Microsoft has introduced Skype Meetings – a new free online meetings tool. With this tool, small businesses can have real-time audio and HD video conferencing, and share screens and content during the meeting.
Skype Meetings
One can quickly set up meetings with Skype Meetings and then can share a URL with participants who can use that URL to join the meeting.
To make the meeting more engaging and productive, participants can IM, share their screen, PowerPoint presentation, can use the laser pointer feature or the whiteboard features during the meeting. While the meeting organizer also gets professional meeting controls such as the ability to mute the audience in order to be heard.
The main features are:
- Free meetings for up to 10, people without a subscription. Up to 3 people after 60 days.
- Invite people using a personalized URL
- Set up and join from PC/Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android
- Can share your screen, files.
- Send IM during the Meet as IM inbuilt.
- PowerPoint sharing with interactive tools, annotation, highlighting, laser pointer.
- Whiteboard features like draw, edit
- Supports custom built accessories such as certified USB speakerphone, HD cameras, headsets.
Who can sign up for the Skype Meetings
Any person having a business email address and residing in U.S. and whose organization doesn’t already have Office 365 can sign up for the free Skype Meetings. Once signed up, he can set up free meetings for up to 10 people for the first 60 days and after that for 3 people.
Those having Office 365 business subscription with Skype for Business already have richer meetings capabilities. They can conduct large group meetings for up to 250 people and they can IM anyone in the group at any time, not just during the meet. Using Skype for Business, one can also schedule a Skype meeting from Outlook Calendar, initiate IM, can start an audio or video conversation within Office apps.
Here’s a demo of the newly introduced Skype Meetings:
Source: Office.com.
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