What Will I Need for Video Conferencing?

By Jerry Olsen
Updated: July 20, 2012

Today’s video conferencing technology offers many benefits and advantages to business owners who want to hold virtual business meetings and conferences anywhere around the world. With the right combination of hardware, software, and the power of the Internet, you can hold a live conference in your local office and broadcast it to employees, associates, clients, and managers across the globe.

In today’s market, there are several different vendors that offer quality equipment at affordable rates. However, if you’re technically savvy, you already know that not all vendors offer the best products, and you have to be careful when choosing and buying the right equipment.

Aside from the personal computers with a high memory capacity, there are several things you’ll need. The following list should help you get on the right track.

Server

First of all, you’ll need a server that runs on a Windows 2000 platform or higher. The server you buy should also have a clock speed of 1.2 gigahertz (GHz), and 256 megbytes (MB) of memory in order for the video equipment to work efficiently.

Web Camera

Another essential piece video conferencing equipment is a web camera. Logitech tends to offer the best deals on web cams, and they work well with just about any monitor size or laptop screen.

Headsets

When it comes to headsets, try to find one that works well as a mobile presenter during your videoconferencing sessions. Mobile presenters are a suite of buisness applications designed for mobile presentations from an iPhone or iPad. Plantronics offers reliable mobile presenter headsets at competitive prices.

Speakers and Microphones

Good tabletop speakers and microphones are also also essential tools for video conferencing communication  There is no specific technical requirement or specification for either, however you should alwasy shop around for quality equipment.

Conference Room

To ensure that your video conferencing runs smoothly, conference room setup is imperative because it provides communication forum for in-house and remote parties. Your choices for conference rooms include a standard conference room with a solo microphone or one with a converge mixer. Since converge mixers can be quite epensive, you may want to opt for a conference room with a solo microphone instead.

Video Cameras

Since video cameras allow you to record your meetings, a good camera is probably the most essential piece of equipment for your video conference sessions. That’s why it’s so important to invest in good equipment. Sony offers top-of-the-line video cameras that are compatible with standard desktop and laptop users.

On a final note, be sure that the pieces of equipment and components you buy are compatible with one another. Always do your research on the Internet beforehand or check service manuals - you’ll be glad you did.

Featured Research