Service overview
Cisco Webex is an enterprise web conferencing platform. Web conferencing is a technology that enables users to collaborate virtually for meetings, classes or events/webinars. Participants can use browser, desktop application or mobile device application with audio and video in a highly secure environment.
The Webex platform supports three main web conferencing needs:
- Webex Meetings are for individuals and groups to connect and collaborate virtually.
- Webinars is the new and improved offering that can accommodate most event use cases.
Feature |
Meetings |
Webinars |
|---|---|---|
|
Screen, application, file, browser, and multimedia sharing |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Video, audio, and moderated text chat |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Manage in meeting collaboration (mute, participant video, content sharing, etc.) |
No |
Yes |
|
Moderated Question & Answer |
No |
Yes |
|
Number of participants |
1000 |
1000* |
|
Local Dial-In Option for Participants |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Polling |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Slido polling |
No |
Yes |
|
Breakout sessions |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Attendee Registration |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Session recording |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Enable automatic session recording |
No |
Yes |
|
Enable automatic practice session |
No |
Yes |
|
Attendance report |
No |
Yes |
*Webinars for up to 3,000 can be scheduled by special request.
Who can use it
McGill staff, students & faculty as well non-McGill staff members (Affiliate) working in association with McGill, and contractors with McGill service provider accounts can organize and host a meeting with any participants they choose.
Participants do not need a license to join a Webex meeting.
How to request & access the service
Access is already available to all qualified users; you do not need to make a request.
To schedule a Webex Meeting, Webinar, or Training session:
- Go to https://mcgill.webex.com.
- Click the Sign in button.
- Enter your McGill email address.
- Enter your McGill credentials on the sign in page.
- You may take the following actions using the web interface:
- Start a meeting
- Schedule a meeting
- Schedule an event/Webinar
From the website, you can also download the Cisco Webex app. Please see the Webex Instructions for desktop download and set up assistance.
To access Webex Meetings on mobile devices:
- Download the Webex Meetings mobile app:
- Apple App Store for iOS devices (iPhone, iPad etc.)
- Google Play Store for Android devices
- Open the app and click the Sign in button.
- Enter your McGill email address and click Next.
- Select the site mcgill.webex.com
- You will be taken to the McGill University authentication page. Enter your McGill username and password and click Sign in to complete the process.
To start a meeting you can choose to Meet Now, or Schedule a meeting for another time.
Cost
There is no cost associated with this service. Users may need headphones with a microphone and a web camera for meetings.
Availability
This service is available 24 X 7. If ever there are unanticipated problems with the service or scheduled maintenance, announcements will be posted on the Webex site. Check the Webex Service Status page to learn more.
Frequently asked questions
Do all participants in a Webex meeting require an account? Do they need to install anything?
If you invite people to a meeting but they don’t have a Webex account, they can join as a guest. Guests can join Webex meetings in several ways:
- Guests can click the meeting link from the desktop app and join the meeting by entering their name and email.
- Guests who join a meeting from a mobile device are directed to the App Store or Play Store to download the Cisco Webex app.
- Guests using Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari can click the link to the meeting in their email, the Webex web app opens.
- Guests using any other browser who click the link to the meeting in their email open the Cisco Webex app if they have it. If they don't have the app, the app starts to install.
- It is possible to make a colleague an alternate host of an event, giving them the same controls you would have. You can also grant access to your colleagues to schedule meetings on your behalf.
Best practices & policies
Host your meetings with security in mind:
As a host, you are the final decision maker concerning the security settings of your meeting. Always remember that you control nearly every aspect of the meeting, including when it begins and ends.
Here are some best practices:
- Do not share your Audio PIN with anyone.
- Provide meeting passwords only to users who need them, and exclude it from the meeting invitation if possible.
- Never share sensitive information in your meeting until you are certain who is in attendance.
- Use the entry and exit tone or Announce name features.
Host effective meetings:
- Wear headphones with a microphone to make sure you hear and are heard clearly.
- If possible test your audio and video setup before your meeting begins to ensure everything is working properly
- Encourage attendees to mute their microphone when they are not talking.
Training & documentation
Register for instructor-led training on Webex.
Visit the Webex Help Center to find self-serve training resources including:
- A searchable database of how-to and best practice articles, including a Quick Reference "Get Started" section
- Online classes
- Support contact information
- A community forum, where you can post a question for experts and users to answer, or search to see if your question has come up before
- User guides and toolkits
View these knowledge base articles:
Support
For assistance and support using Webex, click help.webex.com. There you can find self-serve resources or click Contact Us to speak with or open a text chat with a support agent.
For access/authentication issues, contact the IT Service Desk.