Right now, video conferencing, online meetings, webinars, online courses, anything online video-related is hot. With speakers and coaches unable to travel, do live events and courses and meetings, platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams have become the norm. However, Zoom has hit a couple of security snags that have left people wondering if they are safe and private enough to continuing using.

In a previous issue of the BizEase Buzz, I told my readers about Facebook’s mission to give Zoom a run for it’s video conferencing money, and also mentioned Google had something up its sleeve as well. 

Well guess what! Both Facebook and Google have accomplished their missions!

Facebook rolled out its new Messenger Rooms, and I actually have it! I’m usually the last one on the block to get anything Facebook rolls out, but I got my invitation to create a room last Wednesday. Now, when I go to my home page, I see the option to create a room, and  a row of  people with whom I can open a room. I can go in and create a room and invite either my entire friend list, or specific people.

There is also the option to open a room on the bottom right-hand corner of your screen when viewing your profile. The video camera with the plus sign in it will open a room.

When I click on “create” to create my room, I get the option to invite my entire friend list, or specific people.

Messenger Rooms is also rolling out to Groups and events. Unlike Facebook Live, these are actual video conferencing rooms where multiple people can join in … just like Zoom.

Pretty cool huh!

Google has also risen to the challenge with Google Meet. On the same day I was able to access Facebook’s new rooms, the option to both start and join a meeting showed up in my GMail account. Not G-Suite, my regular old GMail account. I think I’m going to have to do a practice run for both of them!

I haven’t really had an opportunity to try out either one yet, so I don’t know all of the details. Like does everyone have to have a GMail account to use a Google room?  And does everyone have to be on Facebook or your friend on Facebook to be able to join you in a Messenger Room? I plan to check both of them out soon, and will let you know what I find out.

In the meantime, check your Facebook profile for your Messenger Room options, as well as your GMail account, if you have one.

You never know, since the competition for video meetings is on the rise, I’m wondering if Zoom might just be a thing of the past …

If you want to test it out for yourself and play in a room with me, let me know!