Review Summary: Microsoft misses the mark with another cumbersome proprietary meeting solution.
Pros: Microsoft Outlook integration, built-in VOIP, provide downloadable handouts, recording functions
Cons: complicated user interface, no free trial for the standard version, complicated pricing structure, more expensive than GoToMeeting, monthly fee do not include sales tax, Activation can take several business days, no Mac Support
Rating: 
| Pricing | Complicated, here's the breakout: 5-User = $22.90/mo (plus sales tax) 10-User = $45.80/mo (plus sales tax) 25-User = $114.50/mo (plus sales tax) 50-User = $229.00 (plus sales tax) 100-User = $458.00 (plus sales tax) |
| Free Trial | No (standard version) Yes (professional version) - 30 day trial requires Windows Live ID and a lot of personal information. You are manually approved by their sales team for the trial. |
| Meeting Capacity | 5-100 users, pricing varies based on users |
| Desktop Sharing | Yes - you can share your desktop or specific applications |
| Desktop Recording | Yes - Don't worry about missing a meeting, you can download and watch a recording |
| Web Teleconference | Yes - built-in VOIP |
| Phone Teleconference | Yes - toll numbers provided for meeting attendees |
| Control Granting | Yes |
| Video Conferencing | Yes |
| Private Chat | Yes - chat |
| Annotation Tools | Yes - rich set of annotation tools |
Microsoft Outlook integration - it's no surprise that Live Meeting plays well with Outlook and other Microsoft applications.
Downloadable handouts - Sharing a document or spreadsheet with meeting attendees is easy.
Recording functions - Even if you miss the live meeting you can catch up by watching the recorded version.
Complicated pricing structure - Unlike GoToMeeting who offer flat rate pricing for up to 15 users, Microsoft has a complicated pricing structure that ranges from $22.90 (plus tax) - $459/mo (plus tax). To get 15 users on Microsoft Live Meeting you would have to purchase the 25 user license at $114.50/mo (plus tax). GoToMeeting does not charge sales tax.
Delayed activation - After you've paid for the service you can expect to wait several days for the service to be manually activated by their account team. Here's the confirmation message we received after signing-up:
"Microsoft Online will notify you when your service is activated. Activation can take several business days. When your Office Live Meeting conference center is available, your technical contact will receive an e-mail with instructions on what to do next.
For more information, visit www.microsoft.com/online . If you have any questions, please contact support. To view your subscription details, please click Finish and go to the Manage Subscriptions page."
Not compatible with Mac - Your Mac friends won't be attending Microsoft Live Meetings anytime soon.
User interface is complicated - Microsoft offers extensive training for Live Meeting... and you're going to need it. The beauty of GoToMeeting is that you can use them without reading a boring user manual.
Microsoft still hasn't bridged the gap between PC applications and the web. We recommend GoToMeeting