Conference Calling:
Though
conference calling has been around for years, it's still popular. In fact,
with technology advances, conference calling is growing in popularity.
Conference calling is enhanced by using it in conjunction with other
technology such as Web telecasts. For instance, every person participating
in the conference call through his or her telephone handset also
simultaneously can be looking at and discussing a slide presentation or
report shown through Web technology services on their computer monitor. They
can now hear and see the presenter and presentation while being hundreds of
miles away. Here are some terms related to conference calling:
audio
conferencing - This is teleconferencing. Does your normal
business phone system only allow you to do three-way conference calls (e.g.
three people at different locations on different phones can speak together
at once on the same phone call)? Businesses have participated in three-way
conference calling like this for years. But audio conferencing services
enable you to have dozens or hundreds of people on a conference call
simultaneously. For instance, you may want to hold conference calls with
large numbers of participants for employee meetings or customer service
announcements.
This is especially useful when your conference
calling participants are spread across the nation or find it hard to attend
meetings in person due to finances, family matters, etc. Your long-distance
telephone service provider, other long-distance telephone service providers
or other independent conference calling service providers can arrange
conference calling for you on an as-needed basis using bridges (a conference
bridge, handled by the conference calling system provider, connects callers
to the conference.)
no
reservation (reservationless) conference calling - If you participate in
this type of conference calling system or plan, you have conference calling
capabilities 24/7. It's mostly an automated system. You utilize a toll-free
dial-in phone number. The conference host (that's you) is assigned a passcode. Participants call in to be connected to the conference call using
another assigned passcode.
operator-assisted conference calling - As its name implies, this
conference calling system provides you with a live operator. This conference
calling option requires a reservation so don't wait until the last minute to
put it into action. You'd utilize this type of conference calling for larger
meeting groups. So likely you'd have set it up in advance anyway so you
could distribute the conference call phone number and invitation to those
you ask to participate.
The operator will assist with connecting only
the people on your caller invitation list and taking roll call or with
managing the call in other ways as-needed and directed by you. Don't forget
that participating in a conference call doesn't always mean all of your
participants need to talk. The conference call could be just a broadcast
where participants have the capability to listen to a presentation but the
operator mutes the participants' capability to interrupt the presenter with
verbal discussion.
Shop around for
conference calling prices. Search the Web with the term "conference calling"
and related terms. Ask questions until you adequately understand conference
calling providers' terms and features. Tell the conference call providers
what features you need (in case they don't mention them offhand but they do
have them). You may even want to make a spreadsheet of conference calling
providers, their features and prices. Then you can make an informed choice
of what conference calling provider(s) to use for your company.
(c) Karen Fritscher-Porter
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