History of Web Conferencing - Multi - function Conferencing Comes of Age (part 3)

What about UseNet?

In the 1980’s, Usenet software was developed with specific protocols to format and transmit messages. It also allowed messages to be passed from one news server to another, replicating around the world rather than being stored in any one location. It has become the standard for news readers on the Internet, with Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer both having built-in news readers for UseNet. .

For some, web conferencing can be achieved simply by taking advantage of UseNet. Download free software to set up a news server, create a few local newsgroups on it, and have your users access your server with their Web browsers to create your conferencing site.

Most companies, of course, prefer to have a more professional package than that, and ease of use and security are concerns that are addressed better by companies who have specifically developed company or enterprise Web Conferencing solutions. A good web conferencing package today contains voice over IP (VoIP), co-browsing and application sharing at the minimum, with add-ons and other features if needed, including polling, event management, PowerPoint presentation, playback, recording and live annotation and markup.

Easynet, founded in 1994, is a broadband networking company based in Europe providing primarily European businesses with Web conferencing capabilities. This infrastructure based provider provides unbundled loop access to companies in some countries as a part of a “leased line” program for conferencing.

VoIP is making noise

The latest frontier in Web conferencing is the practicality of using IP based voice communications on a regular basis with Web conferencing. While Web conferencing is considered desirable for document exchange, text messaging and whiteboards and many other functions, many people still think VoIP technology has poor quality overall, especially with so many people still using dial-up connections. .

Actually, there are several contenders in the marketplace who have produced excellent quality VoIP offerings in their Web conferencing packages, including Voxwire, Orbitalk, RoomTalk, and VoiceCafe.

The future of web conferencing

One of the last stumbling blocks for web conferencing has been the incompatibility between Macs and PC’s. With the heavy preference for Macs by those in graphics heavy industries such as architecture, advertising and publishing, it has always been difficult to share documents and set up effective Web conferencing if the clients are PC-based. .

Session from WaveThree was released in 2003 to address this problem and seems to have actually overcome this seemingly insurmountable problem -- one of the first really effective systems for Mac/PC collaboration over the Internet. Using a bandwidth of 128 KBPS or above, Session provides videoconferencing, desktop sharing, document sharing, whiteboards and live annotations on photos and/or documents. More Web conferencing platforms of this type will no doubt be on the horizon.

As Web conferencing becomes more and more common, new developments will inevitably arise, including, perhaps, dedicated lines that are constantly open, improved, secure peer-to-peer access and more Mac/PC web conferencing options. With so many players on the field, it is likely that there will be a variety of divergent developments over the next few years.

This article on the "The History of Web Conferencing" reprinted with permission.

Copyright © 2004-2005 Evaluseek Publishing.

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About the Author

Lucy P. Roberts is a successful freelance writer providing practical information and advice for businesses about everything related to web conferencing software and web based meetings. Her numerous articles include tips for saving both time and money; product reviews and reports; and other valuable insights for persons searching the Internet for information about how web conferencing works and related topics.

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