Virtual Real Worlds

Writen by Ken Rigby

In future work, play, and study will be transformed by the use of 3D models and environments. These environments and models will be created to be as realistic as possible by use of textures and perspectives that will provide the user with a sense of "being there".

It has been forecast that these Virtual Worlds will revolutionize the way we shop "made to measure" will return as clothes will be produced to fit the individual. Virtual 3D museums will contain realistic recreations of the real thing; the great Pyramids, Taj Mahhal, great Wall of China, etc. will be experienced from your front room. A leisurely walk through Englands green and pleasant lands can be experienced with all the sights and sounds as of you were there.

Virtual conferencing will allow the participants to select an environment akin to the subject being discussed.

The latest generation have been exposed to this 3D environment or have experience of it most of their lives; to them it is quite natural and accept the virtual real world concept enthusiastically. They readily accept the possibility of people meeting in an environment of there choosing while being physically somewhere else in the real world; in fact they can't understand why it doesn't exist today.

This is discussed at greater length at web site www.mellanium.com

Ken has spent most of his life working in the aerospace industry. His interest in the Virtual Real World has been born out of a real need to access information easier and less painfully by using 3D models and environments. See http://mellanium.com/ for more information.

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Reselling Web Conferencing Services How To Profit From The Coming Boom In Web Amp Video Conferencing

Writen by Dan Richmond

If you want to make money in an online business, then you need to find a product or service that is fresh, up-to-date and that hasn't been beaten to death with hundreds of copy-cat affiliates. Web and video conferencing are relatively new applications, and becoming a reseller of online conferencing services could be a good way to start up or add to an already existing online business. Let's take a look at the prospects for this type of online enterprise.

First of all, web and video conferencing is an up-and-coming field of activity. Business is becoming increasingly globalized and many companies now have staff or clients located in distant locations, sometimes in other countries or on other continents. Online meetings are being used by some of the leading enterprises, but there are many more organizations that have not even begun to take advantage of web or video conferencing.

This is a huge market waiting to be tapped, and with the increasing penetration of broadband use both in the workplace and at home, the market grows larger with each passing month.

Just as there are relatively few companies using web and video conferencing, there are comparatively few resellers or affiliate sellers of these services to compete with. If you would like to get into this business then you should do an online search for web conferencing resellers or affiliates, and choose a program that you can effectively handle.

Typically, affiliate programs for these kinds of services are easy to enter. In many cases all you have to do is sign up and get an affiliate code or url and paste it onto your website and you are in business. However, if you want to be an effective affiliate for web and video conferencing, or for that matter, any other product or service, the best way to sell it is by using it yourself and really knowing what it is all about. Only then can you truly recommend the product in a convincing way.

A step above an affiliate is to become a reseller. Usually this requires a comprehensive training in the web and video conferencing system and there may also be an entry fee attached to becoming a reseller. Whereas affiliates simply refer potential clients to the conferencing service, Resellers are responsible for signing up the clients themselves. The advantage though, is that a reseller is likely to get a higher percentage of the signup and monthly subscription fees paid to the conferencing service by his or her referred clients.

If you are successful as a reseller then you will earn a residual income for as long as the people signed-up by you subscribe to the conferencing service.

Whether you decide to become an affiliate or a reseller, the key to cashing in on the coming boom in online conferencing is to study the market, know the product thoroughly and then place it before your web visitors or mailing list audience in a compelling and convincing manner. Another key factor to success is to make a timely move, a product or service that is "new" today will be commonplace tomorrow.

Dan Richmond is Co-founder of MegaMeeting.com. MegaMeeting provides web & video conferencing services for individuals & businesses. For more information, please call 818.783.4311 or Visit http://www.MegaMeeting.com.

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Isdn Vs Adslwhich Is Better For Video Conferencing

Writen by Michael Lemm

When deciding on the best bandwidth configuration to run your video conferencing on...you may think you have endless choices. Sometimes it appears that way when you may actually be limited to just a few. Here's a comparison when your only choices are between ISDN and ADSL.

So the question than becomes this.

Which is better in the sense of connection speed and for Video conferencing between ISDN PRI (1.544Mbps) to ADSL (1.544Mbps)?

PRI ISDN T1 is the industrial strength flavor of ISDN, and is intended for users with much greater capacity requirements. PRI has 23 B channels plus one 64 Kbps D channel. Each channel has a 64Kbps capacity, enabling a total transmission speed of up to 1.536Mbps. With PRI ISDN, you can pre-define the number of channels used for specific types of calls or data delivery. What this means is that you can use the various channels for accomplishing different things on different channels simultaneously. In other words, PRI ISDN offers much greater flexibility than that provided by BRI ISDN. Additionally, the D channel is used as the switching channel that communicates with the Central Office for Call Management. It is used to carry local and long distance traffic.

An ADSL circuit connects an ADSL modem on each end of a twisted-pair telephone line, creating three information channels -- a high speed downstream channel, a medium speed duplex channel, depending on the implementation of the ADSL architecture, and a POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) or an ISDN channel. The POTS/ISDN channel is split off from the digital modem by filters, thus guaranteeing uninterrupted POTS/ISDN, even if ADSL fails. The high speed channel ranges from 1.5 to 6.1 Mbps, while duplex rates range from 16 to 832 kbps. Each channel can be submultiplexed to form multiple, lower rate channels, depending on the system.

