TeamViewer 9 review

TeamViewer 9 provides a variety of tools for controlling PCs remotely and conducting virtual meetings, both of which are vital if your business and clients are spread across multiple locations. You can even control computers remotely with an Android, iOS or Windows Phone 8 device. TeamViewer 9 is free for personal users, but business users are obliged to pay for the service.

INTERFACE
You must install the TeamViewer client on every system you want to control and those computers that people will use for online meetings. During installation, you’re given the option of enabling TeamViewer’s VPN and remote printing features. The VPN is particularly useful if you need access to the remote system’s network as well as the PC itself.

The main interface is a no-frills affair. The Computers & Contacts window lists the computers associated with your account. You can also the contact information of other TeamViewer users, although you’ll have to add these contacts manually first. In both cases, this makes it easy to invite people to meetings or request access to their PCs. If a computer has a permanent password configured, you’ll be able to access it remotely at any time, whether the user is using the PC or not. Otherwise, a shortcut option lets you request that the system’s user grants you access. You can also invite any system on your list to attend a meeting.

REMOTE ACCESS
TeamViewer’s remote access interface is excellent. Whereas web-based rivals such as LogMeIn display remote desktop sessions in a web browser, TeamViewer uses its own desktop application. You can change the resolution of the remote system and adjust how the remote system’s desktop is displayed locally. You can show the desktop at its original resolution, scale it to fit your own, or expand it to full screen.

The TeamViewer command bar, which appears at the top of the remote desktop window, is very well designed, with clearly labelled buttons that provide access to commands and settings relating to both your remote session and the computer you’re accessing. You can configure TeamViewer to accept keyboard shortcuts as though you were sitting at the remote PC, open separate windows for each display of a multi-monitor setup, transfer files from your PC to the remote system and start chat or voice sessions with a user at the other end. It’s by far the most elegant remote desktop interface we’ve used, and its support for multiple displays is particularly welcome.

A stand-out feature is the ease with which you can communicate with the user on the other end of the link. Whether working collaboratively or guiding a colleague through a technical issue, there are definite advantages to being able to start a VoIP session to discuss what needs to be done. Of course, there’s always the option of disabling input to the remote system if the person on the other end can’t keep their hands off the mouse while you’re trying to fix their problem.

INTERNET CONFERENCING
TeamViewer’s built-in communication features also make it an excellent remote conferencing tool. When you invite participants to your presentation, your active screen will appear on their display. They’ll be able to see and hear whatever content you’re displaying, whether it’s a new application or a PowerPoint presentation. You can set up a conference call using TeamViewer’s built-in VoIP capabilities or a 7p per minute dial-in number. Other handy features include a whiteboard tool that lets the presenter temporarily draw and highlight objects on the shared screen, a basic text chat box, a file sharing box to distribute materials and the My Video tool, which lets you display the video feed from a connected USB camera. You can also record your session for future reference. It’s a shame other participants can’t use the whiteboard tools, too.

PRICING
Many web conferencing and remote desktop providers sell monthly subscriptions for each client PC, but you only pay once for TeamViewer 9, with the number of client systems you can connect to determine by which of three editions you buy. Although a new version of TeamViewer is released every year, your existing version will keep working and you’ll still be able to download the client software from TeamViewer. It’s also backward compatible, so TeamViewer 9 can control systems running version 3 or later.

The basic Business package, priced at £429, lets you hold meetings with up to 15 participants and lets you run meetings and control remote computers from one PC. The more expensive Premium and Corporate versions provide extra features, such as more meeting participants, optional browser-based access to systems on your contacts list, and an MSI package that you can roll out to a Windows Active Domain.

If you compare the Business edition to a pay-monthly service, TeamViewer looks rather pricey as it costs £37 per month. In comparison, you can get LogMeIn Pro for £46 per computer per year. You can also get GoToMeeting for £29 per month, which lets you hold meetings of up to 25 attendees. However, TeamViewer 9 lets you hold meetings and access computers remotely. It’s also worth noting that while you have to keep paying for those services if you want to keep using them, you’re under no obligation to upgrade to the latest version of TeamViewer. If you’re happy with the current version of TeamViewer you can save money and continue using it.

TeamViewer 9 is powerful and flexible enough to remain useful well into the future. TeamViewer 9 is a practical and elegant tool to help make the most of remote workers’ and clients’ time and resources, despite its relatively high cost.