ZOOM

 ZOOM

Zoom, a multiplatform instant messaging and videoconferencing service, primarily geared towards professionals, but which offers a free version limited to 40 minutes and 100 people that individuals can use.

Zoom is a cloud-based, multiplatform instant messaging and video conferencing platform available for download as applications, PC software and also accessible from a web browser.

Available free of charge as an application on a mobile device (Android, iPhone, iPad), under Windows, or from your web browser, Zoom can bring together up to 100 users around the world in a single chat room, as well as realizing two-way calls. Simple to install and use, the mobile application works via the Internet on a Wi-Fi network, but also on 3G or 4G mobile networks.

1- WHY USE ZOOM?

The platform offers the possibility to share messages, documents, images or videos with the participants of a discussion group. It also supports some cloud storage services including Google Drive, Dropbox, or Box files. The service integrates screen sharing to simplify your work meetings. Finally, its invitation system offers the possibility of simply joining a video conference using your list of contacts.

So much for the main features. But Zoom is much more than that. Indeed the program offers various products depending on the use you need to make of them. Thanks to it you will be able to modernize your meetings.

Zoom allows you to manage meetings and discussions: HD videos, audio, collaboration, and discussion in instant messaging. You can also create rooms and workspaces that will become digital conference rooms, ideal when the users who need to participate are not physically there (telecommuting, employees in another country, etc.). You will also be able to create webinars (webinars, online seminars) with all the necessary features and able to accommodate thousands of simultaneous participants.

Zoom is an ideal product for all businesses and professionals in general. You can use it to carry out distance training by creating virtual classrooms on the cloud, you can improve your exchanges and communications with your clients by giving conferences, etc.

Your employees can be telecommuting or you can have branches abroad, you will still need to have work meetings. Zoom is therefore the ideal tool for establishing remote communication via the Internet.

Signing up to Zoom is free, some services require a subscription to a paid subscription tailored to your needs. The free version brings together 100 participants for 40 minutes, and unlimited for face-to-face calls. Easy to use and fully secure, it takes collaborative work to a new level.

See the article on What free video conferencing apps to use to stay in touch with loved ones?

WHAT'S NEW IN THE LATEST VERSION OF ZOOM?

Zoom has been able to evolve according to the demand of its customers. Among the latest notable innovations, we note first of all the possibility of not having to download software to install but to be able to connect directly via the online service or with browser extensions. Zoom also supports a multi-camera for companies that are equipped with it and allows textual transcription of recordings. It is now possible to share only part of your screen (to keep the rest private).

For the latest version 5, security has been highlighted within particular a new icon that allows faster access to security tools such as locking a meeting and deleting a participant, click on it to display the list of available parameters. Zoom now offers AES 256-bit GCM encryption to enhance the privacy security of its users.

Among the latest news for paid accounts, we can note the possibility of the administrator to configure the length and composition of the password to connect. Additionally, password protection for shared cloud recordings is now enabled by default for all accounts. Finally, administrators of paid accounts will have the option of activating or not certain Data Centers to regulate data traffic.

As of May 2020 Zoom continues to make security improvements to its interface. Thus we can welcome the automatic arrival of the waiting room (as in Google Meet ) and the obligation to protect the meeting with a password. These two parameters should make it possible to resolve the problems of unwanted connections (by malicious people who have stolen the credentials to access the room). These settings are now in place not only for paid accounts but also for free ones.

In addition, from July 2020 end-to-end encryption will be available as an option (free) for all accounts (not just paid ones). Free accounts will need to activate the option in their interface.

WHICH OS IS ZOOM COMPATIBLE WITH?

Zoom is available as a downloadable mobile application compatible with Android and iOS (iPhone, iPad) which allows you to join meetings as if you were on a computer.

For the computer, you can download and install Zoom as a dedicated Windows application. For other operating systems, note that there are two extensions for browsers, one for Mozilla Firefox and one for Google Chrome. With these extensions, you will have access to any Zoom from any system (Linux, Mac, etc.).

You can also log into your Zoom account directly from the online service, from any system and web browser.

WHAT ARE THE BEST ALTERNATIVES TO ZOOM?

There are many communication products (software and applications) that allow remote video (videoconferencing) and audio (call) group conference meetings. Most are free to download and have basic features that are sufficient for most meetings: video, audio, instant messaging, screen sharing, and sometimes file sharing. The ones we offer are all multiplatform (Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, or iOS: iPhone, iPad).

We can thus speak of Microsoft Teams, the remote meeting solution from the Microsoft firm that allows file sharing (photo, image, etc.) and collaborative editing.

In the same spirit of the corporate meeting, we can name Slack which allows collaboration on file and has a complete meeting tool.

If you want to stay in videoconferencing a little easier you can go for Skype, and if you want an instant messaging system with multi-platform secure file transfer instead, you can go to Telegram.

As part of teleworking there is a tool that allows you to hold meetings and as a bonus to work remotely on your computer, it is TeamViewer.

To go further, you can also read our files on videoconferencing applications (video calls):

What free video conferencing apps can you use to stay in touch with loved ones?

WhatsApp, Discord and video conferencing apps top downloads

HOW DO I ACTIVATE ENCRYPTION ON ZOOM?

Since the last update dated October 26, 2020, it is now possible for all Zoom users to activate end-to-end encryption of your videoconferencing exchanges. This option has long been reserved for paying users of the videoconferencing software.

To do this, log into your Zoom account and click on your avatar at the top right. Then go to the settings, accessible in the left side menu.

Scroll through the various configuration options to the setting: End-to-End Encrypted Meetings (E2E).

To activate the encryption service, a validation code will be sent to you by SMS.

Cette option rajoute une couche de sécurité supplémentaire mais certaines fonctionnalités ne sont plus disponibles comme l'utilisation des lignes téléphoniques. Il faudra également relancer cette option à chaque appel