Video conferencing has become a multi-billion dollar industry, and it's not hard to see why. When it comes to professional communication, nothing beats the experience of video conferencing. But which platform and equipment should you choose? We’ll take a look at two of the top solutions in the marketplace: Zoom and Skype.
Good communication is all about making things easier, and who wants to spend hours traveling to a meeting? According to a recent study, 89% of remote teams prefer video conferencing to connect with colleagues or supervisors. The same study goes on to clarify that about 75% of US corporate employees use video collaboration to work remotely, with a majority reporting higher productivity as well as better work-life balance.
Zoom is no ordinary video communication platform. It’s a cloud-based innovative technology that houses a full spectrum of modern conferencing tools. Zoom comes with breakout sessions, which you can leverage to split your viewers (for instance clients or employees) into smaller groups for webinar trainings, specific topics or online class discussions.
With Zoom, the meeting organizer has the power to fully control the meeting. You can mute all microphones, control attendees’ presentation access and so on. Moreover, this tool allows attendees to contribute to the conversation by virtually raising their hands. With Zoom’s chat utility, viewers can directly communicate with the instructor and other attendees, ensuring a collaborative classroom setting.
Imagine communication with your employees via instant messaging, screen sharing, file sharing, as well as informal based video or audio calls right from your PC/phone. Effective and direct — that’s what Skype is all about. With a wide user base, chances are that your employees are already familiar with it. Skype is designed using innovative technology for easy communication.
Like Zoom, Skype’s intuitive chat interface allows users to send quick messages to other users. Users can effortlessly integrate video with audio right from their chat windows. In a nutshell, Skype is a great platform for instant messaging, document sharing, screen sharing and informal-based video or audio calls.
Zoom and Skype are two powerful communication channels and choosing between the two can be tricky since both are cost-effective and efficient. Let’s compare the features, pricing, and product performance of the two to secure the best solution for your video conferencing needs.
By definition, Zoom is a video conferencing based software that was designed to promote collaboration via an innovative integrated system featuring web conference, group messaging, as well as online meeting.
On the other hand, Skype is a software application, which comes with powerful text, voice and video tools, providing users with a simple way to share experiences with others, irrespective of location.
Zoom supports Android, iPhone, Mac, iPad and web while Skype is web-based and supports all windows, Android phones, iPhone, Mac and iPad.
Zoom is packed with an array of features including video webinar, integrated scheduling and group collaboration. Other powerful features of this platform include cloud and local recording, premium audio, as well as Zoom Meetings.
Skype also comes with powerful communication features including Skype-to-Skype calls, group calls, call forwards, one-to-one video calls and video messaging. You can send texts, video messages and share screens, files and contacts.
Zoom: Zoom supports an array of integrations, including Microsoft One Drive, Box, Slack, Salesforce, Microsoft Outlook, Google Chrome, LTI (Cancas[MD1] , Backboard, Desire2Learn and Moodle), Okta, Facebook Centrify, Kubi, Intel Unite, Zapier, Marketo, and RSA. Other integrations supported by Zoom include:
Skype: Skype offers integration with systems such as MS (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Lync), WordPress, Lucid Meetings, Mendix, SalesExec, Bitium, OnePage CRM, Cayzu Helpdesk, Grasshopper, Interactive Intelligence CaaS, BigContacts, 1CRM, Slack, and GroupWise.
Other systems can also be integrated with Skype, such as:
Zoom and Skype both offer premium solutions and are designed to take your communication to the next level. When shopping around for the right software for your remote communication and video conferencing needs, consider contacting CallTower to design the perfect solution for you regardless of the software you choose.
For more information about either Zoom or Skype for Business, please contact us about a demo today: