Posted by john4321 on 07/24/06 04:48

http://www.shopzero.net/article/videoconferencing/39061.php

The Need To Communicate

The need for businesses to communicate both internally and with each
other has always been great. Successful transactions cannot be
completed without communication - so much relies upon it; decent
customer service; placing orders; winning new business.

As global markets have emerged with multinational organizations and
twenty-four hour trading the need to find a reliable and cost effective
method of communicating on a worldwide level has grown too. Logistical
problems such as different time zones, busy schedules and a need to
quite literally be in at least two places at once has commanded a
software application that can tackle these difficulties.

First there was teleconferencing where two or more participants could
engage in verbal communication over the telephone. Certainly an
effective means of conversing but, as we all know, dealing with a
person face to face is far more preferable. Body language conveys so
much more than just a voice alone.

Trace it back, and you will find the roots of web conferencing in
localized intranet systems. Document sharing and collaborative working
was developed from this and the software for these systems was
developed further still.

The development of the internet and its capabilities - greater
bandwidth capacities, for example - made web conferencing a viable
method of communication and developers forged ahead with refining their
systems.

The expansion of the internet saw not only big players trading in the
global markets but small and medium organizations also found themselves
trading with partners across the globe. The need for effective methods
of communication had to address the needs of all potential users, from
multi-nationals to home-workers.

Web conferencing applications have now reached a sophisticated level.
Going beyond the brief of providing a virtual meeting place, some
applications now provide fully interactive capabilities, document and
file sharing and the ability to communicate with not just one, but
hundreds of participants at the same time.

Where Does The Future Lie?

Of course, refinement of web conferencing applications is ongoing. As a
relatively new phenomenon, there is plenty scope for developers to
enhance and improve their software packages. The needs of businesses
are constantly changing and the shift in trend towards home rather than
office-based employment will place a higher demand still for virtual
meeting facilities.

It is hard to predict the future of web conferencing. There are so many
avenues this exciting technology could explore. The popularity of
mobile technology - cell phones, laptops and hand-held computers, for
example - provide the software developers with new challenges. An
increasingly mobile workforce demands software that will work for them
rather than them having to work round the technology.

The web conferencing market place is become increasingly competitive
and providers will have to stay ahead of the game in order to survive.
As it increases in popularity as a means of communication, users will
become more demanding in terms of the sophistication of the software
they are using. With so many routes web conferencing technology can
take it will be interesting to see the diverse range of software
solutions on hand to solve the communication problems of the global
business community of the future.



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