In case you haven't seen it, allow me to introduce Calliflower. Calliflower began life as a conference call tool used in conjunction with Facebook. It looks like it has grown well past that interesting start.This is definitely in the same class with GoTo Meeting but I think there are a couple of differences worth exploring.
First, if you look at the pricing - they are roughyl similar. All the Calliflower pricing plans allow for unlimited participants, the difference in pricing comes in how many organizers (people who can set up calls) you want w/in your organization (for 2 organizers the annual cost is $500).
I do like the features that Calliflower brings to the table like:
- Document sharing (yes, others do this too)
- Easy calendar integration via iCal. As someone running an Outlook calendar and a Google Calendar, this is very helpful
- SMS Event reminders - love it
- MP3 Recordings - Record the call either via the Web UI or your mobile phone
- iPhone App - Love this. This is not just the ability to dial into your call via the phone but rather a full-fledged mobile interface to the call (screenshots here)
- Skype/TringMe Integration - Awesome. Mobile VOIP. ROI? Done.
I guess what it comes down to with something like Calliflower - essentially a different version of a capability we already have - is not the new features but the fact that it seems that the designers started from a user perspective versus an admin or IT view. That makes it tremendously more attractive - especially when you add in the innovative mobile UI, similar pricing plans and integration with cost-saving apps like Skype and TringMe.
Plus - what's the migration cost? Um...little to none. So here is a challenge for 2009..let's challenge entrenched systems who's ROI is hazy at best. Let's ask to see the work that went into selecting sub-standard, dangerous browsers like IE. Let's challenge our installed base of authoring tools, LMSs and LCMSs. Let's not go after new simply for the sake of it being new but neither should we stand by and just accept the status quo when valuable innovation passes us and our learners by.
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