ADSL modems provide data rates consistent with North American and European digital hierarchies and can be purchased with various speed ranges and capabilities. The minimum configuration provides 1.5 or 2.0 Mbps downstream and a 16 kbps duplex channel; others provide rates of 6.1 Mbps and 64 kbps duplex. Products with downstream rates up to 8 Mbps and duplex rates up to 640 kbps are available today. ADSL modems will accommodate ATM transport with variable rates and compensation for ATM overhead, as well as IP protocols.

Downstream data rates depend on a number of factors, including the length of the copper line, its wire gauge, presence of bridged taps, and cross-coupled interference. Line attenuation increases with line length and frequency, and decreases as wire diameter increases.

They are completely different technologies used for different things. With ADSL you are generally given Internet access and with a PRI you get 1472 kbps of usable bandwidth to be used in a combination of various ways. The key difference is that with a PRI, you never actually have to connect to the Internet as you do with DSL. Therefore, a video call doesn't have to use IP as it most likely would with DSL. Therefore things that affect call quality like latency are generally not as a big a factor with ISDN.

Many companies still use ISDN PRIs for video conferencing to power multiple video calls simultaneously. A lot of people are now using both ISDN and Internet access via DSL/T1/T3/Cable/etc. for their video needs. Generally ADSL is far cheaper but the quality isn't necessarily as good because the customer has little control over the path an IP call takes through the Internet, but that my friend is another conversation for another time.

Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including DS3-Bandwidth.com and Business-VoIP-Solution.com. Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you're always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, insights, and ramblings for the masses.

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Ip Cameras A New Booming Market

Writen by Wes Fernley

What is a IP Network Camera?

In simplest terms, an IP Camera is a stand-alone device that transmits audio and video through a standard CAT5 Network Cable. It has a built-in web server which allows the camera to run individually without a PC having to be connected. It also allows you to view the audio and video by connecting directly to the camera with your internet browser without any software being installed. This allows you access the camera from any location, even over the Internet.

IP cameras have many advantages over tradition CCTV security cameras. Some of these features include wireless connectivity, the ability to view video remotely over the Internet, the ability to record to a remote location and lower cost.

Advanced features of Network Cameras can offer added security for certain applications. These features include, Motion Detection, Pan/Tilt/Zoom, Infrared, Analog Output and Two-way Audio.

Lets discuss these features in greater detail.

Motion Detection

Some Network Cameras come with a feature called Motion Detection. Hot-Spots can be setup within the video frame to detect motion. Once motion is detected, the camera will begin recording or generate a snapshot which can be Emailed or sent to a web server via FTP of the detected motion. Snapshots can also be sent of images prior to the motion and after the motion.

Pan/Tilt/Zoom

Having the ability to Pan and Tilt adds greater security if you have a large viewing area. Once logged into a Network Camera with Pan and Tilt capabilities, controls appear next to your video allowing you to move the camera left, right, up and down. The controls can be used even over the Internet.

Along with the Pan and Tilt feature, some cameras come with Zoom. Zooming is also handy when a greater detail of video is needed. Network Cameras can come with two methods of Zooming: Optical and Digital. One is called Digital Zoom.

Digital Zoom discards pixels around the edge of the video fitting the remaining pixels into the same space to give the appearance of Zooming in. This comes with the expense of resolution and causes the Zoomed image to look very pixilated.

A post was made on the NetworkCameraReviews.com forums that addresses the differences between digital zoom and optical zoom. Click here to view the post.

Infrared

When needing to view video in the dark, Infrared is the way to go. Cameras can come with a built-in IR (Infrared) lens or the ability for an add-on IR lens to be equipped. Infrared is a wave of light that is outside of the visible part of the color spectrum. Infrared illuminators shine this wave of light which the lens picks up.

Analog Output

Some cameras come with an Analog Output to configure your camera to be notified of opened doors, alarms, or other events. Once notified of these events, the camera will start taking snapshots or video.

Two-way Audio

A Majority of cameras have audio built-in to the camera. This allows you to hear audio along with the video the camera displays. Some cameras come with Two-Way Audio.

There are two types of Two-Way Audio. One is a Full-Duplex Two-Way Audio that allows the user at the PC to hear audio from the camera and also speak back to the camera and have audio come out of the camera itself. Some cameras have a speaker port on the back to plug in external speakers which will give off the audio. The second type is a Two-Way Audio within the camera itself. The camera will pickup audio and send the audio to the speakers hookedup to the camera.

In the next article we will be addressing how IP cameras work.

Wes Fernley runs a website called NetworkCameraReviews.com, a free online resource for users to learn about IP Network Cameras. He provides free consultation and advice. His roles include tech support, web design and sales. He can be reach via email at wes@networkcamerareviews.com

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Six Ways Video Amp Web Conferencing Can Benefit Your Business

Writen by Dan Richmond

Are you really using the power of modern technology to make your business more profitable? Sure, you are using e-mail, you have a web page and you may be reaching your clients and customers with an electronic mailing list, but are you using web and video conferencing to hold virtual meetings with your employees, customers and clients in different geographical locations? Here are six ways how web and video conferencing can help you to increase the efficiency of your enterprise.

First however, it is important to know what web and video conferencing are. Web conferencing is when two or more people "meet" over the Internet to share information and ideas. Web conferencing systems typically provide tools that allow participants to perform "Online Collaboration" by working together over the Internet, sharing applications and documents.

