Conference Tool Comparisons

Teams Zoom BigBlueButton Virtual-Classroom Meetings Conference-Tools Video-Conference Remote Meeting

Video Conferencing Accounts are Requested by Submitting a Ticket on the IT Services Portal

Desktop video collaboration tools utilizes software installed on your computer to host remote conferences using a microphone and a web cam.

More information on individual remote desktop web conferencing tools can be found below.

Microsoft Teams

Teams is a communication and collaboration platform that includes chat, video meetings, and file storage. Groups are easy to set up and any employee can be added to a group. Microsoft provides some excellent videos on how to get started with Teams, as does LinkedIn Learning (which you have free access to when you login with your TRU credentials).

Instructions for Microsoft Teams can be found in the Microsoft Teams Information Article

Look for the Attached PDFs for Guides on how to Create & Manage Teams and for Using MS Teams in this article

Big Blue Button

TRU supports the use of Big Blue Button, an open source web conferencing tool. It is integrated with Moodle, making it easy for instructors to create and deploy sessions with just a few clicks.

Watch tutorials and get started with Big Blue Button or review TRU's setup documentation for Moodle.

Zoom

Zoom is a popular a video conferencing service. This service provides high-quality face-to-face video meetings for up to 300 participants, where you can:

Make audio/video calls
Take notes
Chat
Share your screen

Zoom accounts are available to all staff, faculty and students. Sign on using your network account at https://tru-ca.zoom.us

Matrix

	Microsoft Teams	Big Blue Button	Zoom
Description	A video conferencing solution that creates a shared workspace by combining chat, meetings, file sharing and business applications. Hosted and backed up in Canada.	An open source web conferencing system for online learning. Currently integrated with Moodle at TRU. Hosted and backed up in Canada as well as backed up at TRU. Recommended for smaller groups	A cloud-based video conferencing platform designed for webinars, online training, demonstrations and remote meetings. Now licensing can be obtain so hosted and backed up in Canada.
Typical Use Scenario	I need to collaborate with colleagues or group members --or-- I have a presentation or class session that I would like to share live with a group of people	I need to collaborate with colleagues or group members --or-- I have a presentation or class session that I would like to share live with a group of people	I need to collaborate with colleagues or group members --or-- I have a presentation or class session that I would like to share live with a group of people
TRU Recommended Use	Internal meetings and large virtual classes	Virtual classroom instruction	Alternate solution when teams meetings don't work. We have a site license so everyone can use a licensed version of zoom.
Recording and Transcription Capability?	Yes	Yes	Yes
Maximum participants (per meeting)	1000 with video and audio. View-only allows for up to 10,000 listen-only participants to join	50 (no more than 3-4 cameras on)	300
Who can set up a meeting?	Any one with a TRU Email staff/faculty/student Additional licensing needs to be setup to allow for Teams Live Events which can host up to 10,000 attendees.	Any TRU Employee who is an instructor in a Moodle course --or-- via web link --or-- Any TRU Employee who has a Mattermost account	Any one with a TRU Email staff/faculty/student Additional licensing required for Webinar, Large meetings 300+ and Events.
Video/Audio	Interactive web audio-video from all participants	Interactive web audio-video from all participants	Interactive web audio-video from all participants
Shared Presentation?	From any participant (moderator can control)	From any participant (moderator can control)	From any participant (moderator can control)
Dial-in Audio Capability?	Yes, request for additional licence via IT Service Desk	Yes	Yes
Chat	Yes	Yes	Yes
Computer Platforms Supported	Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Meeting Management	Allows for breakout groups.	Allows for breakout groups	Allows for breakout groups
	Easily allows presentations with PowerPoint, whiteboard, and other Microsoft apps
	Multi-user whiteboard and file upload for presentations	Multi-user whiteboard and file upload for presentations
	Hand-raise feature	Hand-raise feature	Hand-raise feature
	Dynamic polls	Dynamic polls
	Meetings can be made available to both internal and external participants via a link	Meetings can be made available to both internal and external participants via a link	Meetings can be made available to both internal and external participants via a link
What do I need?	Software and Web Camera/Microphone equipped desktop or laptop	Software and Web Camera/Mic equipped desktop or laptop	Software and Web Camera/Mic equipped desktop or laptop --or-- Standards- based HD Video Equipped Conference or Class Room (e.g., AB 127 or WL 1260)
App	Can access via the mobile or desktop application	Can access via Chrome or Firefox web browser	Can access via the mobile or desktop application
Security	Complies with TRU Privacy and Security standards	Complies with TRU Privacy and Security standards	New Canadian Tenant license complies with TRU Privacy and Security standards *Free and personally obtained licenses are NOT compliant and cannot be used*
Security	Recorded sessions stored and backed up in Canada	Recorded sessions stored and backed up in Canada	Recorded sessions MAY NOT be stored and backed up in Canada Videos are deleted after 120 days

0 reviews

Print Article

Updating...

Conference Tool Comparisons

Matrix

Microsoft Teams

Big Blue Button

Zoom

Related Articles (3)

Deleting...