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Understand the market segments, evaluation methods, and crucial factors for choosing a web conferencing tool. Learn about leading vendors like Microsoft Lync, Adobe Connect, Cisco WebEx, and more. Dive into features, deployment options, and integration capabilities. Discover the comprehensive vision and functionality of top web conferencing solutions.
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WebinarSelecting A Product For Webconferencing Philipp Karcher, Analyst October 15, 2013, Call in at 12:55 p.m. Eastern time
Agenda • The evolution of webconferencing • How we segment the market • Evaluation methodology and results • Making the right choice(s) for you
Webconferencing is an important, multipurpose tool (cont.) Source: June 25, 2010, “The Forrester Wave™: Web Conferencing, Q2 2010” Forrester report
Vendors converge on webconferencing from different markets Audioconferencing Unified communications and collaboration Standalone webconferencing
Webconferencing is becoming even more versatile • A shift toward mobile-first development • Further expansion into webcasting territory • Greater overlap with desktop videoconferencing • New competition from consumer offerings • Deeper integrations with content services
Webconferencing versus webcasting versus desktop videoconferencing Source: September 13, 2013, “The Forrester Wave™: Webconferencing, Q3 2013” Forrester report
Segment tools by: • Feature-packed versus lower-cost screen sharing. • Upload versus screen sharing for presenting content. • Conferencing versus UC&C specialists. • Flash, JavaScript, or other browser plug-ins versus client-install-based approaches. • On-premises in addition to cloud deployment options.
How we selected vendors for our evaluation A product that supports collaborative web meetings Enterprise scale with at least 70,000 paid users and 2,000 corporate accounts
Products in the Forrester Wave™ • Microsoft Lync • PGi GlobalMeet • Saba Meeting Adobe Connect AT&T Connect Cisco WebEx Citrix GoToMeeting FuzeBox Fuze Meeting IBM Sametime IBM SmartCloud Meetings InterCall Unified Meeting
The Forrester Wave™ methodology 58 criteria Vendor surveys Executive strategy briefings Product demos Customer reference interviews
The Forrester Wave™: Webconferencing, Q3 2013 Source: September 13, 2013, “The Forrester Wave: Webconferencing, Q3 2013” Forrester report
Use the Forrester Wave™ tool to customize your shortlist Download the spreadsheet with the full evaluation and weighting factors. Narrow the vendors included to those that pass muster for security, delivery architecture, and scenario coverage. Customize the weightings to get a unique ranking based on your unique needs.
The Forrester Wave™: Webconferencing, Q3 2013 Source: September 13, 2013, “The Forrester Wave: Webconferencing, Q3 2013” Forrester report
Leaders have a comprehensive vision for web meetings Comprehensive functionality A vision for webconferencing as part of a broader: UC suite Collaboration platform Conferencing product portfolio Business application offering More robust cloud infrastructure and more deployment model options
Cisco WebEx Market share leader and a name that’s a synonym for webconferencing Comprehensive functionality and support for various scenarios between Meeting Center, Event Center, Training Center, and Support Center Strong fit for customers of Cisco TelePresence and Jabber who want a complete solution for real-time collaboration, including the ability to bring room-based videoconferencing endpoints into meetings
Saba Meeting Low bandwidth — works well on “bursty” networks like VSATs Many student interaction controls to support instructors in virtual classroom scenarios Customers use Saba Meeting . . . With other Saba Software learning management products. With Saba Cloud — its social learning and performance management software. Standalone for general collaboration and webinars.
Adobe Connect The most comprehensive solution for webinarsand eLearning Bundled integrations with Adobe Captivate and Adobe Presenter to create and manage eLearning content Built-in technology for building landing pages (Adobe Experience Manager) and integrations with Adobe Analytics The government represents a major segment of customers — some government/military customers. Videoconferencing room integration A variety of add-ons to the product — like salesforce.com Connector — is available online.
