Effective Business Communication: Skype vs ooVoo, Vonage, and Google Talk

When it comes to effective communication there is nothing worse than being disconnected. In this day and age, most businesses and corporations utilize more than mere telephones to stay in contact with employees and executives. With global conglomerates and international firms rapidly growing across the world, some businesspersons have come to rely on video conferencing and instant messaging as an unfailing means of effective communication. Among the top of that list are ooVoo and Skype, two software applications that specialize in video messaging and conferencing.

In addition to our five tips for writing for business and our pointers on what to avoid when it comes to crafting successful business blogs, we’ve decided to further analyze the best in video conferencing and instant messaging software. We already gave readers a critical analysis of Skype and ooVoo. This time, we will not only examine ooVoo and Skype, but Vonage and Google Talk as well in an effort to indicate which one is better for business and communication.

Vonage

As one of the leading low-cost communications services out there, Vonage strives to connect individuals through broadband services worldwide. According to their website, their technology currently services 2.4 million subscribers and features calling to more than 60 countries which can be a good thing when it comes to international business. The way it works is that Vonage routes phone calls over the Internet using Voice over Internet Protocol as opposed to telephone lines.

– Pros: Services are sold on the web and through regional and national retailers including Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Sears. The individuals that are being called do not have to have Vonage or the Internet to receive the call. They only need a phone.

– Cons: The biggest con would be that Vonage doesn’t offer video-messaging, such as Skype and ooVoo, which can definitely be a plus in this day and age. Still, with plans for small business that cost roughly $50 a month, perhaps Vonage isn’t so bad. After all, there are indeed businesspersons out there that don’t exactly value or need video conferencing.

ooVoo

For the high-powered individual that stays busy working for top corporations and such, this particular option may be your best bet. Released in 2007, ooVoo’s calls can be recorded in real-time, and twelve-way video chatting is also available which can be an ideal form of technology to utilize in business meetings. ooVoo also has features such as desktop sharing, video call recording, file sharing, web video chat and instant messaging. However, not all of these features are free. Still, ooVoo is definitely designed for those that value all forms of communication, and it definitely has its benefits when it comes to business.

– Pros: The features themselves are good alone. Plus, it also doesn’t hurt that ooVoo comes ready for a Mac, Android, PC and iPhone.

– Cons: One word – cost. ooVoo is definitely not for the businessman and businesswoman on a budget. Plans include ooVoo Plus which costs $9.95 monthly and $89.95 annually, and ooVoo Pro which costs $29.95 monthly and $269.55 annually. Economical? You be the judge!

Skype

Without a doubt, Skype is ooVoo’s main competition. According to USA Today, it was launched in August 2003 and has been making quite a stir in the world of information technology ever since. With its network being operated by those wonderful folks at Microsoft, Skype offers its users more than just free video calling. It also doesn’t hurt that Skype had 663 million registered users as of September 2011.

– Pros: Well, for starters, Skype is cheaper than ooVoo. Clients can call people all over the world on their phone or mobile device from just 0.9 cents per minute, and can also share important business documents of any size by creating an account to send presentations to fellow employees and colleagues. Essentially, it does the same thing that ooVoo does. Skype provides video conferencing, instant messaging, text messaging and more.

–  Cons: There aren’t too many to be honest. However, take into consideration the cost of the equipment needed to access features such as Skype Premium – high speed broadband, webcams, microphones and speakers, and a DirectX 9.0c compatible video card for Windows users. For some businesspersons, this could be a lot, and for others, not so much. Perchance it comes down to what’s in our wallets.

Google Talk

For individuals that don’t exactly need video or international calling, Google Talk may just be a perfect fit. An instant messaging service that provides both voice and text communication, its operating systems consist of Blackberry, Android, Maemo, Linux, Windows, iOS, and Google Chrome OS. It also features free long distance voice chats, audio conferencing and Gmail integration to chat with friends on Gmail itself.

–  Pros: It’s no secret that Google is definitely a brand, and branches such as Google+ can be especially helpful when it comes to business. The same can be said about Google Talk. It’s free and it also comes available in a variety of different languages. It is user friendly and allows users to call or send instant messages to friends anywhere in the world. Furthermore, it also has a clean and professional look — something that most businesses would take pride in.

– Cons: Well, there aren’t really any major drawbacks. You can’t argue with free, right? In order to access Google Talk, you’ll need a Google account. This can be annoying for some people that may feel that Google may be receiving too much information from them. Google is colossal after all, right? With their updated privacy policy facing opposition, some people may opt for another communications provider. Still, that’s up to the user.

Without a doubt, communication is vital in any form of business. However, with as many tools out there to help communicate, business professionals and corporate executives are undoubtedly given a variety of different options to choose from. Perhaps it all depends on preference and needs. Careful comparisons and research will lead businesspersons to the right one to aide them in their specific requirements which in turn will make things easier. This is a good thing.

After all, business is pleasure, right?

Which one do you prefer — Skype, ooVoo, Vonage, or Google Talk? Do you prefer video conferencing or sheer instant messaging? Which one is tailored made for your business needs? Let us know by sharing your comments in the box below, or by sounding off on our Facebook Page or Google+ Page, or by tweeting us at @HostDime.