join.me



__** Description **__

join.me is a website that allows users to share their screen with up to 250 viewers for free. This service is available to people using Mac, mobile, or Windows. To start a session the host goes to the join.me website and clicks the share button, which brings up the prompt that starts the download of the join.me application 1]. The picture below shows the start screen of join.me. You have the option to start a pro session, which gives you additional features for a monthly fee or yearly fee, or a basic session which is free. If you are just joining a session as a viewer you do not have to download anything. All you have to do is click on the link provided by the host, or go to the join.me website and type in the nine digit code or personalized link 2]. Once you click the green play button the sharing will start immediately.



The host has the ability to pause the sharing, share control of their screen, chat with viewers or individuals, and send files. The viewers can see the host's screen and zoom in, chat with everyone or individuals, request control of the host's screen, and receive files from the host. There is also a paid version that allows more options like unified audio, meeting codes, and the ability to lock meetings. The table below details what features join.me free and join.me pro each has.
 * Features: ||= join.me free: ||= join.me pro: ||
 * Internet calling ||= ** * ** ||= ** * ** ||
 * Screen sharing ||= ** * ** ||= ** * ** ||
 * 250 viewers ||= ** * ** ||= ** * ** ||
 * Share control ||= ** * ** ||= ** * ** ||
 * Multi-monitor ||= ** * ** ||= ** * ** ||
 * Chat ||= ** * ** ||= ** * ** ||
 * Send files ||= ** * ** ||= ** * ** ||
 * iPad/iPhone or Android viewer ||= ** * ** ||= ** * ** ||
 * Window sharing ||=  ||= ** * ** ||
 * Unified audio ||=  ||= ** * ** ||
 * Presenter swap ||=  ||= ** * ** ||
 * Pro desktop app ||=  ||= ** * ** ||
 * Personal link & background ||=  ||= ** * ** ||
 * Meeting scheduler ||=  ||= ** * ** ||
 * Meeting lock ||=  ||= ** * ** ||
 * User management ||=  ||= ** * ** ||
 * International conference lines ||=  ||= ** * ** ||

__**History **__

join.me was launched on October 21, 2010 3]. It was developed as easy way to have informal or formal web conferencing meetings. According to LogMeIn's vice president of collaboration products, Kevin Bardos, "'... we wanted to create something that was light, fast and ridiculously simple to use 4].'" join.me is continuously making improvements to their program. For example, on July 25, 2012 join.me made available window sharing, which allows join.me pro users to select the window they wish to share 5]. join.me is a product of LogMeIn Inc. LogMeIn was founded in 2003 and now has headquarters in the United States and around the world 6].

LogMeIn has reported that as of August 16, 2012, over 50 million people have used join.me and over 500,000 people use join.me to attend meetings each week 7]

__** Impact on Teaching and Learning **__

join.me makes collaboration effortless. Its simple interface is easy to navigate and means you will not have to spend time learning how to use the program. You can download it and then get started immediately. Students can work together to create projects like Microsoft PowerPoint Presentations. All they have to do is start a join.me session and they can chat about their ideas, share control of the screen, and easily send the completed file to the other members. It does not matter if your group members have a Windows computer or an Apple computer, join.me works on both.

Teachers can use the join.me ability to share the screen of the host to tutor their students online. For example, if students are having trouble solving a math problem, they can contact their teacher who they can meet in a join.me session. The teacher will be able to demonstrate how to solve the problem and the students will be able to make comments or ask for clarification. join.me allows up to 250 viewers, which means most teachers do not have to worry about reaching the maximum capacity of the session.

__** Practical Applications **__

People can do presentations over join.me pro while demonstrating in real-time the application or program. You never have to worry about waiting for people to catch up because they can just watch your screen. The chat function makes it possible for viewers to talk to the host and other viewers. This same concept applies to people who use join.me to go over paperwork. All you have to do is start a join.me session. You never have to worry about making enough copies for everyone, just have people look at their computer screens or phones; they can follow along with ease.

The share control ability of join.me makes it easy to give or take control of a person's computer. With this ability users can help troubleshoot computer issues without ever having to ask the other person to click on something and tell them what it says. You can just take control of their computer and help solve the problem without ever needing the other person to do anything after starting the session and giving control.

__** Examples or Demonstrations **__

media type="youtube" key="AQAbxmO1JVw" height="315" width="560"
 * Introduction to join.me features: **

media type="youtube" key="aYdzzDBo00s" height="315" width="420"
 * join.me in educational setting: **

media type="youtube" key="FM3XsfPF1BE" height="315" width="420"
 * join.me pro window sharing demonstration: **

__** References **__

[1] join.me FAQ - How do I start a meeting?. (n.d.). //join.me//. Retrieved September 19, 2012, from [|https://join.me/welcome/webhelp/joinme/join.me/jm_faq_start.html#topic_B4FCF7E6B2DB484C946DB8C5D32C0EB2] [2]join.me FAQ - How do others join? How many?. (n.d.). //join.me//. Retrieved September 19, 2012, https://join.me/welcome/webhelp/joinme/join.me/jm_faq_join.html#topic_D77EDF889FFA4FF1A2BD6AB43DE3DE95 [3]Mackie, S. (n.d.). LogMeIn’s Easy-to-use Web Conferencing App Join.me Goes Pro — Online Collaboration. //GigaOM//. Retrieved September 25, 2012, from http://gigaom.com/collaboration/easy-to-use-web-conferencing-app-join-me-goes-pro/ [4]LogMeIn LogMeIn Debuts join.me, a Drop-Dead Simple, Free Online Meeting Product | LogMeIn:. (n.d.). //LogMeIn//. Retrieved September 20, 2012, @https://investor.logmein.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=521176 [5]Hibma, M. (n.d.). New feature added to window sharing | The Official join.me Blog. //The Official join.me Blog | Remote Screen Sharing Software News and Tips//. Retrieved September 25, 2012, from @http://blog.join.me/2012/09/18/new-feature-added-to-window-sharing/ [6]Remote Access and Support Products for Personal & Business | LogMeIn:. (n.d.). //LogMeIn//. Retrieved September 20, 2012, from @https://secure.logmein.com/about/aboutus.aspx [7]Withers, S. (n.d.). 50 million have chosen to join.me. //Todays Latest IT News & Information - ITWire.com//. Retrieved September 25, 2012, from http://www.itwire.com/cloud-computing/56220-50-million-have-chosen-to-joinme

__** External Links **__

@https://join.me/ @https://secure.logmein.com/ @http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/powerpoint/ @http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/home @http://www.apple.com/ @http://www.youtube.com/v/AQAbxmO1JVw @http://www.youtube.com/v/aYdzzDBo00s @http://www.youtube.com/v/FM3XsfPF1BE @http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/joinme-simplest-web-conference-call/ @http://lifehacker.com/5639942/joinme-is-a-free-one+click-screen-sharing-and-conferencing-tool @http://live-chat.tmcnet.com/topics/live-chat/articles/303816-joinme-from-logme-reaches-50-million-participants-milestone.htm

__** About the Author **__ Antonina Monkoski-Takamure is a graduate student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She is a master's student in the Educational Technology program at the College of Education. Her email is monkoski@hawaii.edu.