Video Call

Meeting remotely just got easier! Boost your business productivity with online video calls.

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More RingCentral Video features to discover
A manager having a video call with her team.

Technology has drastically changed the way we do business. With teams now more distributed than ever, small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) need to adapt to maintain culture and continuity. That means getting creative when it comes to keeping your teams connected.

 

Luckily, RingCentral is here to help! We offer an all-in-one video call app specially designed for companies with multiple offices and dispersed employees and just about any organization that regularly conducts online meetings. Are you ready to reap its benefits?

Call center team receiving calls from customers

What is video calling?

A video call is like a regular phone call, except you and the person you're calling can see each other. With an internet connection and any desktop or mobile device, you can have unlimited video calls with anyone! Because of the live video element, you can expect your conversations to go beyond what traditional voice calls offer.

This is one of the reasons why video calling is used extensively not only for keeping in touch with friends and loved ones but also for keeping businesses running.

How do businesses utilize video calls?

Video calls make way for better, more effective communication with remote team members. Opening your video camera for a call might seem like a small gesture, but it gives virtual conversations the missing “face-to-face” element to take communication to another level. After all, so much of what and how we converse is non-verbal: smiles, shrugs, nods of agreement, and more.

These are some of the ways businesses use video calls and video conferences:

  • One-on-one video chats
  • Video conferencing for larger groups (project teams, clients, partners, etc.)
  • Presentations, webinars, demos, and online training sessions
  • Group call parties to celebrate milestones among remote workers
Male employee attending a RingCentral video call

Why are video calls important for your business?

Video chat apps have become a must-have for many businesses—and it is easy to see why. The benefits of good quality video calling software are far-reaching and offer a significant return on investment (ROI), including:

  • Less travel. The reduction in required travel leads to less travel time and fewer travel-related costs.
  • More diverse workforce. Removing geographical barriers opens the doors to hiring top talent from all over the world.
  • Enhanced market penetration. You can reach global markets without having to leave your HQ.
  • Boosted productivity. Utilizing features like file-sharing and virtual whiteboards, employees can collaborate on documents in real-time, making video meetings even more productive than in-person ones.
  • More closed deals. Sales teams can close more deals by turning simple audio calls into live demos, allowing for more personal connections with customers.
  • Increased customer retention. Show customers working prototypes and solve their problems on the spot via screen sharing.

What are the different video calling host controls I should know about?

Maintaining control of the discussion is the key to achieving your meeting objectives. You have to make sure you're practicing good etiquette and effectively engaging everyone on the video call. This way, you can keep strong, collaborative connections from start to end. 

Here are some common online call and video messaging app host controls that might come in handy for helping you achieve that goal:

Online call and video messaging app host controls
Control When to use it
Mute/unmute microphone Use the mute button to eliminate background noise when a meeting is ongoing. Use the unmute button to allow the other participants to speak. You can also enable them to unmute their microphones on their own.
Turn on/off camera Use these controls to turn your camera on or off.
Record meeting Use it to record the meeting. You can pause and resume as needed anytime during the call. But before you hit that button, remember it's always good practice to warn participants that a meeting is being recorded.
Search Use it to look for specific participants in an ongoing meeting.
Show/hide participants Use these controls to view all participants and manage their roles during the meeting.
Open/close chat Use open chat to enable instant messaging and send a message to all or any of the participants. You may also disable it anytime during the meeting.
Prevent new participants from joining the meeting Use it to lock the call, essentially preventing new participants from joining the meeting. Simply unlock it to allow them to join.
Assign moderator role Use it to assign a moderator role to a specific participant. The participant will then be granted host controls.
Hang up Use it to disconnect a participant from the video call.
On-going meeting between 2 parties using RingCentral video call feature

Key video calling features of RingCentral's app

There are robust video call solutions available for businesses of every size. With so many video calling apps online to keep your team connected, how do you know which one to choose? It can feel overwhelming, even at the best of times. Let us help you make the right decision. 

