Portable Videoconferencing for Business

Portable Videoconferencing for Business

Videoconferencing isn’t just for big businesses and meeting rooms. The technology is now affordable and portable, providing businesses with an efficient way to connect with customers, vendors and remote employees located anywhere with an Internet connection.

Portable videoconferencing is available through devices that costs less than $1,000 and are the size of a can of tennis balls. You can set up a meeting in minutes with a few simple connections.

Using cloud-based solutions and mobile devices makes it easier than ever to have real-time communication with a video view of participants, documents, presentations and more.

Given that 70% of all human communication is non-verbal, videoconferencing offers obvious advantages over other methods of communication, especially in sales or when pitching a new client. Videoconferences also allow you to save travel costs while improving the planning, collaboration and productivity of your business.

Today videoconferencing is being used not just for meetings but also for interviewing job candidates, taking legal depositions and delivering medical expertise to remote areas.

Here are some of the latest solutions available to businesses:

  • Logitech’s ConferenceCam Connect, $499, is designed for use by up to six people and can run on battery power for up to three hours. An all-in-one device, the remote control serves as a cover for the camera when you aren’t using it. 
  • Google’s Chromebox for meetings, starting at $999, is designed for rooms with up to 15 people. The box, camera, microphone/speaker and remote are separate. The first year’s management and support fee -- $250 per device -- is included in the price.
  • The Highfive videoconferencing device, $799, is one integrated unit that connects to your TV screen and can be configured with your mobile phone. The microphones can pick up conversations in a meeting room up to 30 feet away. Up to 10 people can join through a URL link to attendees, with no passcodes required. The program automatically shows the video stream of the person speaking.

When choosing a system, be sure to check the total cost, features, and ability to connect with other software and devices.

While videoconferencing is a great tool for connecting remote team members, it takes more than technology to run a business effectively. Check out a recent article in Harvard Business Review, “Why Remote Work Thrives in Some Companies and Fails in Others,” for advice on using videoconferencing as one piece of your communication strategy.

Amy Beth Miller is a writer and editor helping people succeed in business for more than a decade. She has written news articles, features, blogs, newsletters, e-letters white papers and training manuals.

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