With the coming globalization and widespread levels of business process outsourcing, communication over long distances and multiple locations in real time has become very necessary for businesses and people alike. This requirement is fulfilled by the utilization of Conference Call Set up. These are provided by many companies on many methods like subscription, lease, hire purchase and outright sale. The equipment which form a part of the conference call set up along with the service plan from a conference call service provider are required to make a fully operative conference call facility available for users. Thus both must be chosen with extreme care and precaution.
A number of points are needed to be kept in mind while making a conference call set up. The most important point is that all the equipments used for conference call must be of high quality and must be compatible with each other. For this it's recommended to invest in the conference call set up provided by one companies. Buying conference call set up equipment from different companies might not only lead to service failures but in extreme cases it might even lead to set up burnouts which will force you to do an entirely new and thus very expensive conference call set up.
Another point of consideration is the "total cost of ownership" of the conference call set up. If your requirements are going to be very high, it's better to go for outright purchase of a conference call set up. However if your requirements are short term or mid - term, its better to go for leased conference call set up or a hire purchase plan. The concept of "total cost of ownership" not only includes the cost price of conference call set up but the service charges for conference calls as well as maintenance charges for the conference call set up. Needless to say that you must go for a conference call set up with a low "TCO".
Security of your communications is very important due to the cut throat competition. With the emergent events of corporate espionage, it's very important to ensure that all your communication be secure. You must invest in a conference call set up which provides the best of communication security because in today's world communication and information are money and every one keeps his money secure. So if you do not want to lose due to insecure communications, its better to invest in a secure conference call set up.
Conference call set up is getting economical and reliable day by day and if you do proper market research, you are going to get the best deals on conference calls set up.
You can get a detailed overview on conference calling equipment and some charecteristics to look for in a good conference call provider in this website http://www.conferencecallaudiovideo.info
Sabtu, 29 September 2012
Toll Free Conference Calls
Conference calls are a convenient method of communicating with a lot of people all at once. Technologies today allow many different types of conference calling.
For a small business, simple 3-way calling may suffice. This feature is available through your telephone company and whatever long-distance rates you have on the phone that originates the call will apply.
When several people located in many different places need to access conference calls, a conference call company can provide this service.
A basic conference call service offers audio conference calls (also called teleconferencing) over the telephone. Usually, you have the option of toll-free calls or flat-rate calls.
"Toll-free" is sort of a misnomer because "toll-free" does not mean it's entirely a free call because the person or business that hires the conference call company pays for the service.
Toll-free conference calls are free for the participants. With toll-free packages, participants use a toll-free number to dial into the call via the conference call company.
The charges for the calls are usually by the minute for the length of the call. In many cases, the more minutes used, the less money per minute it costs. For instance, one package may offer 1,000 toll-free minutes for $70 or 7 cents a minute. If you go over 1,000 minutes, each additional minute would cost 7 cents. Another package may offer 10,000 minutes for $400 or 4 cents a minute and 4 cents for each minute over 10,000 minutes. You can see the cost goes down with the larger packages.
A flat-rate conference call package requires the participants to pay their own long-distance charges. They dial a regular phone number to access the call via the conference call company. The company who hires the conference call company also pays a flat fee to set up the service.
The conference call companies always offer features that augment their basic service. For example, you can have the conference call company record your conference calls and then provide a playback. The playbacks can even be on-demand so people can hear them at any time 24/7.
As you might imagine, conducting a live conference call with dozens of people on the line at once could get a bit out of hand with everyone talking at once and noise in the background as well. Technology comes to the rescue with mute buttons that allow the moderator and/or operator to control what is broadcast on the call.
The operators at the teleconferencing companies can assist you in many ways. In addition to connecting participants as they call in to access your conference, operators can even call participants and then connect them to your call. Operators can attend the entire conference call, providing opening announcements, introductions for host and speakers, moderating question and answer sessions and making closing comments at the end of the call.