Whether you're in the market for a free video chat app or a group video call app, your number one choice should be RingCentral Video! Check out some of the features we offer to learn exactly why RingCentral is hailed the best video call app by many:

Enterprise-grade security

Security should be one of your top concerns when looking for a video calling solution. You need to be sure all calls are encrypted, so you can have peace of mind discussing delicate business matters. At RingCentral, we offer enterprise-grade security to make sure your conversations remain private no matter what device you're using.

High-definition voice and video quality

How often have you been on an important video call only to get interrupted by technical issues? How many times have you dealt with less than satisfactory audio and video? With RingCentral, there's little to no chance of you experiencing any of that. Online meetings with us are always crystal clear!

Seamless system integrations

Having tools that integrate with each other reduces the chances of your employees having to deal with manual and repetitive tasks (which are also more prone to errors). Good thing RingCentral integrates well with the business tools that your company is already using!

Ease of use

Your video calling app must be naturally intuitive to make onboarding easy. Your staff should be able to navigate it without having to consult lengthy manuals, FAQs, or your IT department. That's exactly what RingCentral offers: an easy-to-use platform that can be used by tech noobs and veterans alike.

Much better reliability

One of the reasons why trusted providers are so trusted (and may cost a little more) is because they help you avoid dips in productivity caused by downtime. For example, RingCentral is an option that offers a high-availability infrastructure—that's 99.999% of uptime, meaning the service is only down for a few minutes each year. This ensures business continuity no matter the situation.

Powerful analytics

If there's one video calling feature that brings digital meetings a step closer to or even better than in-person meetings, it's having access to data and analytics. RingCentral offers a powerful analytics suite that lets you monitor call quality, track the amount of time spent on meetings, and access live reporting to help you make informed decisions.

Discover other features of RingCentral Video.

Video call app FAQs

Video chatting is when you launch a video call from a chat platform. While the terms “video chat” and “video call” are sometimes used interchangeably, one thing to keep in mind is that not all chat platforms have video call functionality.
Video chatting allows you to switch between text chatting and video calling with the click of a button. For example, RingCentral’s messaging platform comes with video calls in the Standard, Premium, and Ultimate RingEX packages. Accessing it is as easy as tapping the camera icon within an active text chat.
Unless you're planning (and able) to build a meeting room intended solely for conducting conference calls, you don't need a sophisticated setup to do a video call. Here are the must-haves:
  • Data or wi-fi connection
  • Computer or smartphone
  • Microphone and camera
  • RingCentral app
To schedule a video call on RingCentral's web app, you only need five steps:
  1. Log in.
  2. Click Schedule.
  3. Enter a meeting name.
  4. Select the calendar.
  5. Click Schedule.
It's as simple as that! The best part—RingCentral's online call app works on all Windows and Mac devices, so you don’t have to worry about any compatibility issues.
No laptop? No problem!
Pretty much every business video call platform offers phone apps in addition to the web and desktop, making it easy to access video calls from any mobile device. Whether you're an iOS (iPhone/iPad) or Android phone user, scheduling and taking video calls when you're on the go is also fast and convenient. 
To schedule a video call using RingCentral's mobile app:
  1. Log in to the RingCentral app.
  2. Tap Video > Schedule.
  3. Customize the meeting in the Schedule screen

    How to schedule an RC meeting

  4. Select calendar application to schedule the invite.

    Select calendar to schedule the meeting

  5. Configure the rest of the settings, and you're all set!
Yes, it probably already has that functionality! Many Android and Apple devices have pre-installed social networking apps that make video calling online possible, like Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp, and FaceTime. These are also similar software available on app stores. 
But for business, you could download an app for video calls like RingCentral Video. Because it is anchored on a powerful unified communications platform, it allows you to host and join online meetings wherever you are, no matter what device you're using.
Video conference platforms for businesses aren't just a nice-to-have anymore—they're a must-have. Depending on your company size and needs, RingCentral promises to have a high-quality solution that works within your budget. To learn more about RingCentral's products and pricing, click here.
Not sure where to start your research? Feel free to reach out to a RingCentral expert! We’d be happy to answer any questions you have and guide you towards the best video call solution for your business.