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DimDim – free open source web conferencing

Dimdim

DimDim is a new open source web service which provides full featured web conferencing from within a Web browser. What makes it interesting is the fact that you can not only use it via their own servers, but also download and install your own open source version on your own servers, which takes web conferencing to a whole new place in terms of availability.

Dimdim2

Another remarkable thing about the service is the interface. The developers have actually made web conferencing easy to do. Hosting or joining a meeting is a one button click cinch, and once you’re in the meeting, the choice of activities – sharing screens, joint web or document browsing et al – is just a click away. Large friendly icons, clean UI and logical navigation make it a no-brainer to use. The feature set is excellent too, as the service comes complete with video and audio VoIP conferencing built in, as well as a free teleconferencing service via standard phone lines.

We have to confess that our first experience with the service in the early days was a little disappointing, as we found the desktop sharing performance to be a little jerky and sub-par when compared to commercial services like Webex, but performance is something that can always be improved, and if you have a great product in place ready for when it does, then you’ll win.

Dimdim3 

It’s great to see open source projects appear which really define the territory by being well thought out and intelligently designed, it’s a great sign for the future of the community. You really should add this to your list of things to check out if you’re in the market. The free version lets you have up to 20 collaborators in a meeting.

 Dimdim is a free web conferencing service where you can share your desktop, show slides, collaborate, chat, talk and broadcast via webcam with absolutely no download required to host or attend meetings…Dimdim’s built-in VoIP capability is a godsend to customers with limited access to quality phone service, providing free calling to and from any computer with a microphone and an Internet connection. And we added a free teleconference service to boot.

7 Comments

  • Hi Nigel,
    Please check out Yugma, the instant web-conferencing service.
    http://www.yugma.com

  • Nigel-

    Thanks for recognizing the work that goes into Dimdim every day. We're proving that a great product doesn't have to mean expensive. On the performance side, it's always a challenge to push more and more rich content and features through such a variety of connections — the team has been working on this challenge and in our next release (in a few weeks) you'll see that thoughtfulness and intelligence in action again.

    Thanks!

    -k
    Kevin Micalizzi, Community Manager
    Dimdim Web Conferencing
    e: [email protected]
    twitter: @dimdim
    facebook: dimdim.com/facebook

  • Hi Nigel,
    Have you tried Mikogo? This is a free screen sharing tool ideal for not only online meetings and Web presentations, but also remote support. Great app for online collaboration.
    Mikogo is free (for both businesses and private users), easy-to-use, secure and is a smooth screen sharing tool. Drop by our website http://www.mikogo.com to take a look at our free app.
    Feel free to contact me if you'd like further info.

    All the best,

    Andrew Donnelly
    The Mikogo Team
    http://twitter.com/Mikogo

  • Dimdim Pro and Free has same performance. I think you are misguiding the users.

  • Emil-
    Dimdim Pro meetings are now run out of our newest datacenter, which has new servers and higher bandwidth.

    Thanks.

    -k
    Kevin Micalizzi, Community Manager
    Dimdim Web Conferencing
    e: [email protected]
    twitter: @dimdim
    facebook: dimdim.com/facebook

    If you love Dimdim, please vote for us in the Webware 100! http://bit.ly/Vote_for_Dimdim

  • Hmm…well I've got to say we've been looking for a new screensharing app for a while now, and the last time we checked DimDim it was still as woefully laggy as before. As are most of these browser based variations (including Mikogo Andrew, which was pretty bad).

    The only ones we have found which reliably allow you to do serious screensharing without lag are the very expensive Webex (http://www.webex.com) and Team Viewer (http://www.teamviewer.com). So far, at least!

  • thing is, dimdim forces you to use your entire screen, you cant preselect an area of your screen like you can when you create camtasia videos. :(

    add that feature dimdim and I'll get your $75 a month service

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