Audio conference calls are not the only options available to you. Web conferencing is another type of conference call that utilizes access through participants' computers. Participants are able to view PowerPoint and whiteboard presentations and to share documents. Communication among participants can be audio or via chat formats. Upgrades of web conferencing services include application and desktop sharing, remote control and video conferencing.
As you can see, there are many ways that businesses today can communicate effectively via conference calling. There are lots of conference-calling companies to choose from and the competition among them drives good bargains for business owners who will take the time to do a little research to find the best bargains.
The Toll Free Conference Call website [http://toll-free-conference-call.com] provides information on conference calling methods, equipment and prices. Before you make your next call, see if you can do it toll-free!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/142623
For a small business, simple 3-way calling may suffice. This feature is available through your telephone company and whatever long-distance rates you have on the phone that originates the call will apply.
When several people located in many different places need to access conference calls, a conference call company can provide this service.
A basic conference call service offers audio conference calls (also called teleconferencing) over the telephone. Usually, you have the option of toll-free calls or flat-rate calls.
"Toll-free" is sort of a misnomer because "toll-free" does not mean it's entirely a free call because the person or business that hires the conference call company pays for the service.
Toll-free conference calls are free for the participants. With toll-free packages, participants use a toll-free number to dial into the call via the conference call company.
The charges for the calls are usually by the minute for the length of the call. In many cases, the more minutes used, the less money per minute it costs. For instance, one package may offer 1,000 toll-free minutes for $70 or 7 cents a minute. If you go over 1,000 minutes, each additional minute would cost 7 cents. Another package may offer 10,000 minutes for $400 or 4 cents a minute and 4 cents for each minute over 10,000 minutes. You can see the cost goes down with the larger packages.
A flat-rate conference call package requires the participants to pay their own long-distance charges. They dial a regular phone number to access the call via the conference call company. The company who hires the conference call company also pays a flat fee to set up the service.
The conference call companies always offer features that augment their basic service. For example, you can have the conference call company record your conference calls and then provide a playback. The playbacks can even be on-demand so people can hear them at any time 24/7.
As you might imagine, conducting a live conference call with dozens of people on the line at once could get a bit out of hand with everyone talking at once and noise in the background as well. Technology comes to the rescue with mute buttons that allow the moderator and/or operator to control what is broadcast on the call.
The operators at the teleconferencing companies can assist you in many ways. In addition to connecting participants as they call in to access your conference, operators can even call participants and then connect them to your call. Operators can attend the entire conference call, providing opening announcements, introductions for host and speakers, moderating question and answer sessions and making closing comments at the end of the call.
Audio conference calls are not the only options available to you. Web conferencing is another type of conference call that utilizes access through participants' computers. Participants are able to view PowerPoint and whiteboard presentations and to share documents. Communication among participants can be audio or via chat formats. Upgrades of web conferencing services include application and desktop sharing, remote control and video conferencing.
As you can see, there are many ways that businesses today can communicate effectively via conference calling. There are lots of conference-calling companies to choose from and the competition among them drives good bargains for business owners who will take the time to do a little research to find the best bargains.
The Toll Free Conference Call website [http://toll-free-conference-call.com] provides information on conference calling methods, equipment and prices. Before you make your next call, see if you can do it toll-free!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/142623
Kamis, 27 September 2012
Conference Calls - Stay Connected!
