While the idea of video conferencing occurred in the 1870s, it did not hit its stride until the early 1990s. In 1994, Connectix introduced the “QuickCam” or what we know today as the webcam. The QuickCam went on to change the way we use our computers to communicate with each other. Today, webcams are built into a majority of computers and cellphones while software such as Skype, Facetime, and Google Hangout let us communicate on both a personal and professional level. Through the years, video conferencing became more and more popular in the professional world. Companies save a significant amount of money by using teleconferencing as opposed to the alternative method of flying co-workers and clients in for business meetings. Instead all companies have to do is dial in to a virtual meeting using video conferencing technology to communicate with clients and coworkers around the world.
As telecommunicating increased in popularity, the need to improve the technology did too. Ofer Shapiro saw this need and Vidyo, a video communication platform was born. Vidyo is known for their high quality visual resolution in the video communication world. Their software was so well respected that for a short time they became the power behind Google Hangout. Today, Vidyo and Google have parted ways but that hasn’t slowed Vidyo down. With several different products and solutions; businesses and nonprofits have numerous options to meet their telecommunication needs.
In Use:
VidyoCloud is just one of the many products that make up Vidyo. Like Skype or Google Hangout, VidyoCloud enables nonprofit organizations to host meetings wherever they are. With a mobile app and a desktop app, users can be virtually anywhere with an internet connection to access VidyoCloud. Vidyo’s edge over other telecommunication platforms is the high quality of their video resolution. With HD visual resolution, VidyoCloud’s quality is roughly 16x better than their competitors. They also boast reliability, multiparty conferencing and the ability to record meetings.
VidyoCloud has helped numerous nonprofits and charities save money on travel expenses, flights, and hotels. In fact over the course of four months, they saved the Air Force Association over $30K. They’re expected to save roughly $100K annually on what would otherwise go to travel and expenses for their 95,000 volunteers.
Video conference software varies in price depending on what the customer is looking for. Vidyo is no different. VidyoCloud is free for individual users. For businesses and nonprofits the price can go up to $19.99 per user/per month. The “Enterprise” package ($14.99 per user/per month) includes third party H.323/SIP video conferencing, mobile apps, virtual meeting rooms and data storage to record meetings.
Technology Used:
In order to access Vidyo, a charity or nonprofit organization needs access to a computer with a webcam. One of the main perks of VidyoCloud is that nonprofits in are able to skip the lengthy deployment process which enables them to get started faster. Not only does this save them time, it also comes in handy for small to medium nonprofits who may not have a dedicated IT person who is able to set the software up.
Ease of Use:
Like most video conference softwares, VidyoCloud is easy to use, coming in handy for those small to medium nonprofit organizations in which volunteers wear many hats. On Capterra, a free web service helping nonprofits and businesses find the perfect software, Vidyo itself has received a lot of praise for their easy-to-use technology and clean user-face. Patricia Rodriguez of Mubea states Vidyo is “easy to use” while Jason Hill a Stake Technology Specialist from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints proclaims it’s the “Best video conferencing tool on the market” noting the ease of the product.
Recap:
VidyoCloud is a video conference software that allows nonprofit organizations the ability to meet in a virtual conference room, host up to 200 participants and the ability to dial in anywhere whether on a cellphone, personal computer, or work desktop. VidyoCloud boats the ultimate teleconferencing experience with exceptional HD visual resolution. Pricing is free for individual users but can go up to $19.99 per user/per month.
Advantages:
Vidyo is a great software for nonprofits who are looking for high quality video capabilities in their telecommunication software. They seem reliable with many great features such as virtual meeting rooms, the capability to record meetings, and integration with other software such as Slack and HipChat (Enterprise Package only). It’s also extremely easy to use which I think is key for any smaller-medium charity that are primarily volunteer run. I also appreciated that the deployment process is quick and easy. Many charities are not tech-savvy so this is potentially saving them a lot of money in the long run because they wouldn’t have to hire an IT person to set the software up.
A downside to VidyoCloud is that it’s expensive. At $19.99 per user/per month for their Team package, it can get pretty expensive for a medium nonprofit. Even a small nonprofit may find VidyoCloud is out of their budget. There are so many other choices, some of which are free. They may not have all of Vidyo’s high tech options, but some charities don’t have the capital to spend on a video conferencing software when they have limited income to begin with.
But don’t take my word for it, Vidyo is offering a free trial to users, so I recommend nonprofits and charities to try it for themselves. Maybe they’ll find that it’s worth the extra dollars.
