As todays workforces have become more remote the desire to have a fixed cost, all-inclusive collaboration tool has gained significant momentum. Having audio, web, and video conferencing at the disposal of your teams is important to keep them connected with each other and their constituents. Zoom has become a popular name in the industry by snapping up market share with their platform that offers handy features and is easy to implement. However, its not without it’s limitations and we would argue there are some other areas where it falls a little short. What we’d like to discuss is an alternative for this service that addresses some of these items.
Hoot Meetings
The service we’re talking about in this case is Hoot Meetings. Maybe you’ve not heard of this solution because it is relatively new to the market, but it’s based on existing technology from Intrado who has been the industry for years providing many facets of the collaboration services. This is a video first solution with a seamless user experience that requires no downloads to keep you connected securely. It is specifically designed for collaboration using an intuitive interface that can bring together disparate technologies through app integration and interoperability from any end point.
Why It’s Better
For starters it isn’t limited in it’s scope to just a meeting environment. It can leverage Intrado technology and integrate with partners to create an immersive true Unified Communications solution. This platform is designed with security in mind from the backend technology to the in-meeting controls. A layered approach gives Hoot the ability to encompass an audio conferencing solution with global reach at a fixed price so you can ensure everyone is heard. This avoids the “not included” or “additional charges may apply” scenario that can lead to extra costs. Hoot is built on the most current technology where other providers are updating old technology which can have it’s challenges. Using Hoot eliminates the need to go through an external proxy or rely on DNS which also eliminates the need for partner assistance and/or costs to make the connection via SIP.
But what about the cost?
What we’ve found is that providers like Zoom tend to offer a way to use their service for free or at heavy discounts only to change the pricing structure when users need a specific features that are important for how they use the service. Those extra costs can add up and become an impediment to making the best use of this collaborative technology. However, with Hoot it is made very clear what is included and what is not. This way we can identify the specific needs of users and tailor a solution with an appropriate pricing package instead of a one-size-fits-all approach.
Connect Your Business Community Simple and Secure
Built for Modern Teams
Teams are using video-first meeting tools to drive more engagement and productivity than ever before – and that’s unlikely to change. Hoot brings together the critical elements to provide a superior user experience:
- One button to push to start and join meetings through mobile or desktop. Stop dialing!
- See who you are meeting with through HD video which alleviates video fatigue with its high quality
- Drive productivity and show them what you are talking about with one click screen share
- Calendaring and scheduling ease or start a meeting on the fly
Better Video Meetings Across Any Device
Hoot is the future of business meetings. Hoot Meetings is a next generation, video-first online meeting tool that provides a fully integrated, seamless and easy-to-use user experience. Hoot Meetings is a client-free experience that makes it easier than ever to host and join secure video meetings.
Meeting Security
The only people who should be in your meetings are the ones you invited. The content you share and collaborate on should be equally secure. That’s why Hoot was designed from the ground up to provide business-class security. Consumer-oriented meeting tools are no substitute for hardened systems. Hoot Meetings takes the demanding requirements of world-class enterprise customers and applies them for every user at every kind of organization.
- Simple option to lock a room to require attendees to be admitted by host. No unexpected or unknown participants disrupting your meeting.
- Content shared during a meeting is not saved after the meeting ends unless meeting is recorded by the host.
- Meet hosts are in total control as they must permit others in meeting to share content. No on screen surprises!
- Ability to schedule each meeting with a unique meeting URL and Conference Code eliminating unwanted guests joining with old meeting codes.
Mobility
In a remote work environment, mobility support is critical. Hoot Meetings puts the mobile experience front and center with iOS and Android™ compatible apps plus browser-based meeting access providing flexibility and control. Simplified scheduling from mobile devices makes adjustments on-the-fly simple and convenient.
To sum it up
While Hoot is clearly an alternative to Zoom It can even be used to augment your existing solution for times where Zoom doesn’t or can’t fit specific needs. There is an entire suite of Hoot services on the way which are being built using the robust suite of technologies that Intrado offers. Because it is built on proprietary technology in tandem with partners like Cisco and Microsoft it can implemented in a variety of ways depending on the need instead of an “out of the box,” “click to buy” solution. For better security, a more intuitive user interface, added features, improved interoperability, and a robust suite of services to enhance the UC experience Hoot can be a great fit! Contact Us today to learn more.
- How to Make Your Website HIPAA Compliant - November 20, 2024
- How to Speed Up Your Old PC - September 29, 2024
- A Peek at the History of PCBs - May 9, 2024