Can I Chat Online for Free with Clients?

Try one of these free text-based chats to interact with customers:

• Meebo @ http://www.meebo.com/
  
  • Best for one-on-one private chats with customers - help desk
  • Sign in and respond to customer questions from your smartphone or computer
    (iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Symbian, and Windows Mobile)
  • Requires account set up
  • Use the embed code to put chat box in blog or web page
  • Web-based, cross-platform chat (AIM, ICQ, MSN, Facebook) = no software to download
  
  
• Zoho Chat @ https://chat.zoho.com/
• Best for group chat - discussion board
  
• Use the "shoutbox" chat tool in the blog for group chat
• Requires account set up
• Use the embed code to put chat box in blog or web page

Can I Create an Online Video Conference for Free?

Consider using one of these free online tools to conduct a video-enabled web conference.

Basic Video/Audio Discussions:

• oovoo at http://www.oovoo.com/
  
  • Requires software download & account set up
  • Allows up to 3 participants for free
  • new! - oovoo for Mobile offers "free 6 way video chat, instant messaging, and free voice calls to ooVoo contacts" (see compatible mobile device list)
  • can only record calls by purchasing upgraded plan or credits
  • chat via texting with 6 people maximum on a mobile device or computer
  
  
• Skype at http://www.skype.com/
• Requires software download & account set up for a mobile device or computer such as iPod touch, iPad, iPhone, Symbian, or Android
  
• Allows up to 2 participants for free
• Screen sharing is free for one-on-one calls
• Doesn't allow recording of calls, but one suggestion is to use VodBurner.

Webinar/Conferencing:

• Vyew at http://vyew.com
  
  • Requires account set up
  • Video/audio enabled project screen
  • Up to 10 real-time users
  • Upload files
  • Up to 20 different project folders
  • No software download
  • Includes ads
  • Screen capture
  • Drawing tools included
  
  
• AnyMeeting at http://anymeeting.com/
• One speaker at a time who can share his/her desktop
• Video/audio enabled speaker
• Ability to draw shapes or write text on shared whiteboard
• Record session
• Text chat available
  

For more information:
6 Instant Online Services That Boost Online Productivity from makeuseof, July 15, 2011

AnyMeeting Makes Web Meetings, Webinars Free from InformationWeek, April 4, 2011