March 13, 2006 Linux Web Conferencing: Share And Share Alike? More Web conferencing services are rolling out the red carpet for desktop Linux users -- but very few take them through the front door. By Howard Wen Courtesy of Page 1 of 5 The Web conferencing market nowadays offers plenty of choices -- but relatively few surprises. With so many companies selling look-alike services, cost and reliability are now the most important factors for most customers so many companies selling similar services that nowadays few things stand out among them. Subscription price and connection reliability are the important factors for most customers, but interest in being able to use another operating system, including Linux, during a Web conference session is growing. A Web conferencing application allows you to collaborate in real time with customers, co-workers, sales prospects, or anyone else with an Internet connection. Typically, the person hosting the meeting is able to share his computer desktop with other participants, allowing them to see and even to interact with documents, presentations, software demos, and the like. Many conferencing tools offer additional features. such as the ability to upload and share a Microsoft Office documents, an interactive "whiteboard" that is accessible to all of the participants, integration with instant messenger services, voice over IP (VoIP) support, and two-way videoconferencing . Most companies use Web conferencing tools to hold virtual meetings, bringing together employees who work in different locations. The technology is also well-suited for e-learning programs, software demos, or as a tool for organizing collaborative projects. Until recently, vendors relied heavily on a key selling point: holding a Web conference is much cheaper than paying employees' airfare and travel expenses to attend on on-site meeting. As portable computers, broadband Internet access, and wireless networking become more prevalent, however, Web conferencing services simply make it convenient for people to meet online, no matter where they are located. The vast majority of the Web conferencing solutions on the market today are still Windows-only products. Some developers, however, also provide some level support for other operating systems, including Linux. "We wanted to be able to help the Linux community. It is a community that originally had been left behind," says Brian Doe, Director of Customer Relations for Glance Networks, Inc., which sells Glance, a conferencing service that includes limited Linux support. E-mail This Story Print This Story Page 2: Platform Compatibility: One Goal, Two Paths. Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 Get the latest Messaging news, product info, and trends every week.			Pump Up the Online Jam Review: Office Live Beta Puts SOHOs Online Analysis: AOL Teams With WebEx For Enterprise IM Office 2007 To Feature New Workflow, Collaboration Tools Yahoo Adds Features To Firefox Toolbar Gordano Updates Messaging Suite With SNMP Links     Messaging Pipeline's Main RSS Feed     Messaging Pipeline's Blog RSS Feed Editorial and vendor perspectives The Six Flavors Of Windows Vista Microsoft plans to release a full six-pack of Vista versions, one for every taste. Which Vista will be right for you? Hope is Not Enough When It Comes To Compliance Three Ways To Authenticate E-Mail And Stop Spam Wikis In The Workplace Review: Google Desktop 3 Vendors are now talking about how collaboration can be improved by integrating video with messaging applications. They're even talking about adding live TV to mobile phones. How far do you go before it becomes a bandwidth and business productivity drain? Video is a great idea     13% Video is fine but there needs to be size limits     25% It's never used for anything really productive     38% I draw the line at live TV     25% In search of messaging products? Check out our brand new Product Finder for a directory of groupware and collaboration tools, security products, archiving solutions, and more.