At the end of July, The Gartner Group updated its analysis and comparison of web conferencing applications/vendors.

Along with a thorough review of features, Gartner uses this bi-annual report to make strategic planning predictions about significant business usage patterns. This year’s predictions are Gartner’s best guess about the terrain between here and 2011.

I’m unable to reprint any direct quotes from the report or to republish the quadrant itself. However, AT&T has paid for reposting rights for the 2009 Gartner Magic Quandrant for Web Conferencing so that others can read it. If you’re unable to purchase your own copy from Gartner, you can read it here.

I was struck as I read through it with the variety of features available from the big names, on the one hand. And, on the other, at the narrow thinking about large-scale corporate deployment that just continues to ignore many of the realities of small business’ needs. Independent business people who are racing to keep the wolves from the door have a very different set of opportunities and constraints to work with than many of the bigger vendors are focused on.

And, as I keep saying, learning to operate all the bell and whistles in new web conferencing tools is just STEP ONE on the path to virtual meeting mastery. Adding virtual meetings efficiently into  business processes and learning to keep your full attention on the experience of those you’re meeting with are much more challenging tasks. As the tools become more widely available and accepted, your skill at thinking about and planning your virtual meetings is what’s going to help you stand out from the crowd. There’s never been a better time than now to start building those skills and I’d love to help you when you’re ready.

The 2009 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Web Conferencing is  a fascinating read. Take a look and let’s chat about what you think.

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