One of the greatest tools of the Internet is the opportunity it provides for people to learn about anything they are curious about.  As long as a user has the patience to search through the “facts,” the material available is endless.

While the Internet is filled with infinite information, when it comes to online education, there is a lack of personal interaction online.  However, personal interactions can make all the difference in how well a person learns. Before the advent of the Internet, people who wanted the best education had to go out of their way to find it and, generally, pay a lot for it. So if the student couldn’t afford the trip, he or she would lose out on a great experience. Thanks to Web-based video conferencing, all this is changing.

Video conferencing is revolutionizing the world of education. Knowledge is power, and with this tool anyone, anywhere can access it. In this economy more people are choosing the workforce over higher learning simply because college is not affordable.  As is well known, those with higher educational degrees earn more than those who are less educated. So a lot of young adults out there are put between a rock and a hard place — work or school?

Thanks to video conferencing, the cost of learning is decreasing quickly and allowing more access to what was never previously available.  With video conferencing, teachers literally go to students, wherever they are. No need to pay for the trip out, the room and board, or even the expensive parking permits just to be on school grounds!

Typical online classes operate with students signing up and then trying to learn from the books that the teacher assigns. If they have a question, it can take several days for them to get an answer back. These slow exchanges cause a dramatic decrease in learning speed and comprehension. By simply getting together in a video conference, these problems are eliminated because responses are immediate. This type of personal attention nurtures the learning process.

Video conferencing is cost efficient, practical, and very easy to set up. The education market is just one of many markets where video conferencing can add value to both people and businesses.

One of the greatest tools of the Internet is the opportunity it provides for people to learn about anything they are curious about.  As long as a user has the patience to search through the “facts,” the material available is endless.

While the Internet is filled with infinite information, when it comes to online education, there is a lack of personal interaction online.  However, personal interactions can make all the difference in how well a person learns. Before the advent of the Internet, people who wanted the best education had to go out of their way to find it and, generally, pay a lot for it. So if the student couldn’t afford the trip, he or she would lose out on a great experience. Thanks to Web-based video conferencing, all this is changing.

Video conferencing is revolutionizing the world of education. Knowledge is power, and with this tool anyone, anywhere can access it. In this economy more people are choosing the workforce over higher learning simply because college is not affordable.  As is well known, those with higher educational degrees earn more than those who are less educated. So a lot of young adults out there are put between a rock and a hard place — work or school?

Thanks to video conferencing, the cost of learning is decreasing quickly and allowing more access to what was never previously available.  With video conferencing, teachers literally go to students, wherever they are. No need to pay for the trip out, the room and board, or even the expensive parking permits just to be on school grounds!

Typical online classes operate with students signing up and then trying to learn from the books that the teacher assigns. If they have a question, it can take several days for them to get an answer back. These slow exchanges cause a dramatic decrease in learning speed and comprehension. By simply getting together in a video conference, these problems are eliminated because responses are immediate. This type of personal attention nurtures the learning process.

Video conferencing is cost efficient, practical, and very easy to set up. The education market is just one of many markets where video conferencing can add value to both people and businesses.

Video conferencing was first introduced to the public in the mid-1960’s, and although the overall concept of connecting two or more locations at the same time through video has stayed the same, the technology has drastically changed.  Starting out as an expensive, bulky hardware based system that transmitted an image once every two seconds, video conferencing has since evolved into a much simpler, less complex web-based solution.   Not only are the web-based video conferencing solutions of today easier to use and more affordable to the average business user, below are five more reasons implementing web-based video conferencing is a must for your organization.

