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Is Microsoft Teams or Google Meet better for your business?Today, there’s no shortage of online communication tools for businesses to choose from, but Microsoft Teams and Google Meet are the clear winners in terms of functionality and ease of use. Choosing between the two platforms can be a challenge, as both offer a robust set of features that make business communications more efficient and […]

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21 Jan, 2022 / by Complete Technology Resources / in 2022january21voip_b, google, google meet, google workspace, microsoft, microsoft 365, microsoft teams, online communication platforms, video calling, video conferencing, VoIP category
Is Microsoft Teams or Google Meet better for your business?

Today, there’s no shortage of online communication tools for businesses to choose from, but Microsoft Teams and Google Meet are the clear winners in terms of functionality and ease of use. Choosing between the two platforms can be a challenge, as both offer a robust set of features that make business communications more efficient and convenient. Let’s take a look at their features to help you decide.

Calling features

Both Microsoft Teams and Google Meet offer enterprise-grade security, HD-quality video, and screen sharing capabilities, but there are some slight differences.

In the free version of Teams, there is no limit to the number of people who can use the chat and document collaboration functions. However, for audio and video calls, the limit is 100 users. Group meetings are also limited to 60 minutes per session.

The paid version of Teams, on the other hand, supports up to 300 participants per meeting, and offers meeting and group call recording capabilities. It even has captions and transcription features, as well as an inline message translation feature that automatically translates messages into the language specified in a user’s settings.

Google Meet’s free version also supports up to 100 participants in a video call. Additionally, it has intelligent built-in features like muting, live closed captions, screen sharing, and auto screen focus, which automatically switches the screen to the person who is currently talking.

Users of the paid version can join meetings even without an internet connection through unique dial-in phone numbers. Other features available in the paid version include breakout rooms, polls, Q&A, and meeting recording.

Integrations and add-ons

Microsoft Teams is, first and foremost, a unified tool that allows users to communicate and collaborate on a single platform. It enables content collaboration on Microsoft 365 apps (e.g., Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and easily integrates with hundreds of other productivity and collaboration platforms.

On the other hand, for as low as $6 per user per month, your organization can get access to Meet along with all the other powerful Google business apps and tools.

Pricing

Both Microsoft Teams and Google Meet have free versions, albeit with limited features.

Microsoft Teams’ most affordable subscription is $4 per user per month, and an additional $4 per user is needed for the call-in capabilities. Adding webinar features will also cost users extra.

Meanwhile, users with personal Gmail accounts can use Google Meet for free, but with limited capabilities. A subscription that starts at $6 per month per user, however, allows users to get Meet along with all the other powerful Google business apps and tools.

Which one is best for you?

Now that you know the similarities and differences between the two platforms, it should be easy for you to decide which suits your business the best. Google Meet is designed for startups and small companies that need a low-cost communications solution, while Microsoft Teams, with its robust features, is suitable for small and large businesses alike.

If you’re still unsure about either product, you can opt for a free trial to help you arrive at a decision. Or you can get in touch with our team of experts today. We’ll be more than happy to help you pick the right video conferencing or VoIP solution for your organization.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Business communications: Teams or Meet?Microsoft and Google have been competing on almost every front, and both have made big strides in machine learning, cloud computing, and productivity software. In terms of communication solutions, the tech powerhouses are also neck and neck with Microsoft Teams and Google Meet. These platforms share common calling and video conferencing features, but depending on […]

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25 Nov, 2020 / by Complete Technology Resources / in 2020november25voip_b, google, google meet, google workspace, microsoft, microsoft 365, microsoft teams, video calling, video conferencing, VoIP category
Business communications: Teams or Meet?

Microsoft and Google have been competing on almost every front, and both have made big strides in machine learning, cloud computing, and productivity software. In terms of communication solutions, the tech powerhouses are also neck and neck with Microsoft Teams and Google Meet. These platforms share common calling and video conferencing features, but depending on your organization’s requirements, one may be more ideal for your company than the other.

Calling features

Microsoft Teams and Google Meet both offer enterprise-grade security, 1080p HD-quality video, and screen sharing capabilities, but there are some slight differences.

In the free version of Microsoft Teams, there is no limit to the number of people who can use its chat and document collaboration functions. Meanwhile, up to 20 users can join an audio or a video call. This number increases to 250 in the paid version.

What’s great about Microsoft Teams is it supports meeting and group call recording, and even has captions and transcription features. It also has an inline message translation feature that translates messages into the language specified in a user’s settings.