IBM SmartCloud Meetings and IBM Sametime Sametime is an all-in-one solution for IM and presence, audio, video, and webconferencing. SmartCloud Meetings collaboration suite includes its class-leading social software, IBM Connections. Primarily geared at web meetings and general collaboration, although an events version introduces landing pages Sametime leads SmartCloud Meetings in functionality. The newly released Sametime 9 (not evaluated) introduces significant upgrades to videoconferencing and the overall user experience.
Microsoft Lync The jack-of-all-trades for real-time communication Microsoft shops have deployed Lync for IM and presence; fewer have deployed for telephony, video, and webconferencing. Integrates with the rest of the Microsoft productivity and collaboration suite to provide a familiar experience Lync 2013 improves videoconferencing and support for native apps on mobile platforms — two complaints with Lync 2010. In contrast to Microsoft Office Live Meeting, which some customers also used for webinars, Lync is focused purely on collaboration.
AT&T Connect • Low-cost add-on for customers of AT&T’sglobal IP audioconferencing services • Launch and manage audioconferences using AT&T apps, with the option to easily escalate calls into web meetings • Available as a hosted service that can also integrate with an on-premises implementation for cost savings plus global coverage • Has more features than the no-frills products but is not a full-blown training and webinar solution
Citrix GoToMeeting • Multiple purpose-built tools — including GoToTraining, GoToWebinar, and GoToAssist — are the keys to its focus on usability. • Has been stronger in the SMB market and with business (as opposed to IT) buyers • Citrix Systems is building out the platform’s management tools, and the product now offers high-quality videoconferencing.
Citrix GoToMeeting (cont.) • Citrix Systems is pursuing a vision of an integrated cloud-based set of collaboration tools including: • Citrix Podio for team collaboration, enterprise social, and task management. • Citrix Sharefile for file sync and share. • Citrix Systems recently introduced a new product, GoToWebcast, for presentations to thousands of people.
PGi GlobalMeet Premiere Global Services (PGi) has alegacy in providing audioconferencing and is also one of the top resellers of Cisco WebEx and Adobe Connect. GlobalMeet focuses on 90% of what people need for the average webconference. GlobalMeet is chosen by customers for its simplicity and ease of use, value for price, and support. The product does not require heavy download or installation — just a browser and Flash.
PGi GlobalMeet (cont.) GlobalMeet is for meetings where thefocus is on the content; another PGi product, iMeet, is for meetings where the focus is on the people and supports videoconferencing with continuous presence.
InterCall Unified Meeting Low-cost option for customers of InterCall reservationless audio who want one integrated product for both Customers benefit from global infrastructure and support and being able to join meetings in a browser without a plug-in. Geared toward small group collaboration but has some features usually reserved for training products like breakout rooms and subconferences
InterCall Unified Meeting (cont.) Has a LinkedIn integration to pull userprofiles Has fewer management controls and videoconferencing features compared with other products in this evaluation and doesn’t support persistent meeting rooms
Fuze Meeting Provides an immersive communication experience with high-fidelity videoconferencing, audio, and content sharing Strong support for videoconferencing interoperability Strong tablet and Mac support with a dedicated client. Fuze Meeting is popular with Mac shops like creative agencies and the media industry in general.
Fuze Meeting (cont.) Fuze Meeting is less versatile as a trainingor webinar product and has fewer features and integrations to support ad hoc meetings. As a smaller company, FuzeBox focuses on a narrower set of features than other vendors in the Forrester Wave™, but the product excels in what it does.
Gottas and gotchas for product selection • Catalog use cases to prioritize features. • Consider the technical expertise of your users. • Explore synergies with existing UC&C investments. • Beware of the challenges of intercompany collaboration. • Dive into the details of multiplatform support. • Make sure costs are transparent and easy to budget. • Don’t rush out of the gate too early. • Market the product, so everyone knows it’s available. • Train employees on how to use the product effectively.
Philipp Karcher pkarcher@forrester.com Twitter: @philkarcher