1. Be All Places At Once – Even though it is obvious web-based video conferencing is here to stay in the day to day lives of business professionals, it is not going to change the fact that you may still need to travel from time to time.  However, with web-based video conferencing, as long as you have access to a broadband internet connection, you will have access to all the tools and features your web-based video conferencing service provider offers, no matter where you are located.  No longer will you have to struggle through the restrictions of public services or hotel computers that do not allow installations or downloads.  With a web-based service, not only will you be able to access your meetings from anywhere with internet availability and from any computer, but so will every other person you choose to connect with!
2. Compatibility Made Easy – Today we live in a world many different companies are developing their own conferencing solution. The problem that many people find is that not all of these conferencing applications are compatible across multiple platforms, so when you’re in New York working from your Windows 7 computer, you cannot connect with your partner in Los Angeles working from their latest Mac. The problem is continuous and frustrating, until that is, you find a web-based solution that simply uses an internet browser, something that all platforms have. Utilizing this technology gives you the flexibility to invite nearly any user, using just about any type of operating system without having to worry about downloading and installing patches to make their system work.
3. Just Click the Link – Technology can be complicated. Today’s world is always changing, so the average computer user is constantly adapting to new challenges and learning how to operate new software to meet these challenges, so naturally when it comes to video conferencing it is often viewed as just one more thing to learn.  Thankfully with a web-based video conferencing solution, the learning curve is exceptionally minimal. The only thing you need to connect to a meeting is a link. It means you can send the link over email, chat, text, or even a Twitter or Facebook post to connect anyone to your meeting room. Everyone, including even those that are no so tech savvy, will be able to connect to a meeting with ease. This will allow you to focus less on setup and coordination and more on getting your work done quickly and effectively.
4. Less Intrusive Requirements – Due to it not requiring the download or installation of any software, web-based video conferencing is much less intrusive than those systems that require a download and/or software installation.  As another positive, since web-based video conferencing requires no downloading of software, it does not take up any additional hard disk space on your computer, allowing you to use less powerful machines to connect into a meeting, including notebooks and netbooks.
5. Zero Hesitation – From a marketing and sales perspective, there is less commitment required from your potential customers to view live web-based presentations. If customers are visiting your website, they can be speaking with a sales representative in a matter of seconds with literally just a click of a button. Instantly take your potential clients from a passive research phase into a live product interaction where they can have all their questions answered instantaneously!

So there you have it!  Today’s web-based video conferencing solutions are far simpler, less problematic and much more cost efficient then the video conferencing solutions of the 1960’s.  As the technology grows and becomes even more popular, so will the use of web-based video conferencing.

LOS ANGELES, CA, July 15, 2011- Since 1979, the Community Transportation Association of Idaho (CTAI) has supported improving transportation and mobility options in Idaho. As Idaho’s statewide transportation and mobility association, CTAI serves as the alternative transportation and mobility advocate at the local, state, and federal levels.  Being a membership-driven nonprofit organization, the staff at CTAI is always looking for ways to cut costs and save money, especially for their company meetings and training programs. CTAI has recently contracted with MegaMeeting.com to help them implement web-based video conferencing services and allow them to accomplish their goals of reducing costs, while also making staff members more productive and efficient.

Used by the training department and the board of directors for company seminars, meetings and training of both clients and employees, MegaMeeting.com has been able to assist CTAI in lessening the required travel for meeting attendees and presenters as well as cutting back on travel to rural communities when they conduct company meetings and training sessions.

CTAI takes full advantage of the many features within the MegaMeeting.com product, such as being able to show PowerPoint presentations and other documents during their trainings, as well as making use of the built-in video and integrated teleconferencing for live board meetings.

Choosing MegaMeeting.com because of the reasonable cost, Elsa MacDonald, Director of Programs at CTAI stated “MegaMeeting has been a valuable tool for our training and education programs! The lack of a contract and flexibility of seats is a great feature and the customer support has been extraordinary. “

About MegaMeeting.com (http://www.MegaMeeting.com)

MegaMeeting.com is a leading provider of 100% browser based web & video conferencing solutions, complete with real time audio and video capabilities. Being browser based and working on all major operating systems – Windows, Mac & Linux; MegaMeeting.com provides universal access without the need to download, install or configure software. MegaMeeting.com web conferencing products and services include powerful collaboration tools that accommodate robust video & web conferences, including advanced features such as desktop/application sharing, i.e. Word and Excel documents and PowerPoint presentations without the need to upload any files. MegaMeeting is ideal for multi-location web based meetings, virtual classrooms, employee trainings, product demonstrations, company orientation, customer support, product launches and much more.

