WebConfGuide

Free web conference solutions basically allow people to communicate and share files such as spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, and charts with other people. Some applications provide even more functionality, and offer features such as whiteboarding, which facilitates discussions comprised of several people at time. Most web conference services are ideally suited for the demands of small business, and they are also widely used for personal purposes. Below are some of the most popular free web conference solutions available.

Unyte
Unyte is a free web conference plug-in developed by WebDialogs, Inc. The application requires both hosts and users to be signed up with Skype and allows for free and secure real-time collaboration. These services are available for $9.95 a month or $99.95 for a full year of multiple desktop sharing. One of the main advantages of Unyte over other web conference services is that only the meeting planner is required to download the software. Skype users can also use Unyte with its secure web-based text chat services, and it offers a simple user interface with easily accessible features.

Vyew
Unlike Unyte, Vyew provides users with a free web conference solution that dos not require any downloads. Vyew offers similar features to Unyte such as screen and file sharing, whiteboarding, and screen capture, which allows users to share the contents of his or her computer desktop with up to twenty other users. Vyew can communicate via Internet or LAN, and up to 10 MB of storage is offered for twenty participants. Vyew does not offer VoIP functionality, so users will either have to resort to text chat or VoIP services such as Skype.

Showtime
Showtime is a free web conference application developed by Powwownow, and it offers a wide range of sharing services including allowing users to share PowerPoint, PDF, Word and Excel files, all of which are automatically converted to PDF files when they are uploaded onto the Showtime’s servers. Just like Vyew, SHARE currently doesn’t offer VoIP functionality either, although users can use the company’s free conference calling services. Presenters also have the option to view the names of each participant onscreen.