On the other hand, Google Meet’s free version supports up to 100 participants in a video call. What’s more, it has intelligent built-in features like muting and auto screen focus, which automatically switches the screen to the person who is currently talking. It also lets people join meetings even without Wi-Fi or data through unique dial-in phone numbers.

Integrations and add-ons

Microsoft Teams is, first and foremost, a unified platform that allows users to communicate and collaborate on a single platform. It comes with powerful content collaboration on Microsoft 365 apps (e.g., Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and easily integrates with hundreds of other productivity and collaboration platforms.

Meanwhile, being a Google product, Google Meet fully integrates with Google Workspace (formerly G Suite). For instance, users can schedule appointments and set call reminders within Google Meet using Google Calendar. Users can even broadcast their presentations live on YouTube.

Pricing

Both Microsoft Teams and Google Meet have free versions but with limited features. With the free version of Microsoft Teams, users can join a meeting and use its screen and file sharing features even without an account. However, they cannot record and save meetings. They also cannot take advantage of call encryption and call-in features if they do not have a Microsoft 365 account.

The most affordable subscription is $5 per month per user, and an additional $4 per user is needed for the call-in capabilities. Adding webinar features is also an additional cost if users want to livestream events to hundreds of people.

Meanwhile, users can use Google Meet for free with their personal Gmail accounts, but also with limited capabilities. A subscription that starts at $6 per month per user, however, lets users get Google Meet along with all the other powerful Google business apps and tools.

What works for you?

Knowing the similarities and differences between the two platforms, it should be easy for you to decide which suits your business the best. Google designed Google Meet for startups and small companies that need a low-cost communications solution, while Microsoft Teams, with its robust features, is suitable for small and large businesses alike.

If you’re still unsure about either product, you can opt for a free trial to help you in making the decision. Otherwise, you can contact our team today so we can recommend a VoIP solution that’s perfect for your business.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Top 5 benefits of using softphonesHaving a flexible communication system is more important than ever now that remote work has become crucial to a company’s survival. One option is to issue company phones to telecommuters so they can communicate with clients and colleagues. But the ideal solution for most businesses is to use phone apps or softphones, and here are […]

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13 May, 2020 / by Complete Technology Resources / in 2020may13voip_b, application, cost savings, integration, internet, laptop, smartphone, softphone, user-friendly, video conferencing, VoIP category
Top 5 benefits of using softphones

Having a flexible communication system is more important than ever now that remote work has become crucial to a company’s survival. One option is to issue company phones to telecommuters so they can communicate with clients and colleagues. But the ideal solution for most businesses is to use phone apps or softphones, and here are several reasons why.

Anytime, anywhere business phone

Softphones are essentially a type of application that you can run on internet-enabled devices like a smartphone or laptop. This removes the need for a physical handset, allowing you to make and receive calls from any location with an internet connection. Even if your workers are homebound, softphones give them a lot of flexibility. They don’t have to waste time setting up lines for a traditional phone unit in their home office — they can simply turn their personal smartphone into a business-level communication tool. Employees also get to enjoy hands-free calls, provided their device has a decent headset or microphone.

Reduced costs

The best aspect of softphones is that they significantly cut costs. For one, instead of spending a lot of money installing and maintaining office phone equipment, you only have to pay a small subscription fee to get powerful softphone features on your mobile device and computer. All the expenses associated with server expenses and system maintenance are taken care of by the softphone provider. More importantly, softphones transmit communication data over the internet rather than traditional phone lines. This means you won’t have to deal with expensive local and long-distance rates. In fact, some softphone providers offer a reduced rate for international calls, while others allow you to make calls for free.

User-friendly interface

Softphones come with an interactive user interface that’s easy to learn. If you want to transfer a call to a colleague, you just have to drag and drop the call to their name — there’s no need to dial an extension on your phone. If you need to call someone, all you have to do is search for their profile via a search bar and just click on their name to initiate a call. Want to tell everyone that you’re too busy? Softphones let you enable do not disturb mode for specific time frames in which incoming calls are either sent straight to voicemail or forwarded to the next available person. What’s more, softphones provide incoming call notifications with caller ID and profile information so you know exactly who you’re talking to.

High-quality video conferencing

If you need something more engaging than a simple phone call, softphones allow you to host multiparty video conferences. These make it easy to conduct team and company-wide meetings even if people are miles apart from each other. Participants can also see important visual cues through body language, so conversations with clients and colleagues are clearer and more personal. The best softphone services even let you share your screen so you can better coordinate with your remote workers.

