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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

YesFrom Desktop App w/camera turned off

Yes

Yes

Audio & Video
Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes
Browser-based Sessions
Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes
Computer Software-based Sessions
No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Conference Call (Call In Hosting)
No

Yes*

No

Yes

Yes

Dial in by Phone

Yes.

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

Yes

Yes

No

YesRecording**YesYesYesYesInternal (Biola)***:

Yes

Live Stream
No

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

External: No
No
NoWebinar*

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
NoNoNoThis is available as an added paid feature.

Yes****

CollaborationBreakout Rooms
YesNoNo

No*****

YesYes
Chat
Yes
YesYesYes
Yes
File Share
Presentation Files Only
YesYesYes
YesLength of Meeting
Hand RaisingNo
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.

Yes
*****YesYes
Polls

No*****

YesYes
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

Changeable Backgrounds

Yes

Yes
Function & Limits
Yes
Closed Captioning
Manual via stenographerRegistrationNoNo
Yes - Automatic
Manual via stenographer

Manual via stenographer

Automatic - 3rd party API Integration

Manual via stenographer

Automatic - 3rd party API Integration

Up to 25 consecutively

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
See Participants Consecutively

Unknown

Note: Depends on user's hardware.

Up to 16

Note: Depends on user's hardware.

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.