Audio, Data, Video are the three alternatives to face-to-face meetings. They can be used separately, or in concert with one another.

Web Conferencing or Webcasting
Webcasting is a visual tool that can supplement a telephone conference. The telephone serves as the audio, complementing the participant’s desktop screen. Participants can use webcasting to give presentations, demonstrate software or other products, permit anyone in the meeting to view or edit any document electronically, take a Web tour of a facility, compile polling data, share an application or the entire desktop, and incorporate online chat, among other features.

Video Conferencing
In general, video conferencing is the video piece only. It lets individuals or groups be seen on a video by hooking into a television. It is similar to the experience of watching news reporting by correspondents at a remote location. Because it demands a lot of bandwidth, reception can be jerky, or the sound may not match up with the mouth. When used in conjunction with webcasting, it allows participants to see each other as well as share documents over two computers.

Desktop Video
A professional take on the popular webcams, desktop video cameras are an emerging technology that can link people from various sites or different cities into a single meeting and allow them to see each other on their personal computers. Genesys Meeting Center is one of the first fully integrated web platforms bringing together web conferencing audio and video conferencing in one simple interface. Desktop video is a relatively new addition to the online meeting experience.

24/7 Collaborative Technology
Telephone calls, webcasting, and videoconferencing are "real time" technologies, while voicemail and e-mail are "24/7." With more and more businesses having staff and contractors in different locations and different time zones, 24/7 technology makes it easier to connect with one another.

Internet Streaming
Streaming is the process of broadcasting a conference session or other meeting or activity over the Internet so that it can be accessed by clicking on an onscreen link. It’s the convergence of broadcast (TV) quality video, multimedia, and e-commerce and is often billed as an alternative to attending a live conference session. Streaming media applications help companies or associations keep in touch with their members in ways other than newsletters and e-mail formats.