Zoom, the best way to video call multiple people online

With the killjoy coronavirus ruling our lives, video get-togethers online are taking off.

Zoom video-conferencing

With the killjoy coronavirus ruling our lives, video get-togethers online are taking off as major therapy. Getting human contact can be hard if you’re in self-isolation or enforced quarantine.

Video chat is more intimate and personally fulfilling than just a voice on the line when talking with a relative, friend or work colleague.

Skype used to be the gold standard, but these days there are many options: Skype, Apple FaceTime, Google Duo and Hangouts, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp Messenger are some. The government is against you holding house parties in supposed isolation, but the Houseparty app lets you virtually meet up with a tribe of friends.

Zoom has emerged as the darling of video calling for now. It’s more tailored for business but is gaining wide popularity because of its efficient and reliable video streaming, and advanced features. It’s used by countless businesses and also has traction for video-conferencing in schools and telemedicine.

Zoom offers a variety of plans for business, but the free plan, which anyone can use, is generous.

So you’d like to get 100 people together at home but can’t because of coronavirus?

Zoom lets you host a meeting of 100 participants for free. The only catch is that group meetings are limited to 40 minutes. You can get around that by holding another get-together 40 minutes later. You can schedule get-togethers and send participants a link for joining in at the designated time.

The free video-conferencing option includes HD video and audio, users can share screens during business meetings, and there’s an active speaker view. Zoom works out who in a group is speaking and shifts the video feed focus to them. It also offers virtual backgrounds. So if you’re calling from your bedroom at 7am, you can substitute an image of the Eiffel Tower or Himalayas as your background. Zoom offers group messaging too.

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