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A group video call is a real-time conversation in which more than two people in different locations communicate using video, usually alongside audio. The broader technical term multiparty telemeeting also covers meetings that use audio, text, or other communication modes without video.

What makes a call a group video call?

The defining feature of a group call is that it involves more than two participants. In its recommendation on multiparty telemeetings, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T) defines “multiparty” as more than two meeting participants who can be located in two or more places. A group video call applies that idea to a call where video is one of the communication modes. ITU-T Recommendation P.1301

In everyday product language, “video conference” or “video conferencing” can also refer to a meeting between two people. Microsoft, for example, defines video conferencing as an online meeting between two or more participants that provides video and audio. So the everyday term may include one-to-one calls, while “multiparty” in the ITU-T definition means more than two participants. Microsoft’s video conferencing overview

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How group video calling works

Each participant’s device captures audio through a microphone and, when enabled, video through a camera. A video-calling service sends and receives those media over an internet connection, while speakers or headphones play incoming audio. The devices may be computers or smartphones; the exact system architecture depends on the service. Microsoft’s video conferencing overview

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At a technical level, a service may use session information to describe media and transport details. The Session Description Protocol (SDP), specified in RFC 8866, provides a standard format for session descriptions; it is not itself a protocol for transporting the audio or video. This is a standards-level example, not a claim that every service uses an identical implementation.

On screen, a service may display several participants or give more space to the current speaker. There is no single layout that defines a group video call.

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How it differs from other multiparty meetings

A multiparty telemeeting is a broader category than a group video call. ITU-T P.1301 includes communication between people in multiple locations using any of these modes:

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  • Audio-only: Participants speak and listen without video.
  • Video-only: Participants communicate using video without audio.
  • Audiovisual: Participants use both audio and video—the usual meaning of a group video call.
  • Text-based or graphical: Participants communicate through text or visual material.

Because those formats use different communication modes, audio, video, and combined audiovisual quality can be considered separately. The ITU-T recommendation addresses subjective quality evaluation for multiparty telemeetings; it does not establish a universal participant limit or screen layout.

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What equipment is needed?

For an individual joining from a computer or smartphone, the device’s built-in camera, microphone, and speakers may be enough. A separate camera is optional; it can be useful when the built-in camera’s position or view does not suit the call. Microsoft’s meeting-room guidance describes external cameras as an option and notes that a wide field of view can capture participants sharing a room. Microsoft Learn’s meeting room guidance

In a shared meeting room, the main practical concern is whether everyone can be heard and seen. Microsoft recommends microphone and speaker coverage for every seat. For shared spaces, it calls for a single audio source, with the appropriate device arrangement depending on room size. A conference microphone or speakerphone may help when the existing setup cannot provide that coverage; it is not a requirement for every call. Microsoft Learn’s meeting room guidance

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Related term: audio/video asynchrony

Audio/video asynchrony occurs when audio and video from one participant reach another at different times. ETSI describes calculating it by subtracting audio delay from video delay. The effect can make a speaker’s words seem out of sync with their image, but the definition alone does not specify a universal threshold for when the delay becomes noticeable or unacceptable. ETSI’s real-time communication definitions

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