Did you ever imagine that you could actually talk to more than one person using your phone? Well, conference calls allow you to. This means you and your friends can communicate from different places at the same time, and even listen to each others voice without having to put one on hold. Now with the invention of video conference you can even look at each other while talking. Telephone conference:A conference call is a telephone call where you can have more than one person listen in to the audio portion of the call. This is so designed that you can also talk during the call, or the call can be set up so that the person you called merely listens in to the call but cannot speak.Conference calling can be very useful for remote business meetings. To use conference calling, your network needs to be able to provide this service, and your phone should be able to support it. You may also have to add this service to your subscription. In conference calls you can call the people you want to talk to and add them to the call. In some cases the participants call in to the conference calls either by dialing a conference bridge, which is a special kind of telephone that can take multiple calls, or you can do so by using a special telephone number set up for this purpose. This is a very good way of socializing, as you get to meet a lot of new people. Conference calls are mainly used by businesses. By paying some extra charges, you can avail a three-way calling service where you can add a second outgoing call to a call already connected at the same number.Video conference:Video conference is one of the greatest achievements of telecommunication technology. This allows two or more locations to communicate via two-way video and audio transmissions simultaneously. It is called visual collaboration and is a special type of groupware.The technology behind this is digital compression of audio and video streams in real time. Codec which is coder/decoder performs the compression. Up to 1:500 compression rates can be achieved. The resulting digital form of 1's and 0's is then further subdivided, and then transmitted through some network like ISDN or IP. Audio modems are used in the transmission line that uses POTS or the plain telephony network in video telephony, as it converts the digital pulses to or from analog waves in the audio spectrum range.The other components which are needed for video conference are:o Video input - allowing you to take pictures or videos of the person like video camera or web cam
o Video output - where the image can be seen, such as a computer monitor or television
o Audio input - microphones
o Audio output - where the final voice can be reached, usually loudspeakers associated with the display device or telephone
o Data transfer - analog or digital telephone network, LAN or InternetOnline conference:
A web conference or online conference, unlike a phone conference, has visuals. Web conferencing can be a useful tool in your own work. You can conduct meetings at any time where everyone can participate equally just like in a conference room meeting. You can exchange architect's sketches, storyboards for a new advertising campaign, a graph of sales figures, and even medical x-rays, with everyone viewing the same thing at the same time. In a web conference, every participant would be able to see what you are showing at that moment. Another benefit is that you can pull and share any document on your computer into the conference anytime you want to. You can easily demonstrate a website or any software, or show slides through a PowerPoint presentation, as if your colleagues were sitting in your office. And while doing this, you and the other participants can simply talk with each other as you would in an ordinary phone conference.Communication made easy!Everybody wants to keep in touch with people they associate with, anywhere in the world. Phone conferencing, video conferencing and web conferencing have made this possible and have made the world smaller, thus reducing the gaps between people. Thanks to these technologies, communicating with anyone anywhere in the world has become so much easier!
Paul MacIver is a contributing author for Information Spring [http://www.information-spring.info] and writes articles on a range of topics. Visit the Conference Calls [http://www.conferencing-solutions.info] website to read more about Conference Calls, Web Conferencing and Video Conferencing [http://www.conferencing-solutions.info/video-conferencing.htm]
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/210135
o Video output - where the image can be seen, such as a computer monitor or television
o Audio input - microphones
o Audio output - where the final voice can be reached, usually loudspeakers associated with the display device or telephone
o Data transfer - analog or digital telephone network, LAN or InternetOnline conference:
A web conference or online conference, unlike a phone conference, has visuals. Web conferencing can be a useful tool in your own work. You can conduct meetings at any time where everyone can participate equally just like in a conference room meeting. You can exchange architect's sketches, storyboards for a new advertising campaign, a graph of sales figures, and even medical x-rays, with everyone viewing the same thing at the same time. In a web conference, every participant would be able to see what you are showing at that moment. Another benefit is that you can pull and share any document on your computer into the conference anytime you want to. You can easily demonstrate a website or any software, or show slides through a PowerPoint presentation, as if your colleagues were sitting in your office. And while doing this, you and the other participants can simply talk with each other as you would in an ordinary phone conference.Communication made easy!Everybody wants to keep in touch with people they associate with, anywhere in the world. Phone conferencing, video conferencing and web conferencing have made this possible and have made the world smaller, thus reducing the gaps between people. Thanks to these technologies, communicating with anyone anywhere in the world has become so much easier!
