A new videoconferencing service called MegaMeeting provides the ability to setup private virtual environments in which to videoconference with up to ten people at one time.

The new service is all based on the new Flash Communication Server technology and it integrates video conferencing, VoIP, shared spaces, text chat and advanced optional facilities like a PowerPoint presentation facility, screen sharing and remote control.

The videoconferencing abilities of MegaMeeting include the possibility of having up to ten concurrent video feeds simultaneously displayed in a room.

The quality of the video is mediocre and it utilizes a relatively low bandwidth with my initial tests showing less than 128 Kbps for a three people videoconference.

A nice innovative touch, introduced for the first time in a live conferencing space, is the use of present visual scenarios, much like the Yahoo Messenger environments, which nonetheless would appear as a non-sophisticated and useless addition, indicate to the smart analyst eye the clear direction of things to come.

The set of environments provided with MegaMeeting is still very basic and includes:

1) Forest

2) Beach

3) Flowers

4) Swamp

The environments are enriched by the availability of "ambient" sounds, which anticipate the upcoming trend in virtual spaces multimedia architecture.

Unfortunately the environments do not synch-up on the other participant's screens and remain therefore I personal choice not immediately shareable with the others.

These environments are the first step in recreating physical scenarios or pure fantasy-based ones that can better facilitate the type of collaboration and interaction required by the participants.

Though the design and execution of these few environments is still very poor and the implementation leaves lots to be desired for serious business professionals, the idea is indeed very right.

The situation is much like the one of emotisounds and emoticons, which were first introduced as playful additions mostly appreciated by teenagers. Nonetheless the playful appearance emoticons and emotisounds have come to play a more important and significant role in text-based exchanges as they add a level of intimacy and immediacy that would otherwise be lost.

So, in my personal view, this is a great idea whose time has come, and I have myself been pondering the design and creation of specific private collaboration spaces that would be visually suited to specific meetings and exchanges.

MegaMeeting is a very simple videoconferencing technology that offers effective video communication at $12/month. This is quite impressive by itself.

I tested the tool with two more people across different continents with more than acceptable results.

The audio delay is very significant (something in the range of 5 to 7 seconds) and can be an obstacle to lively, spontaneous face-to-face conversations. On the other hand, if properly self-moderated by the people participating in a meeting this can be minor nuisance that can be easily managed and made to become unnoticeable.

MegaMeeting leverages the flexibility of the Flash Communication Server while stretching and innovating on some key interesting areas:

• Multiple simultaneous video windows - as many as the participants are
• Complete flexibility in moving video windows around and in resizing them to your preference.
• Automatic transparency for all floating windows making the interface easier to manage and more accessible.



• Audio visual environments, attempting to recreate familiar settings in order to facilitate and better support the collaboration tasks at hand.
• Shared spaces. Private and multiple rooms in which users, groups and teams can meet separately.



• One click access. Nothing to download or install. Web-based.
• Fully-cross platform: PCs, Macs, Linux and more machines can all access this videoconferencing service as long as they have an updated browser with the latest Flash plugin.

MegaMeeting comes in three possible versions:

a) Personal - $ 12/month (3 users) - additional capacity costs $3 extra per user.

b) Professional - $ 45/month (3 users) - additional capacity costs $15 extra per user. One time setup-fee of $ 995.
Though the information available online is unclear and ambiguous it appears as if this solution is a server-based one that any company can install and deploy on its own servers. Maximum capacity: 30 concurrent users.

c) Enterprise - $ 95/month - one time setup fee $ 4995 - Maximum capacity: 50 concurrent users. Server-based. MegaMeeting Enterprise is hosted on your company web site, allowing you to host your own MegaMeeting Professional video conferences on your own server, using your own bandwidth. This option also allows you to use MegaMeeting Professional on your Intranet.

You can directly test MegaMeeting now with a webcam and your own headset with microphone. Just invite one or two more people to join you at:
http://www.megameeting.com/
and then click on the Free Trial button.

MegaMeeting is a new low-cost video conferencing system, that features great ease of use, simple access, no software to download, compatibility with PCs, Macs and Linux and up to ten concurrent videostreams immersed in your preferred visual setting.