Web conferencing/Skype/Remote Desktop

Web conferencing/Skype/Remote Desktop

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I travel all over UK seeing clients, on a regular basis, however am absolutely sick and tired of being caught in motorway gridlock.

I'd like to know of accountants who use webconferencing, and whether it is beneficial?Do you use a formal package, or one of the free Messenger ones?

Fellowcraft

Replies (11)

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By User deleted
09th Dec 2008 10:54

Skype

The Skype is good for overseas calls (to or from UK).

Other than that, the video conferencing / video calling facility.

I only use it for those 2 things really.

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By User deleted
08th Dec 2008 17:23

Yeah its free
I've got 3 on mine so far.

It looks as if the main benefit of the subscription service is you can use the file transfer function, but you could always just log into Outlook and email yourself the files you need?

So whats the point of having a Skype phone, if your clients dont have Skype? I can ring them from my mobile for free?

Is it the web conferencing? How expensive is this on PAYG?

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By User deleted
08th Dec 2008 10:46

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Hey

No it's still free. Unless I have found a happy bug in the system!

On the computer you want to add to your list, log in to your account. Then "add computer" and i think it says "add this computer you are working on now" something like that.

Click through the screens and at some point it will default you to the paid service, but you can change it to the free service.

That's it. Carry on through the setup. I have 9 computers on this, and they all show on my computers screen and are all free. Perhaps you have to pay if you have more. But then, setting a different password and login per client is not necessarily a bad thing. If someone got my one set of codes, they get access to 9 clients computers. Although you do have to log in with username and password to each computer s maybe not.

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Callan Group
By stephenward69
06th Dec 2008 11:17

Paul R
I use logmein also Paul mainly for my own use at present and use the free package. Now my query is I thought it was only free if you have one computer selected so I simply set it up with different starting e-mail addresses so city office is city@ west end office is westend@ etc. When you mentioned adding client computers I assume you are referring for a paid subscription.

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By User deleted
05th Dec 2008 13:41

yay
Hey

Okay, the client can set up Skype easy peasy, and you might find a few of them say "oh yeah got that". If not, it's easy. Some said oh I don't know so I set it up for them - some I charged £30 some I did for free (coz it's helping me at the end of the day).

Don't cancel the landline yet! Don't forget you need a phone line for access to the internet to use Skype and it does not work as a 999 emergency phone. I have a skype in number, but it's not always ultra perfect.

Logmein - 2 choices. They can sign up and give you their codes. Or, you sit in their office and add their computer to your list of computers. I do that. Then all my clients computers are accessible from one account. But to be honest, it would be no real hassle to get them to do it for themselves and give you their log ins etc. Depends how tech savvy they are. Some of mine were ok with that, but other I set it up for them and charged again about £30-£50. It was also good, because they saw it as a benefit for them (it is of course - I can dial in anytime to sort out a quick problem on their system) but it also saves me having to visit to sort simple things out like changing their VAT to 15% etc).

Enjoy.

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By User deleted
04th Dec 2008 23:11

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You two seem to be on the button with this!

Right....have signed up to Skype and bought a webcam kit. Now just have to convince clients to do the same!

It is a shame that I have just had letterheads printed, I would have subcribed to the Skypephone package and got rid of the landline altogether.

Also, have signed up with LogMeIn - its brilliant. One ques tho - if you want to log into a clients computer - do you have to physically visit their premises, download the software, log in under your name, then add their computer?

Or can they simply download it themselves and give you their user ID etc?

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By User deleted
03rd Dec 2008 17:08

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Skype - it's a piece of software on your computer, which routes telephone calls, from your computer, over the internet to another computer, or to a landline. You can also receive calls on your computer.

You need a headset (microphone and earphones).

It uses a lot of data so unless you have a special data contract on your mobile, be careful of downloading it for that.

Your client can download it for free (free to you too) and as long as yo uboth have an internet connection you can call each other for free (computer to computer) and also have video if you have a webcam.

It doesn't have the facility to operate the other persons computer. Just talk and video.

If you need to connect to your clients computer, we use "log me in". Again free, and let's you operate your client's pc from your computer.

I found having a seperate "dongle" is cheaper and faster than using the mobile as a modem. All networks do it. I think 3 are cheapest but shop around.

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By User deleted
03rd Dec 2008 13:18

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Thanks for the info guys keep it coming. Sorry for asking basic questions. Its good to have some techy advice now and again !

Please explain :

1. GoToMeeting - why would you subscribe to this if you could use say MSN Messenger for free? Are the functions different? Does the user have to subscribe too? If yes, is your client happy to pay?

2. Skype - what exactly is Skype? Is it free? What is it used for?

3. GoToMyPC - isnt this the same as Remote Desktop or VPN, which is free?

4. I use a Blackberry on O2 for POP3 email etc. The internet facility on it is very poor. I can use it as a hook-up modem with my laptop, but apparently it is prohibitively expensive. Do any of you use this?

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By shaunmcguinness
03rd Dec 2008 08:01

Go to Meeting et al
I live in France and use Go To Meeting as one of my tools. It works really well and I can demonstrate accounts and other stuff to clients. I use a Regus VO in Basingstoke where my business is based and visit the UK to see clients. I used to go to the UK every three weeks but now with the aid of technology have reduced this to every three months. And that is usually to meet prospects to sign up.

Spending time in a car in traffic is so inefficient these days - I remember the days when I used to commute to work - at least one hour wasted every day!

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By GrahamASA
02nd Dec 2008 20:05

We use it...
I also travel extensively but in my case, I travel all over the world and I use: Skype VOIP and built-in webcam. When we have to conference upto 3 or 4 people it works just fine.

I have considered getting 3rd party software but there is very little benefit over what Skype can provide.

For remote access to our data server we use remote-key login to the URL of our server. I keep a mirror of the data files on my laptop and synch it every 3 hours with our server using Super Flexible Synchronizer. From time to time I make use of GoToMyPC if I need access from an internet cafe or something.

When I'm away from my desk, my desk phone transfers the call to my Skype through a Skype number divert. Easy to setup and not that expensive. Either that or my secretary takes a message, depending on who it is :-)

When in the UK away from home or the office I use Vodaphone mobile dongle and it keeps pace with what I need.

I hope this helps. It certainly can be done and done well.

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By User deleted
02nd Dec 2008 12:25

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Hello.

I use Skype for web-video contact or Apple Mac iChat. There are others, but these are free and work fine for me. MSN Messenger has a video mode too which is ok.

The benefit is they are small and work, and I use them over a mobile modem (three in the UK and Vodafone ES in spain) and because they are simple, there are no real delay problems. Also, most clients have MSN or Skype or if not it's easy to set up.

I have a client with a head office in Switzerland and regional office in UK with a dedicated proper wired web-conference facility in the boardroom. My skype works quicker!

I travel all over spain and connect to UK clients this way so guess would be just as good in UK. You don't have to spend much at all to get this working.

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