Microsoft has launched Skype Meetings - a tool that allows companies to have online meetings through Microsoft’s video chat and voice calls service ‘
Skype’. Microsoft, which has headquarters in Redmond, Washington, United States, bought Skype for $8.5 billion in 2011. The tool works alongside and in conjunction with Microsoft’s communication and collaboration suite Microsoft Office and its cloud version of the suite, Office 365. Skype Meetings will be available free of charge but it is not currently available in all global regions.
New users will be able to organize meetings with up to 10 people at any one time for a 60-day period after initializing the service. Beyond this period they will only be able to call a maximum of three people. The service will offer access to an online PowerPoint feature that will allow meeting participants to view presentations. They will also be able to use a ‘laser pointer’ and add content to presentations.
Skype Meetings will best be suited for small companies but Microsoft’s obvious aim is that such companies will eventually have to pay for additional services as they increase in size. It will also potentially drive customers to Microsoft’s Skype for Business service and even Office 365, both of which can facilitate meetings with far more participants (up to 250 at one time). At present there is no web-based version of the solution and it can only be accessed through the downloadable Skype software.
Do you know of any other free online business meetings solutions? Let us know the details. Add your comments below.
