WebEx Frequently Asked Questions
Table of Contents
What is WebEx?
Why WebEx?
Who can use WebEx?
How do hosts access WebEx?
What do I need to access WebEx?
How do students/participants access WebEx?
What are the default settings for hosts?
What if the default settings do not meet needs?
What is a custom site?
How will billing occur?
Is there a mobile version?
Is WebEx Section 508 compliant?
How do I get started? Is training available?
Who do users contact for help?
Does WebEx work in Windows 8?
Can I attend a meeting using a mobile device?
Can I host a meeting using a mobile device?
Can we enable video for users in breakout rooms (a Training Center feature)?
What is WebEx?
WebEx is a Web conferencing application that can be used to host classes, office hours, and other meetings online. Instructors and students communicate in real-time using chat, voice (microphone and speakers), and video (web cam). Instructors can show PowerPoint presentations, annotate slides, allow students to present, share a document, perform live editing, poll students, and much more. Utilizing these features creates an environment similar to a live on-campus classroom environment.
There are three WebEx session types:
- Training Center – Used for delivering interactive online courses
- Meeting Center – Used for hosting online meetings and collaborating on projects
- Event Center – Used primarily for hosting large webinars and other events
Why WebEx?
WebEx is a full-featured, industry-standard, and highly rated Web conferencing solution that is widely used at Temple University.
Who can use WebEx?
Anyone can participate in classes, meetings, and events via WebEx.
Only Temple University instructors, including full-time faculty, adjuncts, TAs, and current full-time staff can "host" WebEx sessions. Hosting refers to the ability to schedule and initiate WebEx sessions.
There is also a free version of WebEx available at www.webex.com/go/header_signup. The free version enables students to host WebEx meetings and enables three connections per meeting.
How do hosts access WebEx?
Using their AccessNet username and password, WebEx hosts log into WebEx at webex.temple.edu or via TUportal. Once logged in, hosts can schedule and start WebEx sessions.
What do I need to access WebEx?
In addition to a computer and access to a web browser, you will need a web camera with a microphone or a webcam and microphone.
How do students/participants access WebEx?
When hosts schedule classes, meetings, or events on WebEx, they can check an option to receive e-mail with a Web address to the WebEx session. The host can then share the Web address with participants through e-mail, Blackboard, a calendar event, or other communication methods. At the scheduled class or meeting time, participants click on the URL to enter the online class/meeting space.
What are the default settings for hosts?
The default settings for hosts on the Temple University WebEx site are as follows:
- Access to Training, Meeting, and Event Centers - when hosts log in to WebEx, Training Center is the default landing page
- 500MB of storage for recording classes or meeting
- Audio conferencing via Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)which requires that hosts and participants have computers connected to the Internet with speakers or headsets. Presenters and participants, who wish to speak, need microphones.
What if the default settings do not meet needs?
Schools and colleges can request custom settings for some or all hosts in their school or college. Below is a list of customizable settings and the charges that apply. A FOAPAL is required for chargeback.
- Telephone conferencing , billed at $0.06 per minute per user (For example, if a class has 15 students, who use the telephone conferencing option during a two-hour online class, the cost would be calculated at $0.06 x 15 x 120 = $108)
- Additional storage for recording classes or meeting
- 5GB, billed at $10 per month
- 10GB, billed at $15 per month
- Custom site (One-time $500 fee)
These options are available immediately and can be activated by submitting a request, along with the FOAPAL that will pay for them, to the tuhelp.temple.edu website.
What is a custom site?
Schools and colleges have the option of hosting classes and meetings on the general Temple University WebEx site, which is managed and maintained by Computer Services, or they may request a custom site. A custom site is a WebEx site that is customized for use by a specific school or college. The school or college can determine what resources, such as telephone conferencing, amount of storage, and other options, are available to hosts. A school or college, who opts for a custom site, will:
- Take full responsibility for managing their custom site and will designate one qualified primary administrator and at least one qualified backup administrator
- Pay a one-time $500 fee charged by WebEx to set up a custom site
- Be responsible for managing the 30 GB custom site quota and provide a FOAPAL for billing overages ($1.20 per GB over 30 GB site quota per month)
- Agree to pay all phone charges associated with the site at WebEx’s phone rates
- Provide accurate FOAPALs for billing phone charges and storage overages, if applicable
- Provide an official University school/college logo
Please note that session recordings cannot be transferred or copied from the general Temple University WebEx site to custom sites or from custom sites to the general site or other custom sites.
How will billing occur?
WebEx billing will be processed monthly through the Office of Telecommunications. Billing information will be available through TUportal.
Is there a mobile version?
Free mobile applications are available for Android, iPad, and iPhone. Only WebEx Meeting Center will work with the Mobile application. Currently, hosts cannot use the mobile application to schedule or conduct meetings; only meeting participants can use the mobile application.
Is WebEx Section 508 compliant?
WebEx reports 508 compliance. A Voluntary Product Accessibility Report is available at: http://www.webex.com/pdf/VPAT_for_WebEx_Meeting_Center_And_Meeting_Manager.pdf
Additional information is also available at: http://www.cisco.com/web/about/responsibility/accessibility/products/accessibility_qa.html
Other inquiries can be directed to accessibility@cisco.com or: http://www.cisco.com/web/about/responsibility/accessibility/contact.html
Although the WebEx system is accessible to individuals with disabilities, it is hosts' responsibility to provide accessible content in accordance with University policies.
How do I get started? Is training available?
To get started, go to webex.temple.edu.
Various tutorials and documentation are available on the WebEx University site at: http://university.webex.com/training/student/content/welcome.do
Also, Up and Running with WebEx Training Center is available through lynda.temple.edu.
Who do users contact for help?
For questions regarding logging into WebEx, quotas, polices, or other account or access issues, please contact the Temple University Help Desk through the TUhelp web site at tuhelp.temple.edu or call 215-204-8000.
For questions regarding the WebEx application, please contact WebEx Technical Support Contact at 866-229-3239 (U.S. and Canada Toll-Free), +1-408-435-7088 (International Toll), or: https://support.webex.com/support/manage-ticket.html
Does WebEx work in Windows 8?
All of Temple's WebEx products, except for Event Center, will work in Windows 8 using the classic desktop interface. They are not supported using the Metro interface. Event Center currently is not supported at all in Windows 8.
Can I attend a meeting using a mobile device?
In Meeting Center, you can attend meetings using a mobile device. You cannot attend meetings using a mobile device in Training Center.
Can I host a meeting using a mobile device?
No. Due to technology limitations, meetings can only be hosted from a desktop or laptop computer.
Can we enable video for users in breakout rooms (a Training Center feature)?
No. Video support is not available in breakout rooms in Training Center, only in the main meeting space.
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