Tight integration with enterprise software

Another benefit of softphones is that they can complement your existing systems. When softphones are integrated with your customer relationship management (CRM) software, for instance, you’ll be able to compile previous call logs and relevant client information before making a call. This is particularly useful for customer service and sales staff who need contextual information to better serve their clients.

All in all, softphones are perfect for any business that wants to operate at peak performance. They’re intuitive, feature-rich, and cost-effective, so if your business doesn’t have this essential communication tool, get an upgrade today. Call us now to enhance your communication systems!

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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The cloud: Connecting us during the COVID-19 outbreakGovernments across nearly every continent issued stay-at-home orders, which apparently slowed the spread of COVID-19. However, while these drastic measures have saved and continue to save countless lives, the negative repercussions to economies, societies, and individuals’ mental well-being are enormous. Thankfully, the cloud is playing a substantial role in mitigating the effects on all three. […]

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08 May, 2020 / by Complete Technology Resources / in 2020may8webandcloud_b, cloud computing, cloud hosting solutions, cloud-based payment systems, communication, covid-19, remote work, social distancing, Social Media, stay at home, video calls, video conferencing, Web & Cloud category
The cloud: Connecting us during the COVID-19 outbreak

Governments across nearly every continent issued stay-at-home orders, which apparently slowed the spread of COVID-19. However, while these drastic measures have saved and continue to save countless lives, the negative repercussions to economies, societies, and individuals’ mental well-being are enormous. Thankfully, the cloud is playing a substantial role in mitigating the effects on all three.

Cloud computing helps buoy economies

For many people, being forced to stay at home means being unable to earn money or spend money on in-person services and activities that form dense congregations, such as watching movies or attending concerts. Because of this, the world is projected to enter a global recession, although cloud computing helps to put a damper on this in a number of ways:

  • The cloud allows people to work remotely.
    Cloud-based productivity and project management tools let people continue working from the safety of their own homes, thereby helping businesses remain operational despite having empty offices.
  • Cloud hosting solutions support eCommerce activities.
    Regular web hosting services would be overwhelmed by spikes in traffic caused by surges in online shopping. eCommerce shops that are hosted on the cloud, on the other hand, won’t be so easily disrupted, thanks to the cloud’s scalability.
  • Cloud-based payment systems help keep money flowing.
    A dead river is one in which water is stagnant and doesn’t flow. Economies are similar: money needs to keep moving in order for them to thrive. Since people stayed in their homes, economic activity slowed down. However, thanks to cloud-based payment systems, money can still move. Payroll apps let employers pay their staff, while banking and online payment apps let people transact and handle their finances in the comfort of their own homes.

Cloud-based communication apps help keep communities stay together

Communications can be challenging when it’s harder for people to talk face to face, but cloud-based apps keep communities together in the following ways:

  • Social media apps help disseminate truthful information about the pandemic to the public.
    News agencies disseminate the latest developments regarding the pandemic in real time via social networks such as Twitter. Even government agencies and elected officials like New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo broadcast briefings over social media.
  • Chat and video conferencing apps help families and friends keep in touch with each other.
    Much of human communication is actually nonverbal: we discern vocal tone, read body language, and take cues from people’s facial expressions. Moreover, as social beings, we crave interpersonal interactions — and seeing each other’s faces through video calls and video conferencing is the next best thing.

Cloud-based entertainment apps help us pass the time and keep us sane

The isolation brought about by social distancing can be harmful to our mental health. Not being able to party with our friends and work out in the gym can intensify feelings of loneliness and anxiety, as well as exacerbate symptoms of depression. Thankfully, there are many cloud-based apps that can entertain us and give us virtual forms of connection.

  • Content creation apps provide outlets for self-expression and avenues for interaction.
    Even while hunkered down, teens and their families can take part in TikTok challenges to break the boredom. Sharing hilarious Instagram stories gave Emmy Award winner Leslie Jordan an extra boost in fame.
  • Game-streaming services open up libraries of video game titles.
    New video games are expensive, but playing the same titles over and over again can prove tiresome. With game-streaming services, you can play new games without breaking the bank and spend countless hours of fun with old and new online friends.
  • Stay culturally up to date by binge-watching what everyone else is watching.
    Streaming services like Netflix now put their most-viewed shows in top 10 lists, letting you know what you might be missing out on. Of course, people are free to skip shows they don’t like, but they better prepare themselves to be unable to relate when others start discussing these shows!

The cloud is now a ubiquitous part of people’s lives, be it personally or in business. To find out the best cloud solutions for your company, contact our IT experts today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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