Some web conferencing tools include the ability to share one's desktop, allowing participants to "present" information, be it a PowerPoint Presentation, an Excel Spreadsheet or a Word Document with other attendees of their web conference. It is even possible for participants to remotely control other participants' computers. Video conferencing allows participants to see and hear each other using head sets and web cams, and is usually included in good web conferencing system.

Now take a look at how some companies are already getting the benefits of this cutting- edge technology:

1. They are holding "web meetings" with prospects, customers, clients and fellow workers without having to incur any travel expenses. These face-to-face meetings are conducted using the click of a keyboard and the movement of a mouse.

2. They are demonstrating and supporting products and services without having to send people to far-flung destinations. Web conferencing can enable your staff to get behind the desk of your client and do the trouble shooting or give the training that you may be currently doing, without having to send your support staff out on expensive personal visits.

3. They are holding virtual training and classrooms for students, employees and clients. Schools and Universities in particular are using web and video conferencing to create "virtual classrooms," while companies are training their employees at several locations using combined web and video conferences.

4. They are giving online web and video support to clients. Live chat boxes are great, I use them all the time, but the support you can offer when your technician can take over a client's computer and really fix the problem is much more powerful. And, when your client can see who is helping him or her, it really adds a special "warm and fuzzy" touch.

5. They are saving thousands of dollars in travel costs by cutting down on commuting and travel and time spent out of the office. "As a result of this technology, our need to travel between offices has been greatly reduced, which has already saved us thousands of dollars," says Saul Rothschild, Information Systems Manager at Steel Encounters, Inc."

In times of rising fuel costs, web and video conferencing can really make a huge difference to a company's bottom line. Companies using web conferencing are not only able to cut down on their travel expenses, but their sales representatives, trainers and support staff also get to spend more productive time in the office and do not lose valuable hours sitting in a car or on a plane.

6. They are thinking "outside the box" and devising new ways to work now that they are free of geographical limitations. The companies and organizations that have adopted web and video conferencing technology are marketing products and services, conducting training and giving support as if all their employees, prospects and clients were working together under one roof. Company meetings, sales meetings, employee training, and product launches are now being conducted with a new 21st Century flair.

So, consider your own business or activity and think of how web and video conferencing could help you to work more effectively with all your constituents without having to leave your office.

Dan Richmond is CEO and Co-founder of MegaMeeting.com. His company provides Web Conferencing and Video Conferencing services for individuals, businesses and educational institutions. For more information, or for a free live demonstration of Video & Web Conferencing technology, please visit http://www.MegaMeeting.com

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The Business Advantages Of Conference Calling Using The Internet

Writen by Matt Tong

The Internet provides a practical venue for the conference call. With its low cost and ability to accomodate many listeners it is now practical to open a conference call to almost anyone (at least to listen). Many firms now do. For example, a recent article in the Wall Street Journal related how IOMEGA does this as an efficient way to control the irresponsible babble on Internet bulletin boards. People posting idle chatter now attract accurate responces from others who have heard the actual story on a conference call. As a result, the irresponsible postings are controlled. Naturally, investment professionals complain that this allows the novice to access raw information that needs interpretation by someone more knowledgable - namely such a professional.

However, companies like the ability to make one public statement, and then be free from goverment limitations on how investment information must be released. And individual investors like it too, as access to this information gets them access to information that once only slowly reached the average investor. Even Chairman Levitt of the SEC sides with the theory of greater access for the masses. According to an article in the 24 May 1999 issue of the Wall Street Journal, the NASDAQ has even funded a pilot program to pay for public access to conference calls. Firms such as DELL and Cosco are early participants.

Using the Internet has many advantages besides the instantaneous international release that results. It is possible to save the audio files so that the call can be accessed later at a more convenient time. Plus it would be possible to edit out meaningless portions to provide sort of a "Cliff Notes" of each conference. Naturally, there are some limitations. If everyone could ask a question, real brawls could result as the conferences became uncontrolled. So most Internet systems limit who can ask a question. An outstanding advantage for the average investor is to witness directly a firm's management in action. While the information might be the same, an investor gains confidence in management that presents a virtuoso performane over one that is defensive, hesitant, and obfuscative. The details aside, the speed of responce and other items that don't get incorporated in an analyst's report can add a lot to one's understanding. Previously, a small investor's only such access might have been at a company's annual meeting.

Several firms have opened to provide investment-related conference-call services in one form or another over the Internet. Some require membership and user fees, but the trend seems to be toward company funding of the low cost service, and free or very low cost access by the public. According to the WSJ article mentioned above, firms now providing some for of access include: Vcall (Philadelphia), broadcast.com (Dallas), c-call.com (Street Fusion, (San Fransisco), and CCBN.com (Boston). Expect that more and more firms will offer the public Internet conference call. Encourage firms you are interested in to do so. This form of communication is yet another form of ultimate corporate democracy.

Matt Tong owns and maintains a website that is dedicated to sourcing the best Conference Call Companies http://www.conferencecall-services.info Matt tong also owns http://www.germany-2006-world cup.com

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How To Use A Web Conference Call As A Selling Tool

Writen by Christopher J Enders

Holding a web conference call has long been recognized as a valuable technique for online collaborations; however, the potential for using a web conference call as a sales tool is often overlooked. A web conference call, also known as teleconferencing, has many uses and benefits. In order to understand how to effectively use a web conference call as a sales tool, it is beneficial to gain an understanding of the traditional uses of teleconferencing and how a web conference call works.

