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Web Conferencing is... collaboration with applications that allow groups to meet online, enabling communication between dispersed teams. Using web conferencing groups can potentially see, hear, text chat, present, and share information in a collaborative manner. Web conferencing is one of the areas where the promise of the Internet has been fulfilled within the enterprise. Specifically, the emergence of the IP-based network infrastructure has significantly contributed to the emergence of web conferencing. Whether or not you have previous experience with web conferencing and no matter what field you are in, eventually you will web conference - and it may be sooner than you think.
Videoconferencing is... an interactive tool that incorporates audio, video, and computing, and communications technologies to allow people in different locations to electronically collaborate face-to-face, in real time, and share all types of information including data, documents, sound and picture. In essence videoconferencing removes the barrier of distance that separates us.
ISDN Videoconferencing - ISDN based video teleconferencing systems use digital phone lines to communicate. These digital lines are composed of two 64k data channels. Each ISDN line has a combined bandwidth of 128k. These lines can be combined by using an imux (inverse multiplexor) to increase performance. Typical ISDN videoconferencing systems operate at 128k (1 ISDN Line) or 384k (3 ISDN lines). Real time video transmission at 30 frames per second requires 3 ISDN lines (384k). The current standard for this type of videoconferencing is named h.320.
Network Based LAN/WAN Videoconferencing - Network based videoconferencing encompasses several commonly deployed network topologies (Ethernet, DSL, T-1, PRI, ATM, Internet, etc.). Regardless of the network backbone you choose the common denominator is tcp/ip stack that allows data to move freely across the network. The universal IP protocol is both routable and scalable. The key considerations for this type of conferencing are bandwidth and QOS (Quality of Service). A higher bandwidth buys you faster video performance. However, QOS typically suffers if you do not have control over the bandwidth. The current standard for this type of videoconferencing is named h.323.
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