Competition between Web-conferencing vendors heats up

How WebEx and Netviewer compare with Microsoft, Citrix and Co.

www.webconferencing-test.com – the vendor-independent portal for information on Web-based meeting tools ? has now presented its latest findings. In the most recent comparison, WebEx MeetMeNow and Netviewer one2meet tied for second place. The new ranking suggests that differences between the top solutions are becoming less marked, and that competition is heating up.

In the most recent tests, WebEx Meeting Center was replaced by WebEx MeetMeNow, which carries a lower price tag, and better matches the needs of the target group addressed by the Website: small businesses and the self-employed. The second newcomer is Netviewer one2meet ? the first German-developed Web-conferencing solution to be reviewed. The tool was included because it is gaining international recognition. Other solutions considered included Microsoft Office Live Meeting, Adobe Connect Professional (formerly Macromedia Breeze) and GoToMeeting from Citrix.

Additional test criteria have also been introduced. These include the integration of teleconferencing services, the maximum number of participants per meeting, mute and uninvite options, and whether solution security is certified. Functions are now also weighted according to relevance – i.e. how often they are actually used. Therefore, test results show more clearly which solutions offer the best combination of functions and user-friendliness.

And it´s not just the content of the portal that has been updated ? the portal itself has also been extended. New sections provide insight into online meeting solutions not chosen for testing, with explanations of why they were not shortlisted. These include WebEx Meeting Center, which was squeezed out by Webex MeetMeNow, as well as Adobe Connect, and Interwise. There is also a page outlining the test procedure and the criteria used to select tools ? international market recognition, worldwide commercial availability, an English-language user interface, plus the option of requesting a free trial versiononline. The portal´s vendor independence and the objectivity of the testing methodology are also documented in detail.

The www.webconferencing-test.com portal provides visibility into the complex Web-conferencing solutions market. It employs clearly defined criteria for comparison, and gives visitors useful information that allows them to rapidly identify the tools that best meet their particular needs. The Website also features links to all vendors? Websites ? so users can sign up for free trial versions, and test-drive the solutions for themselves.