Location, location, location!

Today I called the two websites I mentioned in my last post (Vyew and Webex by Cisco). After reviewing each site I was rather confused to what exactly I needed to host a web forum. Neither site did a good job in explaining their services and when those services would be useful. And to be honest, there was little clarification given when I called as well.

I first called the phone number on the website for Vyew (800-594-4559)...I called and no one was home. You can not speak to a person. A voice says you've reached the number for Vyew, however you have to leave a number. I decided not to do this because the recording didn't say what department I have. I may be calling the wrong department...it felt like a waste of time. So I moved on...

I spoke to Shawn at Webex (888-469-3239), he was friendly but I knew just as much before I spoke to him then I did after. I explained to him that I needed a web meeting room to conduct a forum for a course project. He asked how many people and I estimated at 10 to 15 (I'll explain more below). He said there was a free trial period (which I had seen on the website) otherwise the price would be $49.99/mo (which is also on the website). I said I had noticed a lot of other options, does it look like I would need anything else besides the email, he said he didn't think so. I then asked exactly how does this work (this part was not on the website)...he explained an email would be sent with the web rooms link to the participants explaining the date and time of the forum. I asked if it was possible to have the service for one month and he said I could do that.

After calling I really felt like I didn't know enough to decide where to turn or more specifically which sites I should turn to seeking a web conference or forum room. However I found a site on line that gives an independent opinion of various sites that offer web conference rooms (http://www.webconferencing-test.com/en/webconference_home.html). After reviewing this site I plan on taking the weekend to look at the top five sites and call them on Monday. My goal is to have a decision by the end of next week.

This web forum idea came out of the thought to draw the most honest and open opinion of where medicine professionals believe our current relationship is, how to best improve the relationship, and what the impact has on controlling zoonotic disease. A web conference room would be pooling medicinal professionals both by their location and later a conference with those speaking most on the subject with professionals from other areas. I realize this is a big endeavor and I have only a few months to complete it. So I would like to have the first forum in the beginning of March and the last by the end of March or very beginning of April.

Essentially this entry is boiled down to this....I've done some research and decided I need to do more (forget making a long story short, huh). Hopefully when you read my entries from next week you'll see I've made a decision.

~Meresa