Vendors of collaboration and conferencing technologies are offering free use of their tools and services to help organizations in weathering the Covid-19 crisis.
Aside from leading vendors Microsoft, Google, Cisco, Slack, Zoho, Zoom and Logheim, other unified communications software providers such as Atlassian, CafeX, 8×8, GForge, Igloo, LumApps, RingCentral, StarLeaf, Wrike and Facebook’s Workplace. A comprehensive list that include descriptions of the free tools and services offered by these vendors can be gleaned from the website of ComputerWorld.com.
Apparently work-at-home arrangements and tele-conferencing have become the norm ever since governments worldwide mandated travel bans, lockdowns, shelter-in-place and social distancing orders to the general public.
In having awareness that many companies are currently working on reduced resources after investors started selling off their shares, each of the tech companies listed above has something to offer at no cost; including upgrade of packages to make certain types of advanced collaboration and remote conferencing tools accessible to existing and new free users.
Some Examples of Collaboration and Conferencing Tools Being Offered Free of Costs
Igloo Software, a mainstream digital workplace provider offering a “Business Continuity Bundle” to help new and existing customers set up and organize a remote work setup. Igloo’s free use of the bundle is up to July 06, 2020, which includes collaboration hubs for news communication and holding conferences with their respective incident planning teams. The bundle also offers a secure place where company leaders can maintain communication.
LogMeIn recently that its video conferencing software “GoToMeeting” is available for free use for three months. Specifically to educational institutions, health care providers, local government offices and nonprofit organizations.
Unified communications vendor 8×8 for one, even before the Covid-19 crisis, offers a free version of its 8×8 Video Meetings standalone app. Now 8×8 offers full-feature use at no cost; including the company’s recently announced real-time closed captions and transcription tools, and plug-ins that allow users to directly schedule meetings via Google and Outlook calendars.
Cisco, updated its free Webex offer with features that enable users in certain countries to hold teleconferencing with up to 100 participants. Webex customers can now sign-up for a free, 90-day licence to access unlimited usage of the additional features.
Facebook’s Workplace, one of the paid services offered by the social network that typically charges users $4 per month, is offering free use of the platform to emergency-services units and government agencies, for 12 months.