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RE: Sametime vs. WebEx ~Delores Nimhipitherader 31.Mar.04 04:43 AM a Web browser General 3.0Windows NT/2000
I sense this could stir up quite a hornet's nest. It's a common question. There are many organizations that use both and the reason they do depends upon what they are using e-meetings for.
The case for Sametime/LWC:
If your training is being done behind your firewall, with people that are familiar with Sametime meetings, that have access to Sametime training and training materials, then Sametime or Lotus Web Conferencing is the more desirable and lower cost option. You must also be confident that you are maintaining a carrier-grade internal infrastructure amongst those meeting participants. If you are training large numbers of people on a regular basis where you can't accurately predict audience size, then a Lotus Web Conferencing extranet is still a serious option - the license costs are predictable, IF you or a hoster can provision for the volume! Keep pace with testing and upgrading your servers.
The case for WebEx
If your training participants are scattered across multiple organizations, they may already be familiar with WebEx. If we've used meetings often, we forget how busy the screen is for first timers - especially first time presenters, regardless which product is being used. Fumbling in front of a crowd in your first meeting is the biggest inhibitor to adoption - so if another organization has taken that novice hit, you'll benefit.
WebEx has a more on-demand marketing model so you tend to see WebEx in departmental pockets. WebEx also tend to lose money on small fry contracts, an anathema to IBM where their short term can get in the way of their long term greed.
If your training participants' infrastructures are flaky, then WebEx is the fall guy - not you. WebEx tends to be more firewall friendly. It also handles PowerPoint animations better.
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. . RE: Sametime vs. WebEx (~Delores Nimhip... 31.Mar.04) 
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