Upside: The new Live Meeting is available either as a downloadable Windows app or as a browser-based applet for those using Mac OS or Solaris workstations. The Live Meeting Windows app includes toolbar plug-ins for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, and Project, allowing you to instigate collaboration with others from within those apps. Plus, the software lets you convert existing appointments scheduled in Outlook into Live Meeting invitations. And you can forget toll-free teleconferencing numbers and conference codes; within the Windows app, Live Meeting lets you type in your own phone number so that the app can call you back and include you in the current meeting. The new version provides limited VoIP capability, allowing one presenter to broadcast a presentation to large numbers of people via one-way audio onto PC desktop speakers. Live Meeting also now includes language support for seven languages (English, Japanese, French, German, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean).
Downside: While the above enhancements sound great, existing Live Meeting subscribers will have to wait. Beginning March 11, new subscribers will receive the updated package, but existing customers will have to wait to be included within Microsoft's current Live Meeting upgrade cycle. Also, while talking up its support for non-Windows operating systems and use with Apple's Safari browser and Solaris browsers, Microsoft was exceptionally vague about Live Meeting support for Linux OS distributions -- many of which are growing in popularity. Finally, there is limited VoIP capability (one-way, presenter to audience) offered in Live Meeting.
Outlook: Those who have already used the PlaceWare Live Meeting version and have since moved on to competing apps may be slow to return to try the new Microsoft Office Live Meeting. Check back soon for full review of the new Live Meeting Web-conferencing service.
NOTE: Microsoft Office LiveMeeting will be available as a hosted service for all customers from March 11 and as a guide for Australian costs, the pricing is 55 cents per minute.
Like this article? Click below to send it to your mobile for free!
29/09/2005, 01:26 AM
Wow no more travel!
I'm a trainer and I've trained for 6 years. I've never seen a more powerful and EASY tool.
Report offensive comment
codefreakdudette
04/05/2005, 02:50 AM
Mucha-do about nothing
Looks different. Thats all. Same tools, same issues, same concerns. Looks like LM got a nice face wash. And thats about it. Sorry, but I only got 2,000 characters for this comments. Will post more details later.
Report offensive comment