Common uses for a web conference call include conducting training seminars and continuing education sessions, conducting market research, holding press conferences, and coordinating meetings including operational meetings, board meetings, and investor relation meetings. From a sales perspective, a web conference call can be used to hold sales meetings, to make sales presentations, to provide potential retailers or affiliates with information on new products or services, to provide press releases, or even to conduct a live, online auction.

There are many advantages to using a web conference call for such activities. A web conference call enables the sharing of real time data and web conference call tools make it possible to provide access to information used in the web conference call before, during and after the call. Web conference calls are easy to use and generally interface with other applications without the need for any special hardware. A web conference call can be held by either using a web conferencing service, or using web conferencing software that can be installed on your server.

When using web conferencing services or web conferencing software to conduct a web conference call, you generally schedule the web conference call setting the time, date and duration of the web conference call. Sometimes there is an option to reserve audio telephone conferencing so that the web conference call can also be accessed via telephone although with telephone access the sharing of files is not possible. Once the web conference call is scheduled and set up, you can choose which guests you want to invite to the web conference call and send invitations via email. Most web conference call solutions automate these steps.

When it is time for the web conference call, you present, collaborate and share information via the internet using tools provided through your web conference call solution. Most web conference call solutions use a voice-over-IP technology that enables conference attendees to talk back and forth if they have microphones and speakers. Some even have web cam features so the web conference call is "face-to-face" so to speak. During a web conference call, attendees can see what you are doing on your computer. They can view slides used in your presentation and so forth as well opening files or documents that you share throughout the web conference call.

Holding a web conference call for the purpose of conducting sales meetings, sales presentations and press conferences saves time and money because the attendees can attend the meeting from remote locations. The web conference call eliminates travel time and the expenses of travel. Furthermore, through a web conference call, hand-outs can be provided electronically rather than being printed resulting in even more cost savings. A web conference call enables real-time communications between attendees.

One of the greatest benefits of using a web conference call as a sales tool is that a web conference call makes it possible to make sales presentations to multiple decision makers in an organization first hand, rather than them relying upon the translation of the information from the presentation that may be necessary if they are physically unable to attend a sales presentation due to geographic barriers.

Copyright Christopher J. Enders. Are you at the end of your rope, fed up and confused by all the scrambled internet marketing advice you're getting? Whether you are new to internet marketing, or a website owner who wants to make more money from your website, learn the proven strategies that will sky-rocket your internet business at http://BiznessTips.com

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Web Conferencing 101

Writen by Richard Keir

First, a small disclaimer: No matter how you slice up conferencing solutions, the categories you use to group them are mutable and subject to instant revision. Combinations of various elements make some applications basically impossible to categorize. Depending on how you look at it mail lists are even a form of conferencing and so is email. Real-time versus asynchronous is even becoming blurred as text, audio and video merge in varying combinations.

That said and out of the way, lets look at some of the ways conferencing solutions are categorized.

1. Real-Time Conferencing. Real-time conferencing refers to synchronous communications such that the participants are concurrently virtually present and able to actively interact as if they were physically co-located. Some typical and common applications are instant messaging and interactive chat, participatory webinars, interactive webcasting, online interactive teleseminars.

Now these are primarily web-based, however the old-time telephone conference call is still widely used. Call-in teleseminars are also common. Today however, they are merging into web applications as VoIP services with gateways into landline telephone systems become widely available.

2. Video conferencing is generally considered separately because it is a far more bandwidth intensive activity. To achieve reasonably acceptable simultaneous live video and audio, you need serious bandwidth. And the more active participants involved the more serious the problem becomes. Internet chat services with webcams are one rather simple form of video conferencing that's quite popular for individual person-to-person links, but clearly not of sufficient quality to use for business purposes or for larger groups. Some video conferencing is one-way video with interactive audio. Others require high-speed networks or dedicated connections. High-end solutions may work well for large corporations because of the savings involved in reducing travel expenses and time lost from productive work.

3. Forums, message boards, bulletin boards and so forth. These are asynchronous forms of conferencing or discussion solutions. Even blogs and wikis may, at times fall into this category. Generally these are linear or threaded, topic centered meeting places with chronologically tagged sequential entries that make up a discussion. Some prefer the linear mode as being easier to use and follow while others insist that threaded tree-like structures often more scope and the ability to develop sub-topics integrated into the main topic. Whatever one's preference, these are excellent solutions given the nature of the evolving internet and the need for participation by persons in time zones spread across the world. Real-time communications can be a burden when day/night cycles are offset by large amounts. Forums, with their purpose centered focus can develop extensive and dedicated communities which can be a source of extremely valuable knowledge and experience.

4. Collaborative team- or group-based work environments. These kinds of solutions can also include on-line virtual classrooms in several forms. The most sophisticated of these solutions include both real-time and asynchronous modes with audio, video, messaging and conferencing built-in. While some of this software is in use over the internet (again, some collaborative workspaces have been developed based on blogging platforms and even forum software is sometimes used this way), the more resource intensive versions are generally used on dedicated networks and intranets with high bandwidth. Many of these applications are oriented more toward in-house corporate uses.

So, do you suppose this covers it all? Just those four areas reflect a huge growth of the available modalities for conferencing and meeting over only a few years ago. Remember the old landline conference call? Once it was a major deal to be able to add a third person to a phone call. Now you can spend months just researching available solutions.

