Create Online Meetings, Screen Sharing and Remote Control for FREE With Mikogo

Recently I found a bug on a WordPress plugin and reported the problem to the developer. However, they were not convinced that the problem is caused by the plugin even though I’ve submitted screenshots along with the description of the problem. So I had to use a screen recording software “SCREEN2EXE” to record a video when replicating the problem. After seeing the video, they finally admitted that it is caused by their script.

Instead of recording a video and uploading it to a server for the them to download, here’s another idea which I just thought of that can simplify the whole process. Why not create an online presentation from my computer where they can just easily connect to my PC and I show them how I replicate the problem?

There are many companies such as GoToMeeting and WebEx that is offering such service but they charge money. Here is Mikogo, a relatively new software that offers online meetings, screen sharing, remote control, file transfer, all these services for free!


Mikogo is a free online desktop sharing tool full of features to assist you in conducting the perfect online presentation. Take advantage of the opportunity to conduct presentations in true color quality across the world with up to 10 participants simultaneously, while still sitting at your desk! Mikogo is completely secure as they are using industry-leading 256-AES end-to-end encryption.

During a meeting, users are able to:

share each others’ screens

change presenters

access remote control

pause transmission

select only certain applications for sharing

transfer files

There are 2 different roles in an online meeting with Mikogo. The person who creates the online meeting and the people who will be joining the meeting. Here is how to create an online meeting with Mikogo.

The person who creates the meeting:
1. Download and install Mikogo.
2. Run Mikogo and at the tray bar, you will see a M icon. Right click on the M icon and select Create account. Enter your name, email address and click Continue. Now check your email to get your password.

3. Right click the M icon at the tray bar and select Start Meeting.
4. Enter your username, password, email and click OK. It will test connection and start meeting.
5. You’ll need to provide the Meeting ID to people who wants to join in the meeting.

The person who will be joining the meeting:
1. Download Mikogo Join Meeting tool. This tool is only meant to join meetings. It is smaller in size and requires no installation.
2. Enter Meeting ID, name and click Join Meeting.

That’s it! It is that simple! Did you notice that there is no router configuration needed? No port forwarding, no IP, and etc. It’s all automated. All you need is the Meeting ID.

Mikogo also has a Firefox add-on which allows you to start or join a meeting even easier. After installing the add-on, a M icon will appear at top right of the Firefox browser. Clicking the drop down button will give you the option to join or start a meeting.

If you wonder how Mikogo is able to provide their software and service for free, that’s because they have several subscription based screen sharing services (www.BeamYourScreen.com, www.Beam2Support.com, www.Beam2Present.com) and their technology is used by other desktop sharing and online collaboration providers.

Currently Mikogo is lacking of communication feature which is Chat or Voice. They do have Mikogo Skype Extras but I think there are more people using Windows Live Messenger than Skype. I am one of them that doesn’t use Skype :P Another improvement that I would suggest is the ability to detect whether the meeting will be through LAN or WAN. If a company that is on the same LAN would like to have a presentation, going through Internet will be quite slow.

Some people might want to compare other remote access software such as CrossLoop and TeamViewer with Mikogo but I don’t think it’s fair because those tools are used mainly for providing remote computer support. Mikogo is more for online presentation and online meetings.

[ Download Mikogo ]