Gone are the days when business meetings consisted of gathering everyone around a conference room table to discuss an agenda or struggling with a conference call without any visual cues or faces to associate with the voice emanating from a crackling speaker. New technological advancements and affordable or even free technology can now economically provide your meetings the latest advantages.

Modern video conferencing facilitates quality communication between far-flung groups, sharing information that otherwise might not be possible due to geography, time constraints, and other impracticalities associated with gathering a group of individuals. It offers true business value, reducing call time and travel expenses while maintaining the benefits of a personal, face-to-face meeting environment.

At the forefront of this technology are companies like ClearOne, Sony, and Polycom. They have launched several video conferencing devices suitable for small, medium, and large conferencing requirements. While dedicated devices have become increasingly affordable and may be required for some companies, many businesses have selected free software to meet their video conferencing needs. With nothing more than a computer, a web camera, and an Internet connection you can video conference with people thousands of miles away or just across the parking lot.

Free of charge video conferencing software from www.skype.com or www.dimdim.com offer basic web-based video conferencing capabilities with an abundance of features. While various limitations exist in the free versions, such as restrictions on the number of people in a meeting or the number of webcams used, these limitations can be lifted by simply purchasing the paid services.

If video conferencing interests you and you have questions or need assistance getting started, please call Micro Visions, Inc. at 616-776-0400 and a qualified expert will be happy to help.