And this really doesn't even touch systems such as desktop video conferencing, the extensions of phone conferencing and the interaction of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services with all forms of web conferencing. Attending teleseminars in foreign countries, once prohibitively expensive for many, is now an accessible alternative with low-priced VoIP gateway services that allow fixed price calls to any landline or mobile phone.

As internet service continues to increase in speed and decline in price, the utility of these kinds of conferencing solutions will continue to expand. The growth of the cybersphere and the elaboration of purpose driven and affinity communities on the internet will continue to drive the development and integration of conferencing and communication software and services. In a very real sense conferencing software is at the heart of the new realities that the explosive growth of internet usage in every corner of the world is creating. These are social applications and they are changing how people live, interact and view each other.

There is yet another form of widely used "conferencing" software which is rarely mentioned in this connection. Multi-user, real-time, online games of all types from role=playing to live gambling (play poker with your friends, live roulette, etc.). Some of these systems are highly sophisticated and a lot of people love them. Their attraction lies not only in the ability to vicariously be someone (or something) else or to do things that may not be available locally, but in the social interactions and the communities that develop. While surfing is pretty much an unsocial activity, people are social creatures and the popularity of all types of solutions offering interactive contact and a sense of community reinforces this.

Marketing use of audio conferencing in the form of teleseminars and pre-recorded audio streams have undergone tremendous growth in the last year alone. Bandwidth still limits the quality of the video that's often used with pre-recorded audio to fairly static material. But this is changing as compression and streaming technologies improve. The major breakthrough that's still to come is the technology to effectively and affordably do, first, one-way live high quality video and beyond that live interactive multi-way video over the internet. If it seems like a difficult, perhaps impossible task, think again about what's happened in the last five years. And the future is arriving faster all the time.

Copyright 2005 Richard Keir

Richard writes, teaches, trains and consults on business and professional presentations and eCommerce related matters. For more information on web conferencing, VoIP, conference calling and related subjects visit http://altaglobal.com - find more on wireless and cellular subjects at http://www.altaglobal.org and check http://www.altaglobal.net for networking and security.

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Eight Steps To Guarantee A Successful Video Or Web Conference

Writen by Dan Richmond

A successful video or web conference can really give a boost to your organization. Online conferencing is now connecting people in a way that was not possible in the pre-Internet era. However, as powerful a tool as online conferencing is, it works best when you prepare your conferences properly. Here are some steps that you can take to help guarantee that your next video or web conference is a great success.

1. Make sure each of your attendees has enough bandwidth at his or her location.

There is nothing more frustrating than trying to watch a video online when you just don't have enough bandwidth to get it all. If your participant doesn't have enough bandwidth there will be latency delays and he or she will not be able to enjoy the experience or participate properly. The amount of bandwidth that is required varies from system to system and also according to what features you will be using during the conference. Features such as video, audio, screen and application sharing have different requirements. Check with your vendor or provider to find out what the minimum bandwidth requirements are, and then make sure each of your locations does indeed have enough bandwidth.

2. Test your web cameras to see that they are working properly.

If video will be involved at any of the locations, make sure that the location has tested their camera to ensure that everything is working satisfactorily. Ideally, all cameras should be tested from within the video or web conferencing system that you will be using. A camera that is working fine in one application may work differently within another system. Check it in advance so that you will not have any surprises on the day of your conference.

3. Check your sound equipment in advance.

If VoIP (audio) is going to be used from within the meeting itself, make sure that all attendees have the right tools needed, whether these tools are microphones, headsets and speakers.

4. Supply your participants with proper access information in advance of the conference.

If audio will be conducted via an audio conference call, make sure all attendees have the access number to dial into and the PIN (Personal Identification Number) they will need to access the call.

5. Conduct a "trial-run" of your presentation prior to the conference date.

The presenters or leaders of the conference should practice in advance. If a presentation will be involved, make sure that whoever will be presenting any material has tested this part of the video or web conferencing system. The presentation that is to be used should be demonstrated to another party BEFORE the date of the actual meeting.

6. Supply web access information to your participants well in advance of the meeting.

Make sure that all of your participants know how to access the video and web "conference room". Send an e-mail "link" to each participant well in advance of the meeting so that they will be able to easily access the meeting when the appropriate day and time has arrived.

7. Get as much training as you can in the video or web conference system that you will be using.

The host should be very familiar and comfortable with the video or web conferencing system they are going to use. If training is offered by your vendor or provider, then take advantage of this in order to become more familiar with the system. Familiarity with the system will help you to host a flawless meeting or conference.

8. Conduct a test meeting prior to the big event.

Most importantly! Conduct a test meeting or two before the day of the "big" meeting. Tests will help you eliminate as many surprises as possible before you gather all of your attendees. A meeting free of technical glitches will go far to help you achieve the goals of your conference.

The key to a successful online conference, whether it be a web conference, a video conference or a combination of the two, is preparation, preparation and preparation. The more you prepare and the more you practice, the better your online meetings will be.

About The Author
Dan Richmond is CEO and Co-founder of MegaMeeting.com. MegaMeeting provides web conferencing and video conferencing services for individuals, businesses and educational institutions. For more information, or for a free live demonstration, please visit http://www.MegaMeeting.com or call (818) 783-4311.

