1. Skype’s beta only allows up to 5 callers—I’ve had an 11-way call* on VSee.
2. Skype only shares desktop OR video—VSee shows both.
3. Speaking of screen sharing: Skype’s screen sharing quality can be sub-par—VSee’s starts pixel perfect.
4. Skype has little else for collaborative tools—VSee does it all.
5. Skype is aimed at personal use—VSee is meant for getting work done!
6. Skype charges (about $5 for a day pass or $9 per month)—VSee is free for personal use, period.
*Remember, you have to have the CPU and available bandwidth to do this. This will also be true for Skype. I use a 2.2 GHz dual core computer with roughly a Mb of bandwidth both up and downstream. However, even on a netbook on an EVDO card I can have a good 3-way call.
Skype is available on a mac. That is a plus for them.
Touché. We will also before summer’s out. Promise. 😉
Here are my reasons not to fear Skype’s 5-way vid calling:
1.) Skype is often verboten in the enterprise because it works around corporate network policy. VSee uses known ports and offers customer premise directory services and Active Directory integration
2.) VSee uses certified, well known, open and widely deployed encryption libraries required in many industries. Skype’s encryption is unpublished. Can banks, medical records or legal communication meet industry required privacy certifications with Skype?
3.) VSee’s presence is client-server based; providing accurate and quick status change/availability. Skype’s presence has always had issues with presence both in accuracy and speed of user’s status changes.
4.) VSee’s standard multi-participant conferencing is client-to-client* forgoing increased latency inherent in traditional MCU approaches. *Although VSee does have relay and MCU for port restricted and +6-8 participant sessions respectively; it seldom is needed.
5.) Skype’s “extras” potentionally increase user’s exposure to malware, security leaks, bugs and additional corporate network policy violations.
6.) Support. Just try calling Skype or finding an issue tracker for online ticket submission.
7.) Bandwidth usage when not using application. Skype *still* will consume much of your bandwidth even when not in use due to the JoltID overlay network. Try justifying that to your Network Admin.
Screamin’ analysis Rich!!
Would you mind if I reprint that as another post, Rich? That’s good stuff.
@John,
If that’s true than you guys are in for a HUGE blow up in your client base. I firmly believe that you guys can completely overtake Skype (if that’s your goal). You really have a way superior product! Here’s to the Mac vsee version!
Sure John – use as you see fit.
When VSee can be available for Debian & Mac you will definately set the bar. Yeah….I’m that guy crying about an Ubuntu package of VSee… 🙂
Hi
Can we install VSEE on an Android phone? I am looking for it if that happens!
I’ll do what I can to make your cries heard 🙂
Android VSee will happen!! However, Mac VSee is first in line and anticipated at the end of summer.
What is your response regarding Google+ Hangouts? https://www.google.com/intl/en-US/+/learnmore/index.html#hangouts
Not having been invited to Google+ 🙁 , I can’t say too much about the actual calling experience, but the “easy come, easy go” aspect of hanging out seems to be very similar to VSee. It looks like it’s still missing the part that makes VSee a really useful work tool, though: app sharing with annotation and file transfer. The other thing that people really like about VSee is it’s ability to function over low bandwidth networks. In fact, that’s how people usually end up finding us. They try Skype, and it’s just not doable with what they have, so they start looking around for an alternative that does work–VSee 🙂
Skype is available on Linux – Vsee doesn’t have linux package