Web Conferencing Pricing -Meeting Moolah

Web conferencing pricing from conference call service vendors is varied. Some charge for a limited number of seats and a fee based on minutes per month. These generally have an overage charge for additional minutes at a per minute price. Others simply charge by the minute. In general, Web conference pricing is tending toward monthly flat rates, or packages these Web conference services with others such as team work space and instant messaging.

Those Web conference vendors that offer flat rate monthly pricing usually bundle this as a package with a specified number of participants or just designate use by a specified host for unlimited service for the month.

In looking at the most prominent Web conference vendors using the flat rate pricing structure the pricing varies considerably. Of the top two vendors, one charges $468 for a year of conference calls with up to 10 participants each. The other has a maximum of 25 participants and an annually cost of only $200. Clearly, there is no uniformity of pricing in this Web conference market.

In the first vendor example, features provided are Web and audio conferencing but no toll free access number. Participants must pay toll charges if calling long distance. The second uses instant messaging as a springboard to launch collaborative meetings through a Web conference. It doesn’t, however, have audio conference capability.

Other well known and reputable Web conference vendors offer even more varied pricing options. The first has a plan for two to five simultaneous conference calls of up to five participants each for an annual charge of $2500. It also offers overage pricing for greater attendance at a Web conference, at a rate of 15 cents per participant per minute. The second vendor licenses its Web conference functionality and its pricing is $3000-$5000 a year. 50 attendees is the $3000 limit, while up to 100 can attend for $5000. Both of these vendors have a limitation of one host running one meeting at a time.

One of the newest Web conference features and pricing options is an Intranet suite audio and Web conferencing feature offering audio conferences at 12 cents per minute per connection, and Web conferencing for up to 25 participants for $150 per month.