At this week’s Worldwide Developers Conference, WebEx Communications Inc. announced that it has added OS X support to its WebEx MediaTone Network. The company previously supported “Classic” Mac OS.
WebEx MediaTone Network is the underlying infrastructure WebEx uses to deliver Web-based interactive presentations. WebEx sessions can include live data, voice and video communications, and the technology works through a Web browser. It’s a subscription-based service paid for by the companies that use it.
Unlike some other forms of Web-based interactive technology, which may employ simple client/server or peer-to-peer communications structures, WebEx works via a global high-speed network (the WebEx MediaTone Network). WebEx presentations can include complex media like 3D objects, CAD files, streaming media and live video.
WebEx for Mac OS X requires Mac OS X 10.1 or later; 256MB RAM or more; DSL, cable model, ISDN or faster Internet connection is recommended. IE 5.1 or later or Netscape 7 with Java enabled is also required. (Java is used to handle the WebEx software install).
Because WebEx for Mac OS X was developed prior to Safari’s completion as a 1.0 release, Safari support wasn’t ready to go with this initial release, according to a WebEx spokesman contacted by MacCentral. The company plans Safari support, however.