To respond to your specific examples of deficiencies:

“There is no invitation functionality integrated into Outlook.”

The full Blackboard Collaborate Web Conferencing offering provides the ability to automatically save session invitations into Outlook using the standards based iCal method. It also provides the ability to send email invitations through the Learning Management System.

“Switching control of keyboard and mouse was not possible in our tests – even though this feature is mentioned on the vendor’s website.”

This is definitely possible in Blackboard Collaborate. Based on user feedback, we are making this ability more prominent in the interface. We love to hear from our users about how we can make tall of our capabilities more usable. We welcome all product suggestions to bbcollaboratefeedback@blackboard.com .

“When setting up a meeting the tool does not create a meeting specific ID which means that participants from former meetings can join any time.”

The Blackboard Collaborate solution definitely provides the ability to schedule meetings with a specific ID. In fact three different types of sessions can be scheduled: Meetings, Drop Ins and Courses and each type have a specific ID with configurable security and access parameters. The completely free vRoom offering does not provide access to the Administration system where these capabilities are accessed as it is essentially a single always open room as you’ve described.

Those interested in testing out the actual capabilities of Blackboard Collaborate can get access to a trial set up and any pricing that they need by contacting collaboratesales@blackboard.com .

Thanks!

Valerie Schreiner
Sr. Director Product Management
Blackboard Collaborate

Very interesting post. I never knew many web conference providers favored windows over mac. I can only imagine how many webcasters, small business and big corporations are missing out on a potential sale or the chance to build new relationships with their attendees.

~ RJ