[KI-LC] Kantara Initiative's Teleconference Service Provider

[Dervla O'Reilly]

Hello LC,

We received your feedback regarding the current teleconference provider TurboBridge and realize this service is not the favored solution as originally anticipated. 

In researching other solutions, we find there are limited options with dedicated Skype options, let alone VoIP options.

As we look at some solutions, we would like to choose an option without toll free due to higher costs, yet you can dial in using your Skype minutes.  We are trying to determine if there would be any barriers for folks within your groups' participation providing the following options:

1. utilize WebEx with their integrated VoIP solution, without dedicated Skype access with toll option (could use your Skype, mobile or land line)

2. utilize WebEx with their integrated VoIP solution, without dedicated Skype access with toll free option (more cost to Kantara).

Comments: 

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Please provide your feedback by COB Wednesday, 29 Feb.   

Cheers,

Dervla

________________________
Dervla O’Reilly
Program & Event Manager

Kantara Initiative

+1 415 731 4487 business

+1 509 757 4487 fax

dervla[at]kantarainitiative[dot]org

http://www.kantarainitiative.org

Learn more about Kantara Initiative membership: http://kantarainitiative.org/wordpress/membership/

[Rainer Hoerbe]

I would prefer option 1. Calls to landlines are usually cheap, and my experience from using webex is that most people can use VoIP in even in a restricted enterprise environment once they get beyond the hurdle to activate Java or install an app. I also found the productivity functions (slideshow, chat, online-status, remote mute) quite useful for calls with a larger number of participants.

- Rainer

_______________________________________________
LC mailing list
L...@kantarainitiative.org
http://kantarainitiative.org/mailman/listinfo/lc

[Colin Wallis]

I can probably live with option 1 as well, but less sure about the rest of eGov. 

 

What is your view from the Group’s perspective Rainer?

 

We have a number of US and Canada folks who probably used the toll free lines.  I’m thinking most EU based folks used Skype.

 

Cheers

Colin

====
CAUTION:  This email message and any attachments contain information that may be confidential and may be LEGALLY PRIVILEGED. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, disclosure or copying of this message or attachments is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email message in error please notify us immediately and erase all copies of the message and attachments. Thank you.
====

[John Bradley]

1 is fine for me as well.   The webex Voip seems to work as well as Skype from a laptop.  

John B.

[Rainer Hoerbe]

I can probably live with option 1 as well, but less sure about the rest of eGov. 

 

What is your view from the Group’s perspective Rainer?

I do not know, but we are discussing peanuts .. 2$ per hour.

- Toll-free numbers are a headache, because they are mainly useful when traveling, and cannot be used from mobile, payphones or hotels in many countries. 

- Toll numbers are local numbers. US landline numbers can be called world-wide for approx . 2$/hour with Skype, or local numbers might anyway be included in a mobile flatrate.

BTW, I evaluated 4 conferencing products last December for a European project, and came up with following conclusions:

- All 4 products (WebEx, Gotomeeting, Netviewer/VoIP and POWWOWNOW/Netviewer) are reliable and useful.

- Out of 50 participants less than 5 could not use VoIP, either because of an enterprise IT policy, or incapability of activating Java in the browser or installing a smartphone app.

- The first 3 are WebConferencing solutions and as such more productive than a plain phone conferencing solution for groups > 10 or less experienced participants (remote mute is a kill feature!)

- I finally decided on WebEx, because it provides SAML WebSSO integration.

- Gotomeeting utilizes a broadband codec with very good voice quality when fast internet is available. WebEx seems to be limited to phone quality, which is not bad either. I personally had a problem with the WebEx iPhone app, but the iPad worked fine, GotoMeeting worked fine on both iPhone and iPad. 

- I found out by accident that Facetime has an amazingly good quality when using it in hands-free to talk to a group of people in a room. However, that is no general solution for most groups.

Ciao Rainer 

[John Fraser]

We use Cisco's WebEx (primarily but not exclusively in the US) and have had good luck. I would approach Cisco and see if they have a deal for non-profits like Kantara. I have a couple of high-level contacts if that would help. 

JF

_______________________________________________

[Rich Furr]

1 works for me as well

Rich Furr

Head, Global Regulatory Affairs, Policy & Compliance

SAFE-BioPharma Assn - The Biopharmaceutical & Healthcare Identity Management Standard

Cell: 704-575-1680

Office:  980-236-7576

  SAFE-BioPharma

  SAFE-BioPharma

  SAFE-BioPharma

From: John Bradley <jbra...@me.com>
Date: Sun, 26 Feb 2012 16:34:33 -0500
To: Rainer Hoerbe <rai...@hoerbe.at>
Cc: "L...@kantarainitiative.org Council Kantara" <L...@kantarainitiative.org>, Dervla O'Reilly <dervla...@me.com>, "st...@kantarainitiative.org list" <st...@kantarainitiative.org>
Subject: Re: [KI-LC] Kantara Initiative's Teleconference Service Provider

[Heather Flanagan]

+1 to 1

-Heather

Hello LC,

Comments:

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Cheers,
Dervla

_______________________________________________