Paul MacIver is a contributing author for Information Spring [http://www.information-spring.info] and writes articles on a range of topics. Visit the Conference Calls [http://www.conferencing-solutions.info] website to read more about Conference Calls, Web Conferencing and Video Conferencing [http://www.conferencing-solutions.info/video-conferencing.htm]
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/210135
International Conference Calls
When you are in business, you realize that keeping the lines of communication open are critical. When you conduct your business worldwide, it is even more important. Your business relies on sales people, clients, and colleagues, and if that are scattered all over the world, holding weekly meetings can be difficult.
This is where international conference calling can be critical to your business. It is imperative that you keep in contact with your staff and clients. With international conference calling, you can hold meetings anytime, and with anyone even if they are on opposite sides of the world. If you have a client in another country, by using international conference calling, you can still give a presentation as if they were sitting right next to you in the conference room.
With international conference calling, you can provide training to new employees that reside in different countries just as efficiently as if they were right in front of you. The world today offers new and innovation methods of conducting business. Conference calling has been around for years. But with the Internet came global trade, making it necessary for business and website owners to make themselves available virtually twenty-four hours a day.
In the past, weekly meeting meant the staff would have to go through the process of booking airline tickets, securing a hotel room, travel thousands of miles to attend the meeting and then return to their country, just to do it over again the next month. With technology developing everyday, there is no need to travel. International conference calling eliminates all that, giving the employees more time to be productive.
Even if your company is not on the Forbes 500 list, international conference calling is an affordable option for saving time and money. Setting up a time and date for the international conference call is fast and easy. Create an email with the time and date of the conference call and send. That's it. The Internet is evolving everyday, and with it, new business tools are being developed. An alternative to international conference calling is one of these tools.
Internet conference calling is a service where a company acquires a "conference room" by telephone. They then dial into the conference room using a telephone number and a special pin number. The company is considered the "host". Those who are involved in the conference call are also given a telephone number and a special pin number. All numbers are pre-assigned and can be used again. A special recording notifies the host when all parties are present on the phone line. There is also an option to record the conference for those who require a transcript.
Although international conference calling has been around since the 1950's, many businesses of that era did not take advantage of it because of the time and expense it took to set up the call. Email was not available, and neither was fax machines. In order to set up a call, the notifications would have to go out by mail. The operators had to connect the calls, one in each country; there was also the dilemma of time zone differences.
International conference calling started to become popular and more versatile in the late 1980's and with the rise of the Internet, International conference calling was taken to a whole new level. Today, the Internet contains many tools that can assist you to succeed in business; it is necessary to avail yourself of all of them.
Depending on the service that you use, the basic rate for international conference calling is anywhere for 1.2 cents to 12 cents per minute. If there are multiple people on the line, certain companies will charge an additional per person fee. Nevertheless, the use of International conference calling has become a vital part of communication worldwide and has evolved into something that even the average person can afford to use.
John Furnem is a dot com veteran, specializing in human resources and work psychology he has written articles about stress management and business themes. John currently writes Conference Calling [http://conferencecallit.com] tips and advice articles for [http://conferencecallit.com]
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/282300
This is where international conference calling can be critical to your business. It is imperative that you keep in contact with your staff and clients. With international conference calling, you can hold meetings anytime, and with anyone even if they are on opposite sides of the world. If you have a client in another country, by using international conference calling, you can still give a presentation as if they were sitting right next to you in the conference room.
With international conference calling, you can provide training to new employees that reside in different countries just as efficiently as if they were right in front of you. The world today offers new and innovation methods of conducting business. Conference calling has been around for years. But with the Internet came global trade, making it necessary for business and website owners to make themselves available virtually twenty-four hours a day.
In the past, weekly meeting meant the staff would have to go through the process of booking airline tickets, securing a hotel room, travel thousands of miles to attend the meeting and then return to their country, just to do it over again the next month. With technology developing everyday, there is no need to travel. International conference calling eliminates all that, giving the employees more time to be productive.