For more information please visit www.megameeting.com or call (818) 783-4311.

Education shapes our future; it is where we first learn to interact with others on a social level, where we obtain the skills and resources necessary for solving everyday challenges and where we begin to learn the value of hard work.  Unfortunately, approximately seven thousand students nationwide drop out of school every day and according to a December 2010 report published by The National Center for Educational Statistics, three million non-institutionalized young people between the ages of 16 and 24 are not enrolled in school and have not received a diploma or other credentials.  These numbers are alarming, which is why it is extremely important educators of today embrace and put into play new ways of reaching out and educating students.

There are many factors as to why students drop out of school or fail to graduate.  Incorporating video conferencing technology into the educational curriculum is an excellent course of action to take to keep students involved and interested in the overall academic experience.  Below are five prevailing reasons students give for dropping out of school and examples of how video conferencing can be used to alter the outcome.

1. Classes not interesting – A common excuse as to why a student may drop out of school is lack of an interesting curriculum.  Bringing video conferencing into the classroom changes that.  Students can be taken on virtual tours and field trips, connect with students in other parts of the world and participate in presentations given by international experts.  A classroom that lacks stimulation in the eyes of students should no longer be an excuse for dropping out of school.
2. Have to get a job – Web-based video conferencing provides a flexible solution for students who can’t attend a typical classroom setting due to them having to get a job.  Online education can give students access to classes that work within their schedule.
3. Life changing event, such as becoming a parent or having to care for a sick family member – For students who drop out of school due to the birth of a child, video conferencing gives teachers the ability to provide an educational platform that will keep the student involved in a classroom setting.  By broadcasting live lessons over the internet, students can attend classes from the comfort of their own home, yet communicate and interact with the other students as if they were all sitting in the same room.
4. Lack of parental participation or support of education – In education, having ample parental support is a huge factor in the success of a student.  If a student is doing poorly, teachers need to be able to communicate and work with their parents to come up with solutions to help that student succeed.  Due to busy schedules and conflicts, face-to-face parent/teacher conferences sometimes are impossible.  Being caught in traffic or held up at work is no longer a justifiable reason for not supporting or participating in the education of a student.  With video conferencing teachers can connect and meet with parents from anywhere and at any-time, providing them with tools needed to keep parents active and informed during the education process.
5. Unidentified learning disability and/or learning style – A classroom is a demanding environment; some students need extra attention.  Through video conferencing teachers or tutors can give special attention to students who may have special needs or learning disabilities.  These students can connect with their teachers outside the normal classroom setting and get the extra help they need to stay on the same level as other students in their class.

Active interaction and communication is a key factor in keeping students interested and enrolled in school.  Educational institutions using video conferencing as a substitution or addition to the traditional classroom environment are giving students unlimited opportunities to connect and receive the additional support they may need.

LOS ANGELES, CA, June 24, 2011- Madison, Wisconsin based InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA is an evangelical campus mission serving students and faculty on college and university campuses nationwide.  With several teams dispersed across the country, interactive communication is a vital part of their organizational vision of seeing students and faculty transformed, campuses renewed, and world changers developed.  For this reason, the campus mission recently switched to video conferencing through MegaMeeting.com, helping them to conduct more personal and productive meetings.

MegaMeeting.com’s web-based video conferencing service is being used consistently by many departments throughout InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA.  Missions, Advancements, Collegiate Ministries, Web Managers, IT Help Desk, Human Resources and Executives at the campus mission are all benefiting from the many advanced features within MegaMeeting.com.