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The Good And The Bad Of Virtual Meetings

Writen by Lonnie Pacelli

In today's "Global" environment more and more organizations are turning to virtual meetings to help people connect and more effectively get things done. Virtual meetings can be very powerful, but also can be a major detractor to doing business. When done well, virtual meetings can not only be a time saver but also can be a huge boon to the bottom line. When done poorly, though, virtual meetings can be a huge waste of time and a massive frustration to the attendees. Stick with the below goods and watch out for the not-so-goods:

When virtual meetings are good –

* Very cost-effective to get a large number of people together to hear a common message; whether they are across the hallway or across the world

* Tend to stay on time; you can better control pontificators or meeting hijackers taking over your meeting or diverting attention from the meetings focus

* They are easier to coordinate than physical meetings; no worrying about room size, setting up equipment, or supplying refreshments.

When virtual meetings aren't so good –

*Tend to lose interactivity; participants on a virtual meeting will not speak up as much as if there were a physical meeting

* No reading of body language; during physical meetings, you can both see and hear your participant and can better discern whether a participant is truly engaged and in agreement. During virtual meetings the visual connection is lost so gauging true acceptance is much more difficult.

* Unfamiliarity with technology; could be the technology works just fine, but the person running the meeting isn't familiar with the technology. Make sure either the meeting owner knows what he or she is doing or has someone physically with him or her who can drive the technology and make sure it all works well. And for Pete's sake, do a dry run first to raise any potential glitches prior to going live.

Lonnie Pacelli has over 20 years' experience with Accenture and Microsoft and is currently president of Leading on the Edge™ International. Lonnie's books include "The Project Management Advisor: 18 Major Project Screw-Ups and How to Cut Them Off at the Pass" and "The Truth About Getting Your Point Across". Get the books, leadership products, other articles, MP3 seminars and a free email mini seminar at http://www.leadingonedge.com

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Conference Call Services For Todays Business

Writen by Lee Dobbins

Today's business world is very diverse and many companies have employees as well as customers located all over the world. As you can imagine meeting with coworkers and clients can be time consuming and expensive if you are not located in the same area. Luckily, there are several types of conference call services options that you can use in order to effectively communicate without having to jump on a plane every time you want to meet.

Audio conferencing has been widely used for quite some time and is a cost effective way to hold a meeting with folks from around the globe. This type of conference call service uses the telephone and enables all the attendees of a meeting to hear each other in real time. People dial in to an open line and have a meeting much like they wood if they were physically located in the same room.

Video conferencing has been around for over a decade but has been mostly used by big companies due to the costs of the equipment. Today, however, costs have come down and this type of conferencing is available to even small business owners. A step up from audio conferencing, video conferencing involves the use of a camera and large television or monitor so not only can you hear each other, you can see each other as well. This works well for sharing visual info via a white board and is nice as it gives the team a more cohesive feel if they can see one another. Years ago I worked for a company that had two offices located about 1 hours drive away. We were in one office and our "sister" team in another. We had weekly meetings via video conference and it was a huge time saver not to have to drive for two hours just to attend a 1 hour meeting!

Web conferencing is a newer technology and makes use of the internet. People simply surf to a web site and the conference is held online. This is a great way to share files or visual aids and can be used in a power point presentation type of style. It can work well for training as well as for troubleshooting problems in software. Web conferencing has audio as well as visual and another technology that the others don't have - text messaging. In a web conference, attendees have the ability to send a text message - be it a question or comment and you can hold the text for later rather than interrupt your presentation.

While these new technologies open up doors for different ways of meeting, the age old business etiquette of holding a meeting still holds true - with a few new requirements. Here's some tips on how to hold a successful teleconference.

1. With teleconferencing, you need to be aware that your attendees might not all be in the same time zone. Therefore, you want to schedule the meeting for a time that is convenient for all. Whether you are holding an audio conference, video conference or web conference, you will need to schedule the media for the time you want the conference held. it's a good idea to give yourself some leeway and schedule extra time before and after the meeting. This gives you time to iron out any technical issues before hand and allows for some wiggle room if the meeting runs overtime.

2. Once you have scheduled the room, be sure to send an invite to the attendees with the appropriate information. For a video conference it might be the channel or just the room if you have a video conference room. For an audio conference you will need the phone number and password. For a web conference, you will need the web url and password and, depending on the type of conference call service you are using, perhaps a phone number to dial in to as well.

3. Be sure to try out the call ahead of time. Dial or surf in to be sure everything is working. You want to be there first so you can "greet" your attendees and make sure everyone is online before you start the meeting.

4. Audio conferences and web conferences have another factor - the noise factor. With people dialing in from all over the place you can get a lot of background noise. It's a good idea to ask everyone to mute the phone so the noise does not detract from the meeting. When it is their turn to speak, the can turn off the mute button.

Lee Dobbins writes for http://www.conference-call.minding-your-business.com where you can learn more about making a conference call and conference call etiquette.

medical health hospital

Audio Conference Call

Writen by Eddie Tobey

Audio conferencing allows people in different locations to connect simultaneously through conventional telephone services. Any number of participants can communicate without being in the same place. It is used to hold group meetings or live presentations through audio channels. Audio conferencing can be conducted over telephones, but usually an audio conferencing system or service is used. Often, along with audio exchange, audio conferencing involves video conferencing, so that people can see each other and communicate better.

Accessing audio conferencing is as simple as dialing a phone number and entering an access code. It is widely used in fields such as education, commerce and business to allow participants to connect when they are physically unable to be present. Audio conference calling helps in maximizing business communication efficiency and reducing wasted resources. It's the answer to reducing wasted travel, expenses and time away the business. It can be used to arrange meetings, training, interviews, professional development, consultation, and specialized or expert advice.

