NetMeeting 3.01

Click here to
read my weblog:
Brian Sullivan's
Random Musings

With the release of the NetMeeting 3.01( June 18,1999), Microsoft is starting a new chapter in the evolution of NetMeeting. Its orientation seems very much more corporate with many new features and enhancements aimed at gaining wider enterprise based use and less hobbyist use. Though I am certain that a number of people cringe at this thought I think it is the most sensible path to take. It will put NetMeeting on a solid economic and strategic path that can support continuing development and growth of use.

Generally I think NetMeeting 3.01 is a move in the right direction but it is frustrating that after almost two years of waiting many of the requested features have not been included. Robert Scoble of the NetMeeting zone has created a report card page indicating the status of the features with respect to the list.

My impressions:

The User Interface

The user interface has changed drastically -- the video screen or dial interface or participant list has become the center of the user interface with controlling buttons around and the calling history, directory listings and speed dials that used to be optional "views" in 2.x moved to sub menus.

I like the idea of the new interface ( it makes for a much more compact on screen presence) but it seems clunky and unrefined with little ability to customize and too much waste space around buttons.

As of 3.01 ( 4.4.3388) some UI/function settings are persistent --. The following aren't and should be but this version clears up a lot of the previous missing persistent list:

	Always on top
	Do not disturb

Changed December 23,1999

Call initiation

A whole bunch of functionality has been added here.

NetMeeting now supports H.323 gatekeepers has special functions dialing features for H.323 gateways and proxies. This seems at least for now for corporate use only as I haven't found any publicly available resources in this area.

The default ILS access has been modified to provide http based search access rather than direct access. It seems at not only did Microsoft not solve the ILS problem - they may in fact have made it worse.

The problem of multihomed users registering the wrong IP address in the ILS is claimed fixed ( the IP registered is now the same IP that is used to access the ILS). I haven't had a chance to verify this but this should make it easier for many users if truly is fixed.

A mechanism for removing ILS servers from the list has been added ( there has always been a mechanism for adding servers)

As of the December 15 service release all default ILS servers included in NetMeeting have been removed in favour of a interface to MSN Messenger. At the same time Microsoft stopped supplying ILS service.

Changed January 14,2000

IE4+ Required

Because of the way that V3.01 uses http based directories and the encryption and certificates -- the requirement for IE4.01 or later (in order to have the rendering engine and security subsystem) only hinted at in past versions has become a fact.

Meeting Hosting

The hosting of meetings now has more meaning -- allowing an individual to host named, password protected meetings and have some control over actions and individuals in the meeting.

Security

Features have been added to allow encryption of data only meetings and require certificate based authentication of individuals joining the meeting.

Whiteboard, Chat, File Transfer

There are now two (virtually identical from a user interface point of view) whiteboards - one now obeys the T.126 standard for compatibility with other standards based whiteboards and one that maintains compatibility with previous NetMeeting whiteboards.

The Chat function has been slightly upgraded with more user interface options -- a nice addition is the automatic detection and creation of clickable URLs.

File transfer interface has been changed -- and Microsoft claims increased speed in transfer.

Audio/Video

The main differences here seem to be under the covers. Microsoft claims to have improved the speed, quality and the interoperability and initial subjective information seems to support this claim.

One thing that is evident -- the option to use Direct Sound is now by default off and controllable from within NetMeeting.

Another welcome addition is the digital level displays on the microphone and speaker controls - the former tiny animated displays were inadequate.

A cute feature that allows picture-in-picture viewing of the local video with the incoming video has been added.

Application and Desktop Sharing

By far the greatest improvement seems to be in the area of application sharing.

Application sharing is now possible in full color, is very fast and allows much more control of viewing at the receiving end.

A new feature that allows full desktop sharing and remote control has been added. The desktop sharing should prove an extremely important feature for help desk and support applications.

The Resource Kit

The resource kit for NetMeeting 3.01 is much improved allowing more control over specially configured versions and an increased volume of documentation and bandwidth usage analysis information.

SDK

The SDK is available at the download site. It seems be allow more access for Visual Basic programmers and ability to embed NetMeeting interfaces in web pages (using new ActiveX controls).

A sample of NetMeeting video in page is at in our V3 Contact Center page. The web page scripting ability is quite limited however allowing little in the way of size and visual control.

Changed June 18,1999

Removed Features

Features that were removed:

	ability to switch audio/video in a call with multiple users
	the shared clipboard (admittedly this as previously implemented with no user control and no warning was a problem but taking away such a potentially powerful feature is not sensible)
	ability to track individuals and determine the state of calls ( answered, unanswered) via History/Speeddial list has been removed

Changed June 22,1999

Problems, comments, questions: Email webmaster
Changed:Thursday January 12, 2006 11:27 -0500