As the coronavirus continues to spread state governments are shutting down all places which allow public gatherings and that includes offices.
As 125 people have
infected and several others are under observation and quarantine. To control the spread, several
companies asked their employees to
work from home temporarily.
If you are working from home, it is important to stay connected with your colleagues and video calling is a good tool to help you communicate without having to go out. In an unprecedented move, the eight countries of SAARC recently held a
web-summit to work on a strategy to contain coronavirus.
Transform talent with learning that worksCapability development is critical for businesses who want to push the envelope of innovation.Discover how business leaders are strategizing around building talent capabilities and empowering employee transformation.Know More Best video calling apps to use during coronavirus
These are the apps that will help you stay connected to your friends as well as colleagues.
Zoom
Zoom is a popular
video conferencing software and supports up to 1,000 participants and limits group sessions to 100. To help users during the coronavirus outbreak, Zoom removed time limits from the free accounts in the affected regions. It is also allowing schools to hold classes.
Platforms – Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.
Microsoft Teams
Teams, a popular productivity tool from Microsoft has a host of features that help you work together with your team. Due to the coronavirus, the app saw a surge in use and Microsoft announced that the premium version of Teams will be available for free for the next six months.
Platforms – Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS.
Cisco WebEx
WebEx offered by Cisco is available in free and paid tiers. It offers HD video calling and various collaboration tools such as screen sharing and personal rooms to help you connect with your team. The free tier allows you to hold meetings in HD with up to 100 participants.
Platforms – Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.
Google Hangouts Meet
Google Hangouts Meet allows teams to easily collaborate while working from home. It is a part of Google’s G Suite and supports up to 50 participants with a fairly good video quality. Google announced that Education customers globally will get access to advanced features of Google Hangouts Meet for free till July 1.
Platforms – Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS.
SkypeWhile most features of Skype for Business have been moved to Microsoft Teams, Skype is still useful for small teams to connect easily. It allows group calls of up to 50 persons at once.
Platform – Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS.
OthersApart from these, you can also use FaceTime, Google Duo, WhatsApp video calls and Facebook for quick video calls.
See also:
Coronavirus in India — a visual guide to how the Covid-19 infection is spreading in the country
Tips to work from home during the coronavirus outbreak
The impact of coronavirus carnage on Radhakishan Damani’s portfolio