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Web Conferencing from Citrix Enables Businesses to Stay Connected to Customers even in Recessionary Cost-Cutting Times
Thursday 11. December 2008 - Analysts Point to GoToMeeting as Leading Market with Affordable Pricing, Including Unlimited Monthly Use and Free VoIP, Delivering a Satisfying Customer Experience
With the global economy officially in recession, companies are trying to reduce costs anywhere they can. At the same time, they cant afford to neglect effective communication with customers. Web conferencing is an ideal answer because it enables businesses to reach customers anywhere in the world without costly travel. However, Web conferencing solutions are not all equal. Many carry hidden costs such as per-minute overage charges.
GoToMeeting, the Web conferencing service from Citrix Online, a division of Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTXS), addresses cost issues head-on with All You Can Meet unlimited monthly usage, free Voice over IP and phone conferencing, and a lower pricing structure than other providers. Even in these tough economic times, GoToMeeting enables companies to continue Web-based meetings, presentations and demonstrations without cutting back on the quality or quantity of meetings.
COCC, Inc., a provider of technology solutions for financial institutions, is one such company that needed to maintain its high level of service in a difficult economic climate. The technology provider selected GoToMeeting after trying another service that charged by the minute for each participant. “Because we were paying by the minute, the cost to present an average demo to a customer ran around $250,” explained Brent Biernat, vice president of network services at COCC. “As we tried to scale the product, it became extremely costly, so we used it in a very limited fashion. The variable charges were difficult to budget because we couldnt predict our cost. Instead, with GoToMeeting, we are now able to save at least 120 percent over our previous product. The flat-rate pricing allows us to have predictable costs.”
Leading the industry in price and overall experience
According to the results of a recent Wainhouse Research survey of Web conferencing users, “GoToMeeting continues to lead the competition in several categories, including price, performance and overall experience”.1 And Frost & Sullivans report, “North American Web Conferencing Services Markets,” noted that the traditional model of per minute audio and Web conferencing pricing has largely given way to unlimited usage. “Buying an allotment of minutes can mean runaway monthly charges if the actual usage ends up being higher than the agreement allows,” states Roopam Jain, principal analyst with Frost & Sullivan. GoToMeeting uses this pricing model to help companies increase communication without increasing cost. 2
GoToMeeting helps businesses reduce Web conferencing costs in several ways:
Free VoIP and phone conferencing avoid the high costs of per-minute long-distance phone charges that not only impact company budgets but can also deter customers from joining a Web conference.
All You Can Meet flat-fee pricing solves the problem of per-minute overage charges that can accrue with other services. Not only does unlimited use pricing save money, but it encourages greater use across the company and helps prevent unnecessary travel to meetings.
Overall lower pricing keeps the cost of Web conferencing affordable.
In commenting on the newest versions of GoToMeeting and GoToWebinar, Frost & Sullivans Jain mentioned their comprehensive and free VoIP capabilities, seamless audio Web integration, enhanced and easy to use features for Mac users, and enhanced webinar planning and management tools. “Citrix Online introduced integrated voice over IP capabilities to eliminate audio conferencing costs. Theres an even greater need for this kind of technology due to the current economic slowdown,” states Jain.
While offering unmatched affordability, GoToMeeting provides an exceptional customer experience, thanks to its simplicity, reliability and high performance. For example, the free VoIP conferencing also provides very high audio quality, as noted by Laurie McCabe, vice president of SMB Insights and Business Solutions, of AMI-Partners: “The audio was crystal clear. The VoIP was better than the phone. It was excellent.”
“Even though were in a recession, businesses of all sizes need to stay in touch with customers and reach out to prospects to build relationships for the future,” said Mike Mansbach, vice president and general manager of Global Sales and Field Marketing for Citrix Online, a division of Citrix Systems. “Communication shouldnt be a casualty of the economy – not when theres a cost-effective and highly satisfying way to meet and work with customers over the Web. GoToMeeting is rated by many industry influentials as the best and most affordable solution for Web conferencing, no matter what the economic outlook.”