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NetMeeting

NetMeeting ver. 3
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/netmeeting/ default.asp

First released in 1996 Microsoft NetMeeting is one of the pioneering Web conferencing tools providing access to application sharing, audio, video, whiteboard, remote control, chat and file transfer facilities.

While Microsoft NetMeeting has officially been declared "dead" and Microsoft is gradually removing all of the support and facilities it one devoted to it, the program is still widely accessible, downloadable and alive in many ways.

For example, the newest version of Groove (v3 Beta) has surprisingly integrated access to Microsoft NetMeeting to apparently complement its own lack of effective real-time collaboration tools like audio/video and whiteboarding/application sharing.

NetMeeting is by far the most popular Web conferencing tool in use today. The amount of resources and technology built around this tool is simply impressive. Despite its long life NetMeeting holds up tremendously well against the rich crowd of new Web conferencing tools available today. While it may be somewhat limited or rigid in certain areas, it provides such rich, fully featured and reliable tools that I would be hard pressed in being able to find a "paid" one that provides as many reliable and well integrated tools as this one does.

NetMeeting 3.0, despite minor issues and some areas where it can still be improved, is an extremely valuable Web conferencing tool both for the novice and the advanced user. In its last release NetMeeting has also further improved its toolset by providing more responsive video, better audio quality, more video camera drivers, extensive help files, and better organized Internet-based directories.

NetMeeting has a well designed and easy to navigate interface and while it provides many configuration options it is also not particularly difficult to use for the non-technical users.

NetMeeting and more recently Microsoft Research Portrait make very good PR for Microsoft as they go apparently counter current and provide simple-to-use, effective functionalities, cutting edge technology and support for all main standards and protocols at a price that cannot be beaten. Hats to Microsoft for this still highly honorable technology.

Microsoft strategy is to get these tools so embedded in our operating systems and every day tools that we will not be able to do away with them in the near future, unless action and alternatives are sought out now.

Nonetheless, anyone who wants to have any say in evaluating, designing, developing or marketing any type of Web conferencing tool should first familiarize herself with this milestone web conferencing technology.

Overview