Video Conferencing in the Coronavirus Age: a real tool against social isolation.

31 March 2020

Some Options for Free Internet Video Conferencing; prepared by Bill Blair

There are numerous free internet video conferencing applications which enable people to "meet up" from their own home by using the cameras and microphones of their PCs, Macs, iPads, iPhones or Android phones/tablets to see and talk to each other.

Attached is a detailed description of three of the more popular applications which U3A members might like to consider using. In summary, these are:

ZOOM - People who intend to 'host' a meeting need to be aware that they need to sign up to Zoom and that it is only free for 5 people for 40 minutes. To host a longer meeting with more participants, a host needs to sign up to its Pro Plan, currently A$20.99 per month for up to 100 people for 24 hours.

JITSI – No account needed; no time limits; and free for unlimited number of participants. However best results obtained by limiting the number of people talking to less than 35.

GOOGLE HANGOUTS MEET - Free with no time limits, but has to be arranged by someone with a U3A G Suite account.

File downloads

• Some Options for Video Conferencing in the Coronavirus Age (PDF 110.0 kb)