NOT “ZOOM” ALONE: ​​TOP 10 ALTERNATIVE VIDEO CONFERENCING SERVICES

 Today it is difficult to imagine life without video calls: during the pandemic, we have become accustomed to school lessons, lectures and working meetings via Zoom. However, this site has its limitations. For example, a group call in the free version can only last 40 minutes, and it is now very difficult to purchase a subscription from Russia.

However, users still have access to high-quality video communications. Russian analogues of Zoom come to the rescue, in terms of functionality they are not inferior, and sometimes even superior to the foreign site.

Webinar Meetings is a worthy

Webinar Meetings is one of the products of the Webinar Group ecosystem designed for holding online meetings. Just like Zoom, the application allows you to create a webinar in a few clicks, and thanks to the Russian-language interface, even those who are “on you” can do it.

The platform provides several paid subscriptions for various purposes, which differ in the possible number of members and accounts, storage capacity and functionality. There is also a free plan for 30 members with access to 0.5 gigabytes of storage. Limitations: the lack of the ability to record an event and some additional functionality.

Paid plans allow you to hold webinars for 500 participants, but you can organize an event for 10,000 people - for this you need to fill out a separate application.

The platform works on a computer through a browser, and for mobile devices you need to download the application. On mobile, you can set up a video call, but you can't create a webinar, start a screen share, or flip through presentation slides.

A separate advantage for business is the ability to conduct mailings to registered participants and access to analytics. Webinar Meetings collects a variety of indicators: from the number of new participants to the presence control indicator, and also interacts with Yandex Metrica.

Webinars and online meetings with Jazz by Sber

Initially, SberJazz was intended for internal meetings of the Sber team, but then the service turned into a product with a public and corporate version. For ordinary "users" the platform is completely free: it allows you to invite up to 200 people to one conference without time limit and record it. By subscribing, you can run the event from your own servers and get more administrator rights. For example, the ability to create a waiting room.

In the public version of SberJazz, it does not require authorization, but access to additional functions may require logging in through Sber ID. Among the useful options, for example, transcription of spoken language is useful for those who are late or distracted.

Mail.ru - free video calls 

Once Mail.ru was known only as a mail service, but today the VK holding - the same one that owns VKontakte - is actively developing products within the "mail" ecosystem. One of them is a video calling platform.

A distinctive feature of the application is the possibility of its free use. However, the functionality of the platform is less than that offered by similar sites with paid rates. For example, it is not possible to record a meeting in Mail.ru, and the maximum number of participants cannot exceed 100 people.

But the application is convenient for internal communication with colleagues: the platform allows you to make video calls without time limits.

Video conferencing solution Yandex.Telebridge

The service from Yandex appeared on the market recently - during the coronavirus pandemic. "Telebridge" does not limit video communication in time, but allows you to unite only 40 people at a meeting.

The platform has all the basic functionality of video conferencing platforms: there is a screen sharing, chat, a calendar for scheduling meetings and recording calls. However, additional features, such as blurring the background or raising your hand, should not be expected from the service.

By the way, Yandex.Telebridge is included in the Yandex 360 package, which also has Mail, Disk, Documents, Calendar, Notes and Messenger - everything you need to work.

iMind Service

The name of this platform is translated from English as "I object." Perhaps, in this way, the developers decided to express their protest against low-quality video communications.

iMind offers several tariff options for private and corporate clients. You can also use the service for free - it allows you to hold, record and store meetings without restrictions. Moreover, subscriptions differ only in the presence of team rooms, data storage regions and the quality of the support service.

At the same time, the platform provides many tools for organizing webinar rooms, for example, you can create text chats and interactive voting. The service also has several broadcast modes - with a speaker's camera, in mosaic mode, or demonstrating several screens at once.

The service exists both in the web version and in the format of mobile applications. Registration is not required to enter the video conference - an invitation link is enough.