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA implemented MegaMeeting.com due to their affordable pricing, security and the fact that there are no download requirements for attendees to get into meetings.  John Egleston, Staff Services Coordinator at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA stated “We use MegaMeeting.com to connect with several teams on a regular basis, it’s essential for meetings with live demos and interactive presentations.  MegaMeeting.com is inexpensive, versatile, secure and integrated – just the way we like our vendor services!”

Prior to adopting MegaMeeting.com’s web-based video conferencing solution into their business processes, the staff at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA would typically communicate and conduct their meetings through a free service which supplied them with nothing more than bare teleconferencing capabilities.  In addition to using the web-based video conferencing service for live demonstrations and interactive presentations, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA is able to hold online seminars, employee trainings and even troubleshoot with users through MegaMeeting.com’s innovative ShowMyDesktop feature, all of which could not be accomplished with their previous provider.

So, what’s next on the radar in terms of future use of MegaMeeting.com at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA? John Egleston commented that next year they are looking into using the service for the planning of a major conference.  They hope to conduct and record a virtual orientation for exhibitors, with the goal to make the recording available for more exhibitors to view.

About MegaMeeting.com (http://www.MegaMeeting.com)

MegaMeeting.com is a leading provider of 100% browser based web & video conferencing solutions, complete with real time audio and video capabilities. Being browser based and working on all major operating systems – Windows, Mac & Linux; MegaMeeting.com provides universal access without the need to download, install or configure software. MegaMeeting.com web conferencing products and services include powerful collaboration tools that accommodate robust video & web conferences, including advanced features such as desktop/application sharing, i.e. Word and Excel documents and PowerPoint presentations without the need to upload any files. MegaMeeting is ideal for multi-location web based meetings, virtual classrooms, employee trainings, product demonstrations, company orientation, customer support, product launches and much more.

For more information please visit www.megameeting.com or call (818) 783-4311.

LOS ANGELES, CA, June 16, 2011- Plasterer Equipment Company, Inc. is an award winning supplier of top quality construction equipment.  With offices located across the state of Pennsylvania, constant contact and communication between their four locations is extremely important, as is evident in the caliber of service they provide to their clients and employees.  Looking to reduce travel costs and increase companywide productivity, Plasterer Equipment Company, Inc. has recently turned to MegaMeeting.com’s web-based video conferencing services.  

Prior to implementing web-based video conferencing through MegaMeeting.com, monthly safety meetings required travel to the home office and employee trainings consisted of a trainer traveling to branch offices or employees traveling to the home office.  MegaMeeting.com has changed all of this for the better in a big way.

Used by the Marketing, Sales, Training, Administration and Human Resource departments, Megameeting.com allows Plasterer Equipment Company, Inc., to remotely hold monthly corporate safety meetings and extensive employee trainings without requiring travel, ultimately saving them money on fuel and vehicle maintenance.  In addition, the company has also been able to connect with their business systems provider in Canada for employee training.

The usage of MegaMeeting.com doesn’t stop at internal usage though; the simplicity of MegaMeeting.com allows Plasterer Equipment Company, Inc. to put on customer webinars pertaining to emissions regulations, as well as new product introductions.  According to Larry Smith, Product Support Manager, “MegaMeeting.com has provided us with a tool that is extremely effective and saves time and money.  My only wish is that we had acquired MegaMeeting.com a lot sooner than we did!”

As for how MegaMeeting.com is anticipated to be used in other aspects of their business, the company will be using it in monthly technology seminars for customers and most likely use it for more sales and product support meetings internally.

About MegaMeeting.com (http://www.MegaMeeting.com)

MegaMeeting.com is a leading provider of 100% browser based web & video conferencing solutions, complete with real time audio and video capabilities. Being browser based and working on all major operating systems – Windows, Mac & Linux; MegaMeeting.com provides universal access without the need to download, install or configure software. MegaMeeting.com web conferencing products and services include powerful collaboration tools that accommodate robust video & web conferences, including advanced features such as desktop/application sharing, i.e. Word and Excel documents and PowerPoint presentations without the need to upload any files. MegaMeeting is ideal for multi-location web based meetings, virtual classrooms, employee trainings, product demonstrations, company orientation, customer support, product launches and much more.

