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Introduction

Column

This page lists the various web-conferencing features most requested on the four web-conferencing tools supported at Biola. Some feature restrictions may change as service providers adapt and remove restrictions due to various circumstance ( e.g. the COVID 19 pandemic).


Web-Conference Feature Comparison

Column
Feature CategorySpecific Feature
Canvas (BigBlueButton)

Google Meet

WebEx Meetings

(Till March 2021)

Zoom Basic

(Free

Basic Version

)

Zoom Licensed

(Paid

Version

)

Host/Join Method
Hosting/JoiningNumber of ParticipantsUp to 250 ParticipantsUp to 100 ParticipantsUp to 300 Participants
Length of MeetingNo Limit40 min. for 3 or more participants24 Hr.
Anonymous User Joining

Not by default

YesYes
Audio-Only

Yes

Yes

From Desktop App w/camera turned off

Yes

Yes
Audio & Video
Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes
Browser-based Sessions
YesYes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Computer Software-based Sessions

No

NoYes

Yes

Yes

Conference Call (Call In Hosting)
No

Yes*

No

Yes

Yes

Dial in by Phone

Yes

.YesYes

Note: But you must first start the process by joining on a computer

No

YesRecording**YesYesYesYes

Yes

Live Stream
No
Internal (Biola)***:

Up to 250 internal/external participants and 100,000 internal viewers.

External: No
No
No

Yes (via 3rd party integration)

Recording**Yes
Limit is dependent on connected live stream service (Facebook, YouTube, etc.)

Yes, locally

Yes, locally or in the cloud

WebinarNoNo
NoNo

Yes

Up to 500 Participants and 10,000 Audience

Yes****

CollaborationBreakout Rooms
Yes

No*****

No
YesYes
Chat
YesYes
YesYesYes
File Share
Presentation Files Only
YesYesYes
YesLength of MeetingNo LimitNo Limit24 Hr.40 min. for 3 or more participants24 Hr.PollsYes

No

Note: You can use a 3rd party app for taking the poll and send the poll link in the Google Meet chat.
Hand RaisingNo*****YesYes
Polls

No*****

YesYes
Yes
Q&A

No

No

Note: You can present a Google Slides presentation that can facilitate this.

*****

YesYes
ReactionsNoYesYes
Screen/Specific App ShareYesYesYes
Screen Share with AudioYesYesYes
Whiteboard

Yes

YesYes
Function & LimitsAttendance/TrackingNo

Note: You can create a Google Jam (whiteboard) at jamboard.google.com, share the link to your students.

Yes
*****

Yes

Yes

Changeable Backgrounds

Yes

Yes
Function & Limits
Yes
Closed Captioning
Manual via stenographer

Up to 25 consecutively

Note: Depends on user's hardware.
Yes - Automatic
Manual via stenographer

Manual via stenographer

Automatic - 3rd party API Integration

Manual via stenographer

Automatic - 3rd party API Integration

See Participants Consecutively

Unknown

Note: Depends on user's hardware.

Up to 16

Note: Depends on user's hardware.

Yes - Manual or 3rd party appYes - Manual or 3rd party app
Host Controls Over ParticipantsNo*****YesYes
Lock MeetingNoYesYes
RegistrationNoNoYes
Remote Computer ControlNoYesYes
See Participants Consecutively

49 per page

49 per gallery page with ~20 gallery pages

.

Note: Depends on user's hardware.

49 per gallery page with ~20 gallery pages

.

Note: Depends on user's hardware.

See Shared Content & ParticipantsYes
Yes
(less intuitive)YesYes
Yes
User LimitUp to
100
250 participantsUp to
250
100 participantsUp to
1,000 participants100 participants300 participants
300 participants
Waiting RoomNo*****YesYes

* You can start the meeting without a computer, but you must have scheduled the meeting in advance on a computer.

** Please be aware that HIPAA laws may affect your use of this function.

*** Webinar Live stream feeds may be delayed and do not allow participant interaction.

**** For more information about Webinars, please see our Zoom service page.

***** According to Google's first blog announcement on August 10, 2020 and second blog announcement on October 8, 2020, these features are coming soon.