1 GoToMeeting video conferencing suite charges $49 per month, with no long-term commitment. 2  Its fixed annual plan costs $39 per month, with a one-year commitment yielding a 20 percent discount, for an annual cost of $468.3  MegaMeeting is a competitor that requires no downloads or installation. A broadband Internet connection is a necessary upfront cost for those without at least DSL service. 2  At a minimum, video conferencing can be accomplished with an inexpensive webcam, a microphone or headset, and a simple knack for camera composition and audio.
Songhai became independent of Mali, and rivalled it as the leading power in West Africa. Culture, Religion and Monarchy. The Songhai had settled on both banks of the middle Niger River. They established a state in the 15th century, which unified a large part of the western Sudan and developed into a brilliant civilisation.
The Songhai Empire was located in Western Africa south of the Sahara Desert and along the Niger River. At its peak, it stretched well over 1,000 miles from the current modern day country of Niger to the Atlantic Ocean. The capital city of the Songhai was the city of Gao which was located in modern-day Mali on the banks of the Niger River.