Video Conferencing Applications
There are numerous good, free video conferencing applications in the marketplace. According to PC Magazine, the following are the top free applications on the market:
Facebook Messenger Mac | Windows | iOS | Android Facebook Messenger is perhaps the best choice on this list because most everyone has a Facebook account. It’s also easy to use. Simply open up the app, press on the person you want to call, and tap the camera button in the top-right corner. The app will then connect you with your friend, and you’ll be able to chat the same way you would in any other video-centric app. Messenger allows for sharing of photos and videos, but no desktop sharing.
Downloads: iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/messenger/id454638411?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.facebook.orca&hl=en Access: www.Facebook.com
FaceTime Mac | iOS FaceTime comes free with all Mac and iDevices, from the fourth-gen iPhone and iPod touch, second-gen iPad, and Mac OS X Lion (10.7) on up.
Once you register your phone number and/or email addresses with the service, you can then find others. If you know another user's contact info and they're also using an Apple device, making a video call is as simple as making a phone call. That's the major strength, along with very high video quality. The problem with FaceTime is that it's not on any other devices. With FaceTime there is nodesktop sharing.
Google Hangouts Mac |Web | iOS | Android Hangouts allows for messaging, voice and video calls, video chats, and texting. A g- mail or Google plus account is needed. A total of 10 participants may be on one call. The video chat capabilities are powerful and simple to use.
You will need to add a Hangouts plugin to your browser (see link below). Sign into Google+, make sure Hangouts is signed in, and you'll see your buddy list on the right. Pick a name and you'll see a chat window. Click the video camera icon to start a video chat.
Just about everyone has a Google account therefore the user base for Hangouts is fairly large. Hangouts allows for up to nine people in the video chat. Hangouts allows for sharing presentations and YouTube videos, and full remote desktop takeover controls. The Hangouts On Air feature allows for live video podcasting to Wellness Coaching Implementation & Management Handbook Video Conferencing Applications instantly record video conversations that can be shared with others via Google+ and YouTube.
Downloads Plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/hangoutplugin Desktop: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-hangouts/nckgahadagoaajjgafhacjanaoiihapd?hl=en iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hangouts/id643496868?mt=8 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.talk&hl=en
Jitsi Windows | Mac OS Jitsi allows for voice and video chat. It also allows for sharing desktops over the Internet, call recording, call encryption and instant messaging. It also has echo cancellation and noise suppression to improve call quality.
Downloads: Android & iOS: https://jitsi.org/GSOC16/Mobile Windows: https://jitsi.org/Main/Download ooVoo Windows | Mac OS | iOS | Android | Facebook ooVoo is very similar to Skype and provides features like IMs, free voice calls to any phone, screen sharing, and file sharing. It offers group video chat with up to 12 people, along with video call recording directly to YouTube. There's a Facebook app that lets you join a video chat right from the Web. The free version is ad-supported.
Downloads: All Platforms: http://www.oovoo.com/download-oovoo
Skype Mac |Windows | iOS | Android | xBox | Wearables | TV Skype is the de facto standard in video chat between two people. However, each participant must have a Skype account and it's only free when you're talking one- on-one. Group video chatting requires a premium subscription, which starts at $4.99 a month. While video chatting you can instant message, share your desktop screen, and share files. If the other person doesn't answer your call you can leave a video message. Skype also powers the video capabilities inside Facebook. Skype has an almost unprecedented reach. Whether you're on your desktop, mobile, or even your game console, you'll have the option to video chat with someone else on any other platform. Skype is reportedly even working on a future 3D video chat service.
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Downloads: www.web.skype.com Mac & Windows: https://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-computer/ iOS & Android: https://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-mobile/ Tablet: https://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-tablet/ xBox: https://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-xbox-one/ Wearables: https://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-wearables/ TV: https://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-tv/
VSee Mac | Windows | iOS | Android| VSee was originally started as a Tele-health app for providing medical consultation over the Internet to people in remote areas. It uses a low-bandwidth (50% less than Skype) and can easily operate on 3G cellular networks. It allows multiple users in various locations to communicate in real-time by video, audio and instant messaging. It also allows users to annotate on shared screen content and send files. For students that have a .edu email the VSee Plus account is free. The free version only allows for 1 screen share per day, VSee Plus allows for unlimited screen sharing. VSee Plus is available to all Mac users for FREE and can be downloaded from the Mac App Store.
Downloads: Desktop: https://download.vsee.com Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vsee.vsee.release&hl=en iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vsee-for-iphone/id722630830?mt=8
WebEx Meet Mac | Windows | iOS | Android| WebEx is a standard way to share a desktop, do an online whiteboard, upload and share a file, and participate in a standard video chat (there is a fee for high- definition video) with up to 3 people. Sessions can be recorded and there is up to 5GB of storage for documents and other files.
Downloads: Android: Google Play – Select Cisco WebEx Meetings iOS: Apple Store – Select Cisco WebEx Meetings Mac & Windows: https://signup.webex.com/webexmeetings/US/sem_acquisition.html?&DG=01-04-07-US-12-01-02- 06&TrackID=1031986&country=US&psearchID=%2Bwebex%20%2Binstall&gclid=CjwKEAiAg5_CBRDo4o6e4o3NtG0SJ AB-IatYIl1LKd1UTrMUe_ibnQmh-22gKTG6x4Bd2GT1-EdSiRoCUmLw_wcB
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