Both help far-flung conference participants work together on reports or presentations, by letting everyone simultaneously view documents and any changes that are being made or notes that are being taken. That ability to share information is turning out to be more important than being able to see clearly the faces of all the participants on a call. Beyond the common capabilities, each system has its own set of niceties. Intel's system, which relies on its ProShare technology, has a Private Pages option, which allows participants to take notes during a conference without disturbing others. Intel's system also puts a large button on each person's screen, showing who controls the cursor.
Initials appear next to the cursor to show who has control.
The systems are no panacea. Video calls can even be chaotic if users aren't experienced enough to settle on a moderator and establish rules for taking turns. Still, they seem very helpful when one person is broadcasting to many, as with press conferences or corporate announcements, or where the perception of intimacy is important, in consumer markets such as banking. The NetMeeting software is free. Many engines offer up any site that contains specified keywords, a brute-force approach that often yields odd results.