For more information please visit www.megameeting.com or call (818) 783-4311.

LOS ANGELES, CA, June 9, 2011- California Society of Health-System Pharmacists (CSHP) is based out of Sacramento, California; however as a state-wide membership association they work with committees spread across the entire state.  Looking for a way to limit the amount of travel required of their committee members, they have recently turned to web-based video conferencing provider MegaMeeting.com.

Throughout the year, the Sacramento, CA headquarters of CSHP serves many purposes, some of which include a common place to conduct committee, council and task force meetings.  Having chosen MegaMeeting.com because of the capability to see up to 16 live video feeds of meeting attendees, CSHP has realized a savings in both time and money due to reduced travel requirements and lower meeting costs.

Throughout the CSHP organizations, there are many departments taking full advantage of the features included in the MegaMeeting.com product, such as streaming live video, showing PowerPoint presentations and attendee screen sharing.  Some of these departments include training, administration, executives, board of directors and committee members, each of which are able to conduct everything from seminars and company meetings to the training of clients.
According to Philip Swanger, Director of Government Affairs, CSHP “There is no better video conferencing software offering the features of MegaMeeting.com for the price.”

About MegaMeeting.com (http://www.MegaMeeting.com)

MegaMeeting.com is a leading provider of 100% browser based web & video conferencing solutions, complete with real time audio and video capabilities. Being browser based and working on all major operating systems – Windows, Mac & Linux; MegaMeeting.com provides universal access without the need to download, install or configure software. MegaMeeting.com web conferencing products and services include powerful collaboration tools that accommodate robust video & web conferences, including advanced features such as desktop/application sharing, i.e. Word and Excel documents and PowerPoint presentations without the need to upload any files. MegaMeeting is ideal for multi-location web based meetings, virtual classrooms, employee trainings, product demonstrations, company orientation, customer support, product launches and much more.

For more information please visit www.megameeting.com or call (818) 783-4311.

LOS ANGELES, CA, June 9, 2011-  With a mission of connecting communities to information, inspiration and entertainment for life, The High Plains Library District, located in Greeley, CO has set out on a greener path by recently implementing MegaMeeting.com’s web-based video conferencing solutions into their daily business plan.

Prior to using the video conferencing features of MegaMeeting.com, managers throughout the many locations making up The High Plains Library District were required to travel up to forty-five minutes to attend a weekly meeting. Since MegaMeeting.com was brought into play, this travel time has been eliminated.  Currently used for training employees, company meetings, vendor meetings and meetings with state peers, The High Plains Library District has been able to save money and time by eliminating travel as well as increase employee productivity.  

When asked what out of the many MegaMeeting.com features gets the most use during their meetings Susan Staples, IT Manager, High Plains Library District stated “The biggest benefit of MegaMeeting is that the video component is clientless. The staff here really like the video component, and love that the video doesn’t require any downloads.   We love that we can cleanly show so many simultaneous video feeds at the same time.”

When asked what other ways MegaMeeting.com will be used throughout The High Plains Library District, Susan Staples went on to say that she wants to be able to offer MegaMeeting.com to the public on a reservation basis, but they are not quite there yet.

About MegaMeeting.com (http://www.MegaMeeting.com)

MegaMeeting.com is a leading provider of 100% browser based web & video conferencing solutions, complete with real time audio and video capabilities. Being browser based and working on all major operating systems – Windows, Mac & Linux; MegaMeeting.com provides universal access without the need to download, install or configure software. MegaMeeting.com web conferencing products and services include powerful collaboration tools that accommodate robust video & web conferences, including advanced features such as desktop/application sharing, i.e. Word and Excel documents and PowerPoint presentations without the need to upload any files. MegaMeeting is ideal for multi-location web based meetings, virtual classrooms, employee trainings, product demonstrations, company orientation, customer support, product launches and much more.