A new breakthrough in audio conferencing is Need Reservationless Conferencing. It is an entirely automated audio conferencing service which enables you to quickly and easily communicate with up to 125 participants at a time. Simply dial your toll-free number and enter your unique conference ID and PIN to instantly start a conference without a reservation or operator assistance. It comes with many value-added features like pre-call notification, audioconference recording, transcription services, translation services, and participant lists.

Audio conferencing is a very safe in terms of privacy and confidentiality. Utilizing conference IDs, tracking capabilities, entry tones, PIN entry, conference call lock features and encrypted software for web conference applications, conferencing hosts can be assured of call privacy. Also, by giving employees their own unique conference ID and PIN, a good amount of time can be saved, which was previously spent on scheduling the conferences. This streamlines internal and client communications.

Conference Call provides detailed information on Conference Call, Conference Call Services, Audio Conference Call, Conference Call Providers and more. Conference Call is affiliated with Cheap Conference Calling.

The Conference Call Monster How To Tame It

Writen by George F Franks III

Whether working from office or home, leading and participating in conference calls are essential for doing business in the twenty-first century. Some key points to keep in mind when participating in conference calls are noted below.

- Be on time whether the organizer or participant.

- Make sure you introduce yourself including name, organization or company and why you are relevant to the call.

- If you are the lead on the call, be clear as to the purpose of the call, the agenda and the time limit.

- An agenda sent out in advance of the call is always helpful.

- Additionally, any background material should be distributed to and reviewed by all participants at least one business day in advance of the call.

- Listen to others.

- Do not multi-task. If you are too busy to be on the call or if it is not important to you, assign someone else to participate and represent your function or role.

- Mute the call when you are listening. Others do no want to hear your dog, child, sneezes, lips smacking, etc.

- When you do break in to speak, state you name first and be clear and concise.

- Do not speak over other people or "step on them".

- It a debate breaks out on the call, the lead on the call should moderate and put the item on a parking lot for follow-up if appropriate.

- Someone should document the purpose of the call, participants, agenda and key decisions made. It is not a court transcript word for word.

- Five minutes prior to the end of the call, the lead on the call should wrap-up. This should include a summary of any decisions made, any to do's including who owns what and by when, any open issues and how they will be handled and when the next call will be scheduled.

Following these steps makes calls more productive for everyone and better spends the money related to the business or organization's people costs.

George F. Franks III is the founder and CEO of Franks Consulting Group - a Bethesda, Maryland based management consulting and leadership coaching practice. George is a member of the Institute of Management Consultants and the International Coaching Federation. His web site can be found at: http://www.franksconsultinggroup.com His blog is: http://consultingandcoaching.blogspot.com

Providing Service And Support Through Audio Conferencing Web Services

Writen by Christopher J Enders

Audio conferencing web technology and video conferencing web technology have taken away the barrier to personalized service and voice-to-voice or face-to-face communications that internet business presents while enabling the sharing of files and materials over the internet to facilitate communications.

Phone conferencing has long been recognized as a tool that enables people in various geographic locations to communicate effectively in group settings. Audio conferencing web services have intensified and improved upon the benefits of phone conferencing adding a greater range of features for conducting conference calls and communications. Video conferencing web services add even more personalization opportunities for long- distance communications.

Audio conferencing web technology or video conferencing web services can be used to conduct sales presentations, to hold service calls, to provide training and technical support, and to hold meetings of any kind.

There are quite a few audio conferencing web services and video conferencing web services to choose from. Different service providers offer various options for audio conferencing web and video conferencing services.

Some require that conferences be preset with invitations to the conference sent out while others enable you to instantly set-up and conduct audio conferencing web meetings or video conferences without making advance arrangements.

Real-time audio conferencing web capabilities and video conferencing web capabilities, desktop sharing, internet voice options, and collaboration services such as transferring of files are all features of video and audio conferencing web services that have the potential of improving sales processes, customer service, technical support, training, and communications for your internet-based business.

Global availability of the video and audio conferencing web services is something else to consider when selecting a video or audio conferencing web service provider.

Using video or audio conferencing web services can improve your productivity and levels of service as well as providing instant cost savings. Because the use of video and audio conferencing web services eliminates the need for travel for the purpose of communicating face-to-face, making presentations, holding training sessions, or conducting meetings, a lot of money in travel expenses can be saved by using such services.

There are also time-saving benefits associated with video and audio conferencing web services because people don't have to take time out of their business schedules for travel. The ability to transfer files and documents through the use of the web before, during or after video or audio conferencing web meetings diminishes the need for postage and for printouts as all supplemental information can be delivered to conference participants electronically.

While using video and audio conferencing web services is rather inexpensive, there are some options to using such services. Video and audio conferencing web software can be purchased. Whether you use video or audio conferencing web services or software, there may be some specific equipment needs although the equipment needed is pretty basic.

Most times a computer with an internet connection, speakers, a microphone and a webcam are about all that is needed to host or to participate in a video or audio conferencing web session.

Some internet business operators view up and coming, state of the art technology as being too complex, or they may think that the use of such technology is cost-prohibitive for a small internet- based business.

The truth of the matter is, the popularity and use of video and audio conferencing web options is growing which has resulted in a greater number of providers and relative competition. As with any industry, when the competition increases, prices decrease making the services use of technology more cost-effective for individuals and businesses of all sizes.

