If you’re looking at a meeting inviting and asking yourself, “Okay, so what is Zoom?“, we’ve got your back. Our guide to the popular video conferencing service has all you need to know about this platform that got a big push during the recent pandemic. Whether you’re logging on for work or just want to use it to catch up with friends, we’ve got all the details below.
For more tech assistance, be sure to check out our WhatsApp download, Instagram download, Slack download, and Skype download guides. Or, if you’re looking for a better phone for all your video calling news, see our comprehensive lists of the best mid-range phones and the best Android phones.
What is Zoom?
Zoom is a video-conferencing service that you can use to chat with anyone anywhere in the world, so long as they have a microphone and internet signal (and a camera helps too!). Functioning as a more professionally acceptable version of Skype, Zoom has been incredibly popular since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, with many businesses turning to the service to continue to function remotely.
How do I download Zoom?
We’ve got a whole other guide on how to pull off a Zoom download, so check that out if you need answers. It’s a very simple process, but even if you do get a Zoom invite, you don’t necessarily have to download the app, as you can always join an invite link in your browser, providing you have the original link.
How do I set up a Zoom meeting?
If you want to set up a Zoom meeting, just follow these steps:
- Sign into the Zoom portal
- Hit the “meetings” option
- Select the “schedule a meeting” option
- Choose your time and date
- Select save
- (Optional) Use the “copy the invitation” button to copy a link to the meeting you can send directly through email or workplace messaging service.
How much is Zoom?
While you can technically use Zoom without spending a dollar, there are limitations to free accounts. For a start, you can only have a maximum of 100 attendees, and there’s also a 40-minute limit to your call time. If you can’t get by with those limitations, check out the different types of plans in the table below.
| Zoom One plan | Price | Service included |
| Basic | Free |
|
| Pro | $149 / £119.90 annually |
|
| Business | $199.90 / £159.90 annually |
|
| Business Plus | $250 / £185 annually |
|
As you can see, which option to go for depends on your business or individual needs. There is also the option to request a demo on the official Zoom site for those interested in trying the service out.
What is a Zoom client?
A Zoom client link is essentially a way of joining a Zoom meeting without downloading the application. If you get a Zoom link via email, you can use that to jump straight into a meeting or interview without faffing around and downloading a separate app.
What is Zoom One?
Zoom One is essentially a digital workspace, offering messaging, calls, meetings, a digital whiteboard, and more to bring your communications together in one place. It also utilizes some smart AI tech to make notes from meetings and help organize your workload. However, it is a subscription service, so you can’t use it without your company first purchasing the program. You can find out more via the official Zoom One website.
What is Zoom AI Companion?
Zoom AI Companion is a piece of AI software that can annotate, edit, and summarize meetings. However, it’s only available if you’re a Zoom’s paid service, with no equivalent for users on a free plan. Considering it saves you using a transcriber like Otter, it might be worth paying for you if you often find yourself spending too much time transcribing meetings. For more details on Zoom’s AI Companion, visit the official Zoom site.
What is Zoom Whiteboard?
Zoom Whiteboard is a software tool you can use in meetings to drive live collaboration between teams. With just one click, Zoom offers you multiple whiteboard templates, and once you pick which works best, everyone in the meeting has access to the whiteboard. If you’re planning something with a group over teams, or want to brainstorm with colleagues, it makes it easier for everyone to see the information and contribute.
There you have it, our answer to the question “what is Zoom?”. If all this talk of zooming has you wanting to put the pedal to the metal, check out our picks for the best mobile racing games. Or, if you prefer in-game money making mobile titles, check out our free Monopoly Go dice and Coin Master free spins guides.
