Microsoft NetMeeting is a pioneering web conferencing tool.

Released in 1997, it is still usable today (2003) and in many respects it offers solutions and ideas that have been conceived and developed better than what we can find in most real-time conferencing tools today.

NetMeeting is a free tool and many of us have seen it inside their PC menu list.

NetMeeting allows two or more people to meet online and to talk live, text chat, share applications and documents, videoconference, whiteboard, remote control a PC and more.

Microsoft has chosen to provide no official Customer Support outside of the information accessible at:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ netmeeting/default.asp

There exist on the other hand a large community of users and resources dedicated to this powerful tool.

Here is a personally selected list of Microsoft NetMeeting-related online resources which can be extremely useful to learn and communicate more effectively with this uniquely powerful tool.

1) Unofficial NetMeeting Guide
http://users.aol.com/herbedroom/

A popular site featuring information about how to use NetMeeting, descriptions and frequently asked questions. If you plan to use NetMeeting and Internet Locator Servers, this site will interest you. This site provides specific help to NetMeeting users in placing and receiving NetMeeting calls. The site states: "purpose of this guide is to help bring some order to the sometimes chaotic world of placing and receiving calls with NetMeeting. All too often users of NetMeeting find themselves receiving calls they don't want and placing calls to people who are not what we expect them to be. Goal of this resource is to help fellow users find what they are looking for, be it family, friends, conversation, or adult thrills."

2) Quicknet
http://www.quicknet.net/

This site is the home of inexpensive Internet-based systems for making long distance calls. Here you can find selected Voice over IP solutions and some good advice. Quicknet is also one of the leading suppliers of Internet telephony hardware for use on personal computers in small office and personal applications.

3) HelpMeeting
http://www.helpmeeting.com/

HelpMeeting provides a fast, easy, and affordable way to host and attend data conferences over the Internet by leveraging the power of NetMeeting. HelpMeeting is a service portal that lets you use NetMeeting from a Web page. HelpMeeting requires only a network connection to the Internet and a compatible web browser. HelpMeeting supports Microsoft Internet Explorer 4/5 and Netscape Navigator/Communicator 4.04/4.5 and above.
HelpMeeting will automatically download and install the necessary software as part of the HelpMeeting installation.
HelpMeeting uses Microsoft NetMeeting 3 and, if needed, it will be included as part of the download and installation automatically. This makes NetMeeting easier to use for novices and is especially useful for business meetings. Note that HelpMeeting does not presently provide audio or video capabilities.

4) NetMeeting Zone
http://archive.devx.com/netmeeting/ oldnews.asp

Latest news and technical information for users of Microsoft NetMeeting. Lots of useful resources, articles, reviews and advice. This site is just a great resource for FAQ's, Internet Locator Servers, NetMeeting Super Enhancer, and NetMeeting information. This site is a must for NetMeeting users!

5) Meeting by Wire
http://www.meetingbywire.com/

Meeting by Wire is a service providing information, tips and rumours about products that support distance meetings and conferences with emphasis on Microsoft's NetMeeting and XP's Windows Messenger. This site features NetMeeting 101 for beginners, a mailing list, and a complete site to find information about NetMeeting.

6) Conflab
http://www.conflab.com/

Conflab.com is a private password protected meeting point for people who want to talk with friends, family or associates without having to hunt through public directory servers to find each other. This site lets you setup a conference using NetMeeting and pass a URL to your friends or coworkers where you can meet privately. All you need to do is register to create your free private Conflab Homepage for meeting and conducting private voice calls over the Internet. You can use this free service also with Macs and Linux PCs though it is recommended that you utilize the Netscape browser when connecting to Conflab.com from these other operating systems.

7) Visitalk
http://www.visitalk.com/

Visitalk (which you may remember for being the distributor of the MediaRing Voice over IP pioneering software) provides a hosted services allowing NetMeeting users to connect with one another with a set of added benefits including: Voice messaging, video mail, a global directory of members and easier connection between members. They also provide several Meeting Point servers allowing multi- party audio and video conferences.

8) Microsoft NetMeeting How To Guide
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx? scid=/support/netmeeting/ howto/default.asp
or:
http://tinyurl.com/3u3q

This is an official Microsoft page containing how-to tutorials supporting all of the most important NetMeeting commands and procedures. These include:

How to establish a connection through a firewall
http://support.microsoft.com/ default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q158623

How to make a NetMeeting link on a Web page
http://support.microsoft.com/ default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q157277

How to access files that have been sent to you
http://support.microsoft.com/ default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q162093

How to cancel sending a file to someone else
http://support.microsoft.com/ default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q163921

How to use NetMeeting with America Online (AOL)
http://support.microsoft.com/ default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q165451

How to start a NetMeeting conference from a command line
http://support.microsoft.com/ default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q167097

How to use the Whiteboard tool in NetMeeting
http://support.microsoft.com/ default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q154310

How to share programs in NetMeeting
http://support.microsoft.com/ default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q154354

How to transfer files in NetMeeting
http://support.microsoft.com/ default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q154358

How to Use Chat in Microsoft NetMeeting
http://support.microsoft.com/ default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q154407

How to Make a Video Call with NetMeeting
http://support.microsoft.com/ default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q167778

9) Microsoft NetMeeting: How It Can Work for You
http://support.microsoft.com/ default.aspx?scid=/servicedesks/ webcasts/wc032100/wcblurb032100.asp
or:
http://tinyurl.com/8nmb

This presentation covers the basic usage of Microsoft NetMeeting. Your session will cover different calling methods as well as an overview of available features. NetMeeting is a great application to use for meeting with people over the Internet, whether they are family, friends, business associates, or new acquaintances.

10) Microsoft's Official NetMeeting WebSite
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ netmeeting/default.asp

This is Microsoft's official NetMeeting website containing a lot of useful information and resources.

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