans for the work week. The window of any open application on your smartphone can be shown to the other party.
Hangouts conversations are automatically synchronized across all your devices. You can, for example, start chatting on your computer and continue on your smartphone or a tablet. You can record video conversations, which you can then share with other users via Google+ and YouTube.
Minuses: A Google Account is required to use Hangouts. The account must be both with you and your interlocutors. Maximum video conference participants: 10 people. Participants will have to confirm their participation in a video meeting every 150 minutes.
#2. SKYPE
Recently, in the Skype application, group video is free for all users. Previously, this feature was only available through a Skype Premium subscription.
Pros: The Skype program uses a very large number of people, so your colleagues probably already have an account. In addition to the actual video messages, participants can send files to each other. Also, there is also a screen demonstration feature.
Minuses: Group video allows you to chat with up to 9 people at the same time. Mobile device users cannot make group video calls but can join them. Requires a stable internet connection. During calls using mobile devices, there is almost always a slight lag between video and audio.
#3. OOVOO
Pros: Making video calls is the main purpose of the service, and much attention is paid to this function. The transmitted video can be supplied with various special effects that are superimposed on the fly. The ability to share files up to 25 MB, video of conferences and their publication on YouTube is built in. By logging in via Facebook, you can automatically add contacts to your friends who use the service. If you need to chat with someone who does not have the ooVoo application installed, you can generate a link to a video chat. Those who receive this link will be able to join the video conference directly in the browser, specifying the data of your Facebook account.
Minuses: Non-business service design, cartoon interface, maximum participants – 12 people. But the main drawback is annoying ads. You can remove it only by going to the paid version.
#4. FRING
Pros: The account in the service is tied to the phone number, the list of contacts can be imported directly from the memory of your device. By the way, Fring does not require a mandatory Wi-Fi connection but works great over 3G.
Minuses: This is a purely mobile application, that is, you will not be able to use it on all devices. In addition, the user interface is not very impressive, since most of the options are only available via Settings. Only up to 4 people can participate in group video conferences.
#5. CISCO WEBEX MEETINGS
Those who often hold online meetings, sooner or later turn to the Webex service.
Pros: The ability to display the screen during a video conference, record communication. Meeting participants can be divided into the organizer, active actors and passive viewers. The organizer has the opportunity to dispose of 1 GB of “cloud” space where you can store the documents necessary for the work. Additionally, there is an ecosystem of valuable collaboration tools, including a Cisco operator console.
Minuses: Only seven people can communicate for free.
Each application from our review has both similar functionality and significant differences. Which choice to make is up to you.