TokBox Video Conferencing Adds Online Collaboration Through EtherPad Tie-Up

From the start, TokBox had real possibilities as a communication tool for small businesses and individual entrepreneurs. The free service offered users the ability to make video calls to one another using just a browser, Web cam and perhaps headset (to decrease echo). Initially, though, the San Francisco startup seemed more interested in appealing to consumer than business users. Now TokBox has moved to exploit its business potential. A newly announced tie-up combines its video conferencing service with the equally easy-to-use online document-sharing service of EtherPad.

Using EtherPad requires going to its site and clicking "Create public pad." That opens an online text document one can immediately start typing in. Inviting others to participate involves sending them the URL of the document, or "pad," via e-mail or IM. When the invitees start typing, their text appears immediately on the screens of all, with each typist's contribution distinguished by a different highlight color. Participants can even type simultaneously.

The same "pad" URL allows the use of EtherPad within TokBox. After launching a TokBox video chat, choosing the EtherPad option from a pulldown menu and pasting the URL opens an EtherPad window within the TokBox interface. The video Windows move to one side, so participants can see and talk to one another while they type in the same document.

One inconvenience is that it's not possible to launch EtherPad from within TokBox. Instead, the conference initiator must set up an EtherPad session, then paste that URL into TokBox. Somewhat scarier is that the free version of EtherPad doesn't allow the deletion of pads. Anyone with access to their URLs can see them forever. Free users would thus be wise to make sure they're only inviting people they trust if they're going be typing anything sensitive into an EtherPad. A professional edition offering more security is free for up to three user accounts, and costs $8 per account per month for four or more accounts. Each account-holder can invite an unlimited number of guests to any given session.

The new combined service is the latest in a series of steps along the road to ever-simpler communication and collaboration tools. The latest technical advance in that process is the move from services that use downloaded client software, such as ooVoo's video conferencing application, to those that work solely in the browser, as TokBox and EtherPad do. That advance will in many cases mean sacrificing some features and perhaps quality. For many users, the tradeoff in terms of simplicity and convenience will be worth it. For others, browser-based services will be the first step towards use of more-elaborate and likely more-expensive services.

Comments

[web meeting josh]

I want to suggest you try http://www.showdocument.com - its an alternative tool for tokbox that allows document sharing and web meeting in real-time. all the participants in the session see each others' drawing, highlights, etc. It is free and requires no installation.

Josh