Simple Web Conferencing

This module will discuss VoIP (Voice over IP) and Softphone technology services that you can use to offer voice based conversations for online learning and collaboration. With Internet telephony services you can make phone calls with your computer to other users or even to other phones.

Free Softphone Tools

Skype

One of the most poplar free tools is Skype. Skype works really well for small groups wanting to make audio calls and is great for 1 to many web conferences. You can also make video calls with Skype. It is a free application that you can download here - http://skype.com. Skype also is good for basic file sharing and instant messaging.

Firefly

Firefly is another free tool that lets you call other Firefly users.

Vsee is a video and VoIP real-time collaboration service.

Check out others at the comparison list on Wikipedia.  

Hosted Services

• jajah - http://www.jajah.com

Headset - Consider asking your participants to use a headset with an integrated microphone for better quality. Although one may be able to use a computer’s speakers and mic, the sound quality may not be as good.

As mentioned, Skype is one of the most poplar free tools. Skype works really well for small groups wanting to make audio calls and is great for 1 to many web conferences. You can also make video calls with Skype. It is a free application that you can download here - http://skype.com. Skype also is good for basic file sharing and instant messaging.

Instructors may want to use Skype to capture a conversation with a remote guest speaker. In such situations, it is always good to have a moderator help coordinate the technology piece of the call.

Adding a contact is straightforward with SKYPE:

Once you are logged in, just click the the contacts tab and then click "Add" to easily add new contacts. You can also search for contacts on SKYPE by searching for a person's SKYPE name, by full name, or search by email address. Just click the "Search" button.

Search by full name.

Then choose the person that matches your query and choose "Add SKYPE contact".

You can also invite individuals to SKYPE if they do not already have a SKYPE account.

Invite a friend or colleague by navigating to the Share SKYPE screen.

The easiest way to make sure that everyone is on the call is to create a Skype group with the contacts that you want to call. Choose "Manage Contact Groups" > "Create New Group". 

Give the group a name.

Choose the participants you want and drag their names to the group.

Click "Call" > "Start Conference Call" and you are almost ready to go.

Create a conference topic and then choose the group or other contacts that you want to join you on the call. Choose "Start" and the call will begin.

Recording a Skype conversation is easy if you are the host and if you have a second computer in the room with you. Just start up a recording tool on your second computer while you use your speakerphone to hold the Web conference. Audacity, an open source audio recording tool, works well, or GarageBand if you have a Mac.

Skype Recording Tools

Pamela Recording Tool

You can also call phones with Skype by buying Skype credits. These are considered "SkypeOut Contacts".

There are also several Skype Extras that let you import Skype contacts with your other systems.

Skype also has a "History" function that let's you look at and search past conversations