DimDim Alternatives for Free WebConferencing and Desktop Sharing

For those who use DimDim, you are probably aware the service will be shut down in March due to the acquisition of Salesforce.com

Way back in 2008, I wrote about Yugma, Yuuguu, and Vyew.

Do not despair.

There are still a lot of other options, some free and some paid. Some require a download for a client install, some don’t and work only with a browser.

Your requirements may include both Web Conferencing and Desktop Sharing (where the remote user can control the keyboard and mouse). Some companies like to record their sessions for training purposes, so unless you use Camtasia, you may want to check on this option.

Here are five (5) additional companies that made in “impressive” list:

VSee – I had a chance to see a live demo at DreamForce 2010 and was very impressed with the low bandwidth requirements. 150 Kbps per person, so you are at the mercy of your bandwidth if you want to host a large group session. There is a free version, too. Requires a local client install, but no Mac version yet. I have not tested this on a 3G network yet.
Skype – Skype has over 23 million subscribers, which is a good case of user adoption. It may have a consume feel to it, but you can’t beat the price and the ease of use, especially when the user is familiar with the UI.
Mikogo – This one is free and supports both Mac and PCs. Founded by another web collaboration solution provider, BeamYourScreen. Free is good.
Fuze Meeting – Great reviews but sadly no free version. This service offers high resolution presentations and has support for mobile devices including the iPad.
Zoho Meeting – This is probably the least known of the bunch, but when you consider the integration of Zoho’s diverse product range (many, if not all, are free) you might as use the same company that houses your CRM or Support software. (Isn’t that the reason why Salesforce.com bought DimDim in the first place?)