Zoom is an online video conferencing platform, see https://zoom.us.
To use it you’ll need a mobile phone, tablet, laptop or desktop with a microphone and webcam.
If you want to join a meeting, you need only download the app, you do not need to sign up for an account. Click on the meeting link sent to you by your host and the relevant app will automatically be installed. If you’d like to download it in advance or on several devices, go to https://launcher.zoom.us/download.
Once you have the Zoom app, you can also join a meeting by entering the meeting ID and password. It’s helpful for the other attendees if you enter your own name, rather than leaving it as iPad or Android.
If you want to improve the quality of your video and audio, you may wish to buy a separate webcam, microphone or speakers. You can also use cables, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to cast to a device with a larger screen, such as your TV.
If you want to host a meeting, you must sign up for a package. The basic package is free, but has a limit of 40 minutes for groups. You can stop and start a new meeting to extend your time. The next level up has a monthly or annual fee and permits group meetings of up to 30 hours. Both allow up to 100 participants. Check the Zoom website for current plans and pricing.
As the host, it is up to you to start a meeting, then invite participants to join you by sending them the meeting link. You have more controls than the other attendees and there are quite a few options that you can pre-set or manage during the meeting.
There’s plenty of online help, see:
- Getting Started with Zoom FAQs
- Getting Started with Zoom 30-minute video tutorial
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