Separately, it is worth noting the authentication technology: instead of passwords, iMind uses one-time keys that are sent to users' emails. Of course, this requires more steps to enter the account, but it is much more difficult for attackers to hack into a personal page and steal corporate information.

Multipoint Conferences with VideoMost

The interface of this Russian platform resembles Zoom, which is convenient for those who have become accustomed to a foreign service. The developer offers three products to corporate clients: VideoMost Server - a video conferencing server for installation in the company's infrastructure, VideoMost SaaS - a cloud video communication service, TeamSpirit IM - a corporate mobile messenger with the ability to make calls.

VideoMost Saas offers three plans, including one that is free. All of them differ in functionality. For example, the free plan does not include the ability to record a meeting, which can only be held for 45 minutes.

For VideoMost Server, the cost of a subscription is calculated individually. Unlike the previous product, the corporate server allows you to hold conferences for a larger number of participants and provides advanced integration options.

VideoMost is a project primarily intended for internal corporate communication. Therefore, in it, for example, you cannot send mailings to a wide range of participants or collect statistics on events, but you can send invitations to colleagues. In addition, the service integrates well with Microsoft applications for work and planners: Outlook, Trello, Jira, GitHub, Exchange and others.

TrueConf Enterprise Solution

The Russian service, visually reminiscent of Skype, focuses on privacy. TrueConf Server is deployed on the company's own equipment, remaining inside the corporate environment under the full control of the owner. At the same time, the platform employees themselves do not have access to the client’s communications, which means they cannot provide it to others, for example, law enforcement agencies or special services.

In addition, TrueConf uses its own modification of the VP8 codec to encode video, which means that attackers will not be able to decrypt the video stream using standard tools, even if it ends up in their hands.

The platform offers three usage options: free, individual and corporate plan. The free version is suitable for small teams - the service allows only 10 registered users to participate in video conferences. In paid options, it is possible to hold events for 1000 people.

TrueConf will not be able to send a mailing list to meeting participants, but after the event, the platform will provide audience engagement statistics and a video recording of the event.

Distance learning with BigBlueButton

The BigBlueButton platform is positioned as a solution for distance learning and presentations, but the platform is also well suited for meetings with colleagues and online events.

BigBlueButton offers customers three options for tariffs, which differ in the possible number of event participants and server characteristics. Like similar sites, the app offers screen sharing, event recording, and participant rights management. In addition, branding is available in the service - adding a company logo and corporate colors.

It should be borne in mind that BigBlueButton does not fall into the category of turnkey sites: in addition to the subscription, the user will have to additionally register a domain, rent a server and install BBB.

Virtual Room webinar platform

Virtual Room is an application for webinars and video conferencing from the developer Mirapolis. This Russian company is engaged in the creation of IT solutions for automating HR processes.

The platform offers six tariffs, which differ from each other in the possible number of participants and storage capacity. At the same time, free access is possible only for 10 days and with a limit of 10 people at the event.

The video communication service is available only through a browser, including from mobile devices.

Separately, it is worth noting about the possibility of recording an event: if it is stored for less than three hours, the video is generated for free. If more than three, you will have to pay for the recording of the event.

At the same time, the platform allows one-time mailing to registered users and collects statistics after the event.

Video calls VKontakte

Video calls on VKontakte appeared two years ago. Now the service is actively developing and provides users with very wide opportunities for organizing online events. Firstly, according to the creators, an unlimited number of people can participate in video calls. Secondly, even those users who do not have a profile on the social network can join the event. And finally, the service provides the standard functionality of video communication platforms for free.

VKontakte has the ability to raise a hand, share a screen in 4K, manage participant rights, record an event, and chat that will be saved after the event.

Conclusion

The coronavirus pandemic has clearly shown how important access to video communication with relatives, colleagues and friends plays in modern life. Supply always follows demand, and today more and more platforms for quality online calls are entering the market. Therefore, businesses and individual users have the opportunity to select the most suitable options for their purposes, including from talented Russian developers.