Which Video Calling Tech Is Best For Business?

A closer look at some of the most popular videoconferencing tools available to your business.
When Alexander Graham Bell developed the telephone, it was widely assumed that his new invention would be followed up by a videophone hot on its heels. Video telephones were launched in Germany in 1936 using broadband coaxial cables; commercial units made their debut in America three decades later. However, video calls only really came of age once the internet arrived in our homes and workplaces, with ISDN videoconferencing and cut-price webcams representing opposite ends of the teleconferencing spectrum.
The explosive popularity of smartphones and 4G means video calls can now be undertaken from anywhere, at any time. Sophisticated software minimises packet loss and lag, while high definition output and 4K cameras ensure every freckle and eyelash can be clearly seen. Because most video call platforms offer stable communications nowadays, it’s worth taking a look at the main market leaders to determine which offers the best facilities for a corporate audience:
Skype.
Ask a hundred people to name a video call platform, and the vast majority would say Skype – increasingly used as a verb for the act of making a VoIP (Voice over IP) call. Having amassed ten years of video call know-how, an estimated 74 million people use this industry-leading package across pretty much all platforms. Skype’s key benefits include screen sharing (so a PowerPoint presentation on your desktop can be seen by other callers) and the ability to join a multi-person conference call. The UI is simple to use, although it’s often necessary to accept someone as a contact before you can call them. The endless procession of bleeps can be annoying, too.
Viber.
Designed specifically for mobile devices, Viber is a dependable way to video chat with people while on the move. However, video calls made through the mobile app have to be activated once a voice call has been connected, reflecting the relatively recent addition of video to this platform. The desktop app is a fairly conventional Skype rival, though the lurid colour scheme is rather less corporate than Skype’s powder blue and white palette. If it’s crucial to project an aura of professionalism, Viber may not be an optimal platform despite being available for BlackBerry, Windows Phone, iOS and Android.
Google Hangouts.
Considering the slow lingering death of Google+, it’s surprising to discover that Hangouts is a popular and heavy-duty platform capable of handling high-quality business video calls. Gmail or Google account holders can make and receive calls with a couple of clicks, while the latest generation Android app allows users to simply tap a contact’s name to initiate a video call with up to eight additional participants.
GoToMeeting.
A serious player in the corporate market, GoToMeeting offers 25-member video conferences in HD quality across platforms including iOS, Windows and Android. It offers screen sharing and invite dispatch via email or instant message, although entering an ID code to join a meeting can be inconvenient and the interface is less intuitive than some of the platforms reviewed here. However, GoToMeeting has an aura of professionalism that other platforms simply can’t match.
FaceTime.
While Microsoft was buying Skype and Google was developing its Hangouts platform, Apple belatedly introduced a relatively basic package exclusively for iOS or OS X platforms. This means only other Apple users can receive incoming calls from a FaceTime account, which is unfortunate considering the market dominance of Android and Windows. However, as a one-to-one Apple-to-Apple device, FaceTime is simple to use and highly secure courtesy of end-to-end encryption.
Facebook Messenger.
Facebook has transcended its social media origins to become a platform beloved by the business community. Alongside today’s proliferation of corporate Facebook accounts, the Messenger service offers basic video functionality that is very much an adjunct to the social media giant’s core services. It may be handy for PR agencies or employees of the same firm to quickly catch up, but Facebook Messenger offers little beyond simplicity and convenience. As with Skype, it’s usually necessary to add someone as a friend before they can receive calls from you.
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