Today I'm starting a new regular Monday post, Stuff I Like. Each week I'll tell you a little bit about a new technology or product I'm using, and why I like it. This week's topic: Fuze Meeting.

Fuze Meeting is an online conferencing service similar to WebEx and GoToMeeting. Unlike those services, however, Fuze Meeting is entirely browser-based so it doesn't require anyone to download software onto their computer unless they plan to share their screen. In most cases, everyone can join the meeting by simply clicking a link.

With Fuze Meeting I can quickly set up a meeting right now or at some time in the future. My invitees receive an email that includes a direct link to the meeting, which I can send through Fuze Meeting's server or my own (to minimize spam designations). I can store my entire contact list in Fuze, making it easy to invite people quickly. One of my favorite features is the "Fetch" capability, which allows me to have the system call attendees when it's time for our meeting to start. That goes a long way to help us start on time, instead of waiting for someone who hasn't noticed the time!

Another great feature of Fuze Meeting is its integration with common IM services like Yahoo!, which makes it easy to interact directly with others during a meeting without interrupting a presentation or demo. I can also import contacts from LinkedIn or a CSV file. Also, Fuze Meeting has great apps for Blackberry, iPhone and iPad so you can participate in a meeting even if you can't get to a computer.

The only downside to Fuze Meeting is the lack of video conferencing capabilities. I'm pretty sure they are aware of users' desire for that functionality, and I'll bet they are working on it. I'll let you know if it gets added anytime soon.

At $23/month for the annual plan ($29/month if you pay monthly), Fuze meeting is more affordable than the alternatives, and in my opinion just as good if not better. Give it a try, and let me know what you think.