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Webcasting for Collaboration and Webcasting For Large Events Part I

Awhile back I wrote about what at that time (less than a year ago) a blog about webcasting. As anyone using the Internet, knows things change quickly.

Anytime one broadcasts on line, you are essentially webcasting. There are several types of webcasts. Some are free, some are relatively inexpensive, some are mid priced and some are very costly.

When you and a pal or a client, chat via Skype or a Google Hangout, you are webcasting at no cost.  You can, on a Google Hangout, have several people chatting

For example, Eventprofs, led by Adrian Segar has weekly Google Hangouts and is a terrific form of networking and sharing ideas.  This is free to use and free to attend. There is a limit of how many can participate live, but the number of people that can join and watch and listen is basically unlimited.

Skype supports video chat between two people for free. Screen sharing and group video calling is available for Premium subscribers between a maximum of 10 people.

Another solution is Microsoft Lync, an enterprise solution for larger companies. There is a cost to this service. It appears to be an outgrowth of Microsoft Instant Messaging and is for Windows 8 users.

Most of the aforementioned solutions are for collaboration, using a desktop computer, a tablet, or a smartphone and either an add on webcam or a built in webcam.

In addition, services such as WebX and Go To Meeting are free for attendees, but have a subscription based cost for the meeting organizer. Webcams are generally the method used for video.

The end result visually can be very good or very poor, depending upon your video camera and lighting. Sound can also vary, depending upon you microphone.

Webcasting events has several different considerations, which will be covered in our next blog post.