Video conferencing is a simple task when you can count on the help of free online tools. Platforms like Zoom Meetings, Skype and Microsoft Teams allow you to set up remote meetings in a few clicks and make life easier for those who need to do home office, especially during the quarantine of the coronavirus.
READ: 13 tools to make home office in isolation
In addition to video calls, services often offer features such as screen sharing, chat and collaborative document editing. Next, check out eight tools for making free online meetings that can be used to work from home during isolation.
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Zoom Meetings is a video conferencing tool aimed at corporate environments that supports meetings with up to 500 participants and webinars with an audience of 10,000 people. The operation of the service is simple: the meeting administrator creates a room and sends an invitation via email or link to the participants, who do not need to have an account on the website. Just access the URL and enter a name to enter.
Zoom Meetings videoconferencing tool that accepts up to 500 participants Photo: Divulgao / Zoom
Among the features offered by Zoom Meetings are real-time chat, file transfer, microphone control, whiteboard, screen sharing and recording of meetings in the cloud. It is important to note that, in the free mode, group meetings have a maximum duration of 40 minutes and are limited to 100 participants. There are no restrictions for online dating between just two people.
See also: Home office: see tools for working at home on the coronavirus
Home office: see tools for working at home on the coronavirus
Skype, the famous audio and video calling service, is also available in the browser version. With an interface similar to that of the PC program, the online messenger allows you to create free video calls with up to 50 guests. You do not need to be registered with the service to participate in a meeting, which can be accessed through a link.
Skype for Business indicated for business meetings Photo: Divulgao / Microsoft
For startups and companies, Skype for Business is recommended, the messenger version focused on corporate environments and with exclusive functions. It is possible to create meetings with up to 250 users, participate in chats in real time and share documents, which can be edited during the presentation thanks to integration with the Office 365 Enterprise suite. Another highlight of the corporate version is the possibility to schedule meetings directly in the Outlook calendar.
Focused on corporate environments, ezTalks offers a free plan that allows meetings with up to 100 people Photo: Reproduo / ezTalks
EzTalks (eztalks) is a platform designed for corporate video conferences and webinars. In the free modality, it is possible to gather up to 100 participants in meetings with a maximum duration of 45 minutes. With support for private and collective chats, screen sharing, notes and polls in real time, the service requires the download of software. Although it is possible to schedule and manage meetings in the browser, the program is indispensable for holding videoconferences.
With a simple and intuitive interface, Google Hangouts helps bring co-workers together online Photo: Reproduo / Google Hangouts
Integrated with Gmail, Google Hangouts is completely free and allows you to create video conferences with up to 10 people in a few clicks. To do this, simply go to hangouts.google, click on "Video call" and invite participants by email or link. Google's chat tool allows you to share your computer screen and chat with other members of the meeting in real time.
Microsoft Teams allows you to video conference and edit Office documents collaboratively in real time Photo: Divulgao / Microsoft Teams
Teams is another Microsoft alternative to business communication. Previously restricted to Office 365 subscribers, the online collaboration tool offers a free plan that allows you to create video conferences with up to 300 people, in addition to saving 10 GB of files per team and an additional 2 GB per user.
Teams' features also include screen sharing and collaborative editing of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote documents. It is also possible to connect external applications, such as Trello and Evernote.
Join.me (join.me/en) is a platform that allows you to make videoconferences right in the browser. Its operation is simple: after registering, the user defines a personal link that will become his permanent meeting room and sends the URL to other co-workers. Participants need only click on the address, enter a name and wait for the administrator's approval.
Join.me: platform allows you to create videoconferences in the browser Foto: Reproduo / Join.me
Join.me has a desktop application, but it is possible to hold meetings without installing it. The service features, which are free for just 15 days, include screen sharing, chat, notes, video bubbles for all participants, microphone control and recording of the meeting in the cloud. Subscription plan prices range from R $ 41 to R $ 102.
The operation of Teleport is similar to that of other services in the segment. To participate in a video conference, just click on the link sent by the meeting administrator. During the online meeting, it is possible to share the computer screen and chat with other participants.
Teleport platform for videoconferences Foto: Reproduo / Teleport
It is worth mentioning that Teleport's free modality allows meetings between only five participants and with a maximum duration of 50 minutes. There are no limits for video conferences in pairs. Anyone who wants to get rid of these limitations and unlock features like recording meetings should purchase one of the plans premium of the service. Prices range from $ 10 to $ 45.
The GoToMeeting platform proposal helps to promote meetings with one click. After a short registration, the user can already create a single meeting or an online meeting room, whose link never expires, and begin to invite participants.
GoToMeeting solution for remote business communication Photo: Reproduction / GoToMeeting
Free for 14 days, the service offers features such as screen sharing, chat, meeting recording, conference line for participation by phone and integration with Google Calendar. After the evaluation period, you must sign a package premium to continue using GoToMeeting. Prices range from $ 12 to $ 16 a month. Large companies can hire a personalized plan.