For more information please visit www.megameeting.com or call (818) 783-4311.

LOS ANGELES, CA, June 3, 2011- In the legal industry, time is of the essence.  Constant communication and collaboration is exceedingly imperative to the final outcome of many cases.  Dimalanta Clark LLP has recently turned to MegaMeeting.com to help increase company-wide productivity and unite remote offices throughout their legal practice.   

Headquartered in Oakland, California, Dimalanta Clark LLP currently has five offices across California and Arizona.  Using Megameeting.com’s web-based video conferencing solutions, multiple departments throughout Dimalanta Clark LLP, such as marketing, administration, executives and accounting have been able to move past their typical communication channel through teleconferencing and transform their weekly calendar meetings into a more personal and interactive, video-based platform.

According to Will Carrillo, Firm Administrator, Dimalanta Clark LLP, “We use MegaMeeting for our weekly office meetings. It’s easy to use and the price is just right.”  Through the use of built-in audio via VoIP and the ability to see up to 16 live video feeds of meeting attendees, company meetings and employee training at Dimalanta Clark LLP have been taken to a whole new level.

About MegaMeeting.com

MegaMeeting.com is a leading provider of 100% browser based web & video conferencing solutions, complete with real time audio and video capabilities. Being browser based and working on all major operating systems – Windows, Mac & Linux; MegaMeeting.com provides universal access without the need to download, install or configure software. MegaMeeting.com web conferencing products and services include powerful collaboration tools that accommodate robust video & web conferences, including advanced features such as desktop/application sharing, i.e. Word and Excel documents and PowerPoint presentations without the need to upload any files. MegaMeeting is ideal for multi-location web based meetings, virtual classrooms, employee trainings, product demonstrations, company orientation, customer support, product launches and much more.

For more information please visit www.megameeting.com or call (818) 783-4311.

LOS ANGELES, CA, June 3, 2011- For Dallas, Texas based DFW MultiMedia, Inc., image is everything.  Specializing in court reporting and video production DFW MultiMedia, Inc has been around for 25 years, providing top quality state-of-the-art video reproductions of the litigation process.  Recently, when looking for a way to streamline their process they turned to MegaMeeting.com’s web-based video conferencing platform.

By implementing MegaMeeting.com to conduct video conferences for the administration department, as well as for sales meetings, DFW MultiMedia, Inc. has not only saved money in travel expenses, but has also reduced aggravation and prevented loss of company time due to travel.

One of the unique services offered by DFW MultiMedia, Inc. is the videotaping of depositions for law firms.  Using the MegaMeeting.com service, DFW employees travel to one location to shoot the deposition, while attorneys in remote locations video conference in and ask questions of the witness, without actually having to physically be there.  According to Kevin Slayter, Owner, DFW Multimedia, Inc., “The MegaMeeting.com experience for us has been a real positive one. Our clients are impressed with the abilities we have using video conferencing and the personalized appearance within our web domain”.

About MegaMeeting.com

MegaMeeting.com is a leading provider of 100% browser based web & video conferencing solutions, complete with real time audio and video capabilities. Being browser based and working on all major operating systems – Windows, Mac & Linux; MegaMeeting.com provides universal access without the need to download, install or configure software. MegaMeeting.com web conferencing products and services include powerful collaboration tools that accommodate robust video & web conferences, including advanced features such as desktop/application sharing, i.e. Word and Excel documents and PowerPoint presentations without the need to upload any files. MegaMeeting is ideal for multi-location web based meetings, virtual classrooms, employee trainings, product demonstrations, company orientation, customer support, product launches and much more.

For more information please visit www.megameeting.com or call (818) 783-4311.