Hostpoint Meet

Meet is an application for video or audio conferences that Hostpoint is offering free of charge until further notice. It runs via our secure servers in Switzerland and is based on the open source solution Jitsi.

Generally, these links do not expire. Video and audio conferences can be reopened at any time via the same links. The first person to enter the conference (generally the person who created the link) automatically takes the role of moderator.

Unlike other video telephony services, Hostpoint Meet isn’t limiting the duration of video and audio conferencing until further notice.

Unlike other video telephony services, the number of participants generally isn’t limited. However, please note that as the number of conference participants increases, the greater the burden on the hardware, software, bandwidth and internet connection – especially if all participants have their cameras switched on. We therefore recommend that several participants (or all if required) switch off their cameras and only use their microphones during conferences with a high number of participants.

In the application, you can click on the “Share screen” button in the bottom left-hand corner and then share the screen. Alternatively, you also have the option of selecting a specific window to share with the participants. Screen sharing may have to be activated or allowed in advance depending on the operating system or browser.

You can protect access to your video conference with any password you like. The conference participants then have to enter this password before they can join the conference. To set up a password, click on the information icon in the bottom right-hand corner and select “Add password”.

No, Hostpoint Meet is currently not suitable for broadcasting livestreams. YouTube is a good alternative for this, for example.

The Hostpoint Meet app is available for iOS devices and can be found in the App Store. Android users can use the Jitsi Meet app.

Hostpoint Meet can be conveniently used on desktop devices and laptop computers directly in one of the supported browsers, without the need to install any additional software. There are apps available for smartphones and tablets. Video telephony places a burden on the hardware, software, bandwidth and internet connection of all participants, so the following prerequisites should be fulfilled for trouble-free video conferencing:

• Device with sufficient performance
• Stable internet connection with sufficient bandwidth. If the connection is established via WIFI, it should also offer the required stability and reception.
• The latest version of a supported browser or the latest version of the Hostpoint Meet app (iOS) or the Jitsi Meet app (Android)

Unstable or slow internet connections, or a WIFI or mobile network with insufficient bandwidth, are common causes of problems. Hostpoint Meet automatically reduces the video quality as soon as a participant starts to experience issues. However, this measure may not be enough to avoid disruptions. In order to further reduce the required bandwidth and optimize the quality of the connection, individual conference participants (or all) can take the following additional measures:

• Switch off your camera
• Only switch on your microphone when you need to speak
• Manually reduce the video quality via the menu at the bottom right (only available in the browser) or set to “Low bandwidth” (audio only). The latter completely deactivates any video except for when a participant shares their screen.

For conferences with a large number of participants, it’s best if only a few people have their cameras switched on; alternatively, hold the meeting exclusively via audio.

Using an outdated browser version can also cause problems. It’s very important that all participants are using a current version of a supported browser. Google Chrome is currently the most reliable option with the most features. We therefore recommend making the switch to Google Chrome if you experience any problems.

Please also take note of the information listed under: “What are the hardware and software requirements for using Hostpoint Meet?”

The transmission is not end-to-end encrypted at present. But the data is transmitted in encrypted form between the participants and the server and runs exclusively via our servers in Switzerland.

You can find more helpful information about Hostpoint Meet here https://support.hostpoint.ch/en/products/hostpoint-meet