Wednesday, May 8, 2024 · 2 min read

Interested in an open-source decentralized teleconferencing solution? Try out Element.

Assantewa Heubi
Assantewa HeubiWriter
Interested in an open-source decentralized teleconferencing solution? Try out Element.

Calendar scheduling that works with you

Cal.com is a product that's focused on putting people first. We know that progress can't happen without communication, and finding the right time and date to meet is one of the most common bottlenecks people encounter. However, we also know that digital calendar scheduling and booking links are a relatively new method of connecting. Just like with email, it's going to take a little while for people to adjust the way they think about time and become habitual users of platforms like Cal.com.

One of the ways that Cal.com makes it easy for people to adopt calendar scheduling habits is by making customization easy. We want our users to have the ability to tailor their calendar scheduling environment so that it works the way they do. We want you to be able to use your favorite CRM integrations as well as teleconferencing platforms.

Since we're open-source, it's really easy for anyone who loves coding to tailor their Cal.com experience. However, we know that's not everyone's cup of tea. This is why we have our app store. This catalog of integrations means that everyday users can add new modular capabilities to their Cal.com account without having to touch a single line of code. Cal.com is open-source at its core, and because of this, we understand the draw of people-powered decentralized systems. This is why we're proud to announce that Cal.com users can now utilize Element Call as a meeting location.

Who or what is Element?

Element Call is an open-source web-based conferencing app that works within Matrix's decentralized system. Element lets you customize your video conferencing layout via a drag-and-drop interface and works on Safari, Chrome, and Firefox. The platform uses link-based calling and doesn't require that guests register an account in order to join a meeting. The app is currently in beta, which means that there are some limitations and an occasional hiccup, but all in all, it's a great product for anyone who loves open-source and is interested in participating in the decentralized internet.

Installing the app

  • Log into your Cal.com account.

  • Go to the Cal.com app store.

  • Click on the conferencing category.

  • Scroll down and select Element Call.

  • Click on the black "Install App" button.

  • Next, go to your event type dashboard.

  • Select an event you'd like to use Element Call with.

  • Scroll down to the locations area of that event.

  • Click on the locations drop-down menu.

  • Choose Element Call as the new meeting location.

  • Finally, click the "Save" button in the upper right-hand side of the screen.

Element Call is a great option for people who are fans of decentralized experiences like those found on social media platforms like Mastodon and Bluesky. Using Cal.com in combination with Element Call lets users stay true to their values and explore new products while also benefiting from robust and flexible calendar scheduling infrastructure. Adding this integration only takes a couple of moments, and if you find that the app isn't suited to your needs after using it for a little while, you can easily uninstall it with just a few clicks. This app, like the majority of the offerings within our app store, is available to install free of charge for all Cal.com users regardless of subscription type.

Sign up now for your free Cal.com account!

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