These files are downloaded into attendees' browser caches two or three slides in advance, so little or no waiting occurs between slides. For live demos of software applications, a snapshot of the screen is taken at intervals ranging from one frame every five seconds to five frames per second, depending on bandwidth used. To minimize the amount of information that must be transferred, though, only the portions of the frame that actually change are sent each time. PlaceWare automatically determines each user's connection speed and adjusts the frame rate to match. PlaceWare has a number of partners for its hosting service, including Sprint, MCI and Rosenbluth Travel.
Meetings can be ad hoc or scheduled as much as a week in advance.
Also, as with WebEx, attendees are sent an e-mail invitation that provides the Web link to the meeting. PlaceWare offers all the features of the regular PlaceWare software, including uploading of PowerPoint 97 and 2000 slides, live demos, Web tours, chat, polling, whiteboards and annotation. PlaceWare offers the service on the assumption that many companies will eventually upgrade to be paying customers of the flagship application. Either way, you still get to nibble the bait. A free one-hour meeting service for as many as five attendees is also offered, with the option to pay for more time.