Popular Free Video and Teleconferencing Options

Jan Johnpier, National Chair, VIS Committee

During these social distancing times, we have all had to put our social activities on hold. Unfortunately, this includes DAR meetings. While some chapters are utilizing technology to hold virtual meetings, other chapters are not sure where to begin. Fortunately, there are several video and teleconferencing apps that you can use, for free, to connect.   

Zoom Meetings: Supports up to 100 participants, free, for 40 minutes. Zoom is a popular full video conferencing suite, with an attractive free option. Users with a free account can host video conferences for up to 100 participants, for 40 minutes. Upgrading to a paid plan will remove the time limit restriction and also add a higher layer of a security to protect you and your meetings. You may have heard about security issues with Zoom lately, so be sure to not share your Zoom meeting credentials on any public platforms. To learn more, visit: https://zoom.us/ 

Google Hangouts:  Supports up to 10 participants for an unlimited duration, for free.  If you have a Google account, you have access to Google Hangouts.  Google Hangouts allows for up to 10 people to chat in a video call.  The service also supports simultaneous voice chat and allows participants to join a conference via email or a sharable link.  You can use Google Hangouts in most web browsers, or via the Google Hangouts apps for iPhone and Android.  To learn more, visit:  https://hangouts.google.com/ 

CISCO WebEx Meetings: Supports up to 100 participants for an unlimited duration.  WebEx comes with a robust free option for those looking for a barebones video conferencing solution.  It hosts up to 100 participants in a single call, for as long as you want. There are no limits on the number of calls you can place, and you get 1 GB of cloud storage with your free account. WebEx allows users to use a standard telephone to join any conference. Participants who want to use their webcams have a choice of website, dedicated desktop apps, or mobile apps for iPhone and Android. To learn more, visit: https://www.webex.com/ 

Skype: Supports up to 50 participants for an unlimited duration. Skype is a popular VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) app that is suitable for video conferencing for small teams of up to 50 people (including the host), free of charge. To learn more, visit: https://www.skype.com/en/ 

FreeConference: Supports up to five video participants and 1,000 audio participants for an unlimited duration. Contrary to what the name suggests, FreeConference isn’t a free service.  It’s a premium service with a decent free option. For video conferencing, FreeConference only supports up to 5 participants on their free tier. However, FreeConference supports up to 1,000 audio participants to call in via telephone. This might be a good option for chapters who would prefer teleconferencing instead of videoconferencing. To learn more, visit: https://www.freeconference.com/ 

FreeConferenceCall.com: Supports up to 1,000 participants, for free. When you sign up for a free account, you receive a dial-in number and access code, for free.  Toll free numbers are available. You can use a landline, mobile, or join a meeting using VoIP from the mobile app. To learn more, please visit: https://www.freeconferencecall.com/free-teleconferencing-service 

Using new technology can be intimidating for anyone who has never used this kind of technology before. For video conferencing, you need a device that has a video camera installed such as a laptop, smart phone, iPhone, tablet, or desktop system with a video camera. For teleconferencing, all you need is a telephone (landline or cell.)  Ask a tech savvy member of your chapter or family to help you get setup and perhaps assist with a meeting. It’s always a good idea to do a test meeting, first, before you hold an official meeting. Also, reach out to your state VIS committee as they are available to assist with questions and offer direction, as well. In the coming days, the VIS and DAR Leadership Training Committees will be releasing a series of informational videos on video and teleconferencing that you are sure to find helpful.   

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