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Video conferencing is a phone call with video. Specialist equipment can be used for video conferencing and often is used in business. At home there are cheap and even free services that take advantage of a laptop’s webcam.

Businesses use video conferencing to hold meetings between groups of people who are working from home, in different parts of the country, or in a different country altogether.

The following equipment is needed to hold a video conference at all locations taking part:

• cameras, microphones and speakers
• a video conference system, eg specialised equipment, a laptop or a desktop computer
• high speed internet access to ensure the video and audio is good quality

Advantages of video conferencing

• You don’t need to travel for meetings. This saves time and travel costs and is less damaging to the environment.
• You can set up meetings quickly.
• It’s easier to demonstrate something when people can see it.

Disadvantages of video conferencing

• The equipment can be expensive.
• Video quality can still be poor.
• Everyone’s equipment must be compatible, ie must work together.
• Calls between different time zones can be difficult to organise – when it’s daytime in one country it might be the middle of the night somewhere else.