|
Client |
Pros |
Cons |
Options |
Comments |
Link |
|
|
Windows NetMeeting |
H.323 compatibility allows for communication with various clients other than NetMeeting. Fairly user-friendly (about as good as any Microsoft product). Free. |
Requires a separate server (MCU) to enable multipoint conferences. Not very configurable, about as good as any Microsoft product. |
Gatekeeper use T.120: Whiteboard Chat File Sharing |
With a separate H.323 compatible MCU that supports T.120 data transfer, Windows NetMeeting could be a perfectly good endpoint client. Its integration within Windows makes it an easy candidate. |
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CUSeeMe |
H.323 |
H.323 compatibility allows for communication with various clients other than CUSeeMe. Very user-friendly, easily configurable. “Channels,” multiuser chat rooms that users can log onto. |
Can only do multipoint chatting (without a separate MCU) on CUSeeMe’s “Channels,” much like iVisit. $39.99 a copy. |
Gatekeeper use |
If T.120 data sharing is not needed, CUSeeMe could be a viable endpoint option. However, since it is not a free program, NetMeeting might be better suited. However, since CUSeeMe does have some Multipoint capability, it might be a better option. |
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iVisit |
Proprietary |
Support for multi-user conferences without further setup. Many “rooms” to use. Free. |
Must use iVisit’s server to find people; limited community. Not great video quality. Not H.323 compatible. Can’t do point to point conferences. |
Chat Press To Talk Built in Web Browser |
Since there are no available MCU’s for iVisit (except for the iVisit server), it is not a very good option. For a recreational user, it would be fine. |
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ReLaTe |
Mbone tools: vic, rat, nte, wbe |
Multi-user capabilities, easy to use interface. Free. |
Difficult to set up on a Windows PC, doesn’t work unless Multicast is enabled. |
Whiteboard Continuous Presence |
Well suited for small conferences, but difficult to set up. Lack of H.323 compatibility makes it a poor choice of a client. |
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Click To Meet |
H.323, others |
H.323 compatibility allows for communication with various clients other than NetMeeting. Browser-based, fully integrated within the Windows environment. |
Expensive ($30,000 for implementation including endpoints and MCU) |
Gatekeeper use T.120: Whiteboard Chat File Sharing PowerPoint |
Since the program works on its own, with NetMeeting and CUSeeMe, and with many other protocols, and is so easy to use, it is clearly the best option. However, its cost is prohibitively high. |
(This is not a typo – the same company that distributed CUSeeMe now produces Click to Meet) |
Windows Netmeeting
CUSeeMe
iVisit
ReLaTe
Click to Meet
ReLaTe snapshot from http://www.ex.ac.uk/pallas/relate/
Click to Meet snapshot from http://www.cuseeme.com