Don't assume that your internet business is too small or too simple to use advanced technology or communication options such as video or audio conferencing web technology. It may just be the touch of class and personalization that sets you apart from your competitors giving you a competitive service advantage.

Copyright Christopher J. Enders. Are you at the end of your rope, fed up and confused by all the scrambled internet marketing advice you're getting? Whether you are new to internet marketing, or a website owner who wants to make more money from your website, learn the proven strategies that will sky-rocket your internet business at http://BiznessTips.com

Dialup Vs Broadband Video

Writen by Howard Becker

The decision to pay the extra fees and move from dial-up to broadband usually involves meeting three wants: faster downloads, faster uploads and live streaming video.

The transmission of live streaming video is dependent on bandwidth, video codecs and the ability to transmit as many frames per second as possible. Let's review how these variables effect video on dial-up and broadband.

First a little background on bandwidths and speeds. A lot of people use the terms bandwidth and speeds interchangeably, so it's important to clarify the difference. Think of a water pipe. You can get more water through the pipe by increasing the pressure to send it through faster. This increases the "speed." You can also get more water out the end by increasing the size of the pipe. This increases the "bandwidth"

When you go from a dial-up ISP to a broadband ISP, you increase the size of the pipe by getting more bandwidth. This way you can get more data through the pipe in the same amount of time, thus allowing faster uploads and downloads. Video is data, too, but good video requires enormous amounts of data. Because of this, video is often referred to as a bandwidth hog. When you increase the bandwidth, you allow more video through in the same amount of time.

Programmers can use creative and complicated mathematical formulas called algorithms to put the data into packets that allow more packets to go through the pipe. This is comparable to increasing the speed of the water in the pipeline. In the world of video, the algorithm is called a codec. Well known codecs include MPEG-4, MPEG-2 and JPEG.

In order to evaluate codecs, a definition of quality is necessary. The number of frames per second (fps) is usually the objective measurement of video quality. "Broadcast quality video" is an overused term that typically means 25 to 35 fps. Independent of theoretical rates, most live video streamed on the internet through broadband is in the range of 10 to 15 fps. It's not like HDTV or like movies in the theater, but it is sufficient for the purpose.

JPEG transmits video like a movie. Each full picture frame from the "film strip" is transmitted and viewed. When the individual pictures, called frames, are accumulated together rapidly, they appear to display motion, just like a film strip.

MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and others don't send a full frame each time. They send what's called an I-Frame, which is a full frame, only once in a while. In between the I-Frames, they only send the video data that change. So, if the image is from a fixed camera in a room where someone is walking, the wall doesn't change, so the image of the wall is not sent with each frame. Only the spots where the person is moving are transmitted between the I-frames. This eliminates a lot of data without changing the quality of the video. So, with the same amount of data, the end result can be more frames per second. This is why MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 are said to offer higher quality video.

What is bandwidth? Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be sent in a second, typically measured in kilobits per second (kbps). Did you ever notice how TV reporters on satellite phones sometimes look weird? They are usually transmitting at very low bandwidths of less than 5 fps. Have you asked yourself why cell phone voice plans typically can only transmit still video images, or video clips that are so slow that motion is not apparent? That's because their maximum bandwidth is 9.6 kbps, also considered very low.

Cell phone data plans and dial-up telephone service fall in the less than 56 kbps range. Broadband is above 56 kbps. Cable companies typically offer it in 128 kbps or 256 kbps increments. However, these are maximum rates. For example, dial-up telephone usually fluctuates between 30 and 45 kbps in the real world, even though it is theoretically 56 kbps.

MPEG-4 and its many variants are pretty much the standard for sending video over broadband. Many different companies have developed their own unique twist to try to take into account variations in bandwidth that result in interruptions, pixilation and video tears. But, with a 256 kbps bandwidth, video can stream on average at 10 to 15 fps, and may even peak at 20 or 25 fps depending on the fluctuation. Unfortunately, on dial-up, the number of frames per second that these standard codecs can deliver is less than 5 frames per second, and often only 1 frame per second.

Some new video codecs are allowing frame rates of 12 fps over dial-up services, in many ways comparable to the video offered over broadband. This has expanded the ability to transmit quality video through dial-up.

To summarize the water pipe analogy, different video codecs can increase the water flow by increasing the number of frames per second at the end of the pipe without increasing the size of the pipe. Switching from dial-up to broadband is a way to increase the size of the pipe so that more frames per second can come out the end of the pipe.

Cost is always a consideration, with dial-up being less expensive. Also, many people worldwide do not have the availability of broadband, so dial-up is their only option.

Comet Video Technologies develops products and services for the low bandwidth transmission of video through satellites, cell voice plans, cell data plans, telephone dial-up and broadband. http://www.cometvt.com

Readers have permission to duplicate and distribute the above article in its entirety. We request that the final paragraph be included in each reproduction.

Howard Becker is CEO of Comet Video Technologies. For the past 20 years, Becker has been CEO of consumer product and video technology companies as large as $25 million in sales, as well as a consultant for start-up technology companies. He has an MBA is from the University of Chicago and a BS from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is a former CPA with Big Four Experience. He developed the first published integration of the Fama-Miller efficient market model and the Black-Scholes Option pricing model, thus creating a theoretical justification for the trading of derivitives on index funds. He is author of a number of published papers on semiconductor based heating elements, as well as a paper on the objective measurement of job placement for individuals with disabilities.