Even if your company is not on the Forbes 500 list, international conference calling is an affordable option for saving time and money. Setting up a time and date for the international conference call is fast and easy. Create an email with the time and date of the conference call and send. That's it. The Internet is evolving everyday, and with it, new business tools are being developed. An alternative to international conference calling is one of these tools.
Internet conference calling is a service where a company acquires a "conference room" by telephone. They then dial into the conference room using a telephone number and a special pin number. The company is considered the "host". Those who are involved in the conference call are also given a telephone number and a special pin number. All numbers are pre-assigned and can be used again. A special recording notifies the host when all parties are present on the phone line. There is also an option to record the conference for those who require a transcript.
Although international conference calling has been around since the 1950's, many businesses of that era did not take advantage of it because of the time and expense it took to set up the call. Email was not available, and neither was fax machines. In order to set up a call, the notifications would have to go out by mail. The operators had to connect the calls, one in each country; there was also the dilemma of time zone differences.
International conference calling started to become popular and more versatile in the late 1980's and with the rise of the Internet, International conference calling was taken to a whole new level. Today, the Internet contains many tools that can assist you to succeed in business; it is necessary to avail yourself of all of them.
Depending on the service that you use, the basic rate for international conference calling is anywhere for 1.2 cents to 12 cents per minute. If there are multiple people on the line, certain companies will charge an additional per person fee. Nevertheless, the use of International conference calling has become a vital part of communication worldwide and has evolved into something that even the average person can afford to use.
John Furnem is a dot com veteran, specializing in human resources and work psychology he has written articles about stress management and business themes. John currently writes Conference Calling [http://conferencecallit.com] tips and advice articles for [http://conferencecallit.com]
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/282300
Rabu, 26 September 2012
Enjoying Conference Calls
Managing a conference within a company can already be a hard thing to do. One of the delicate aspects of having a conference is having all members present. If one member is absent, then it would be harder to come up with decisions and plans. Also, it would also be difficult to make the absent member during the conference to learn and cope up with what he missed. However, with conference calls, this situation can no0w be avoided and conferences may be improved.
Making conference calls are now effective mediums that are used by more companies in making their conferences to better suit their busy schedules. With conference calls made through the telephone or even with the help of the web, it would be easier to set the date of the conference when all of the members are present. Since the clients in many companies are always busy, gathering them up and having them travel so that they can discuss important matters may be time consuming and too tiring for them. This is why it would be wiser for the companies to engage in conference calls rather than stay with the traditional face-to-face conferences. They can conduct the conference even without all of the members present in one hall. Even if they are in their offices, the conference can still be active and they can talk about the important matters of the company.
With conference calls made through the web, you can also see the people you are talking to. This is another improvement in the area of conference calling. Also, documenting the conference would not be that hard to do since the conference calls can be recorded and saved. This can then be used in the future if the company may need it. All of the important aspects of the conference are recorded thus if a member is absent, he can simply retrieve the file and listen to it. By this, he can catch up on what happened during the meeting without disturbing others members of the company.
More companies are now able to distinguish the importance of conference calls in dealing with their clients abroad and locally. They are able to communicate with them in a better and more convenient way. Traveling may not be needed since they can already talk and discuss important matters in their offices.
Conference calls are now a better way to make the companies have a smooth flowing conferences. It is then easier to gather up the members since they may not be needed to be present in a certain location. They can simply stay where they are and have the conference. Thus, the clients can have a less tiring preparation for the conference, they have also saved their time by not traveling. And more importantly, they have saved money through conference calls.
Having all the necessary equipment in a good condition would make the conference more smooth flowing. Also, conference calls should be tested first so that further impediments that may be crossed in the future may be avoided before the conference even start.
Free Conference Call [http://free-conference-call.info/] is an exceptionally useful site. Free Conference Call [http://free-conference-call.info/] helps you with finding the best Free Conference Call, avoid the frauds, scams, reveling the great benefits and tips that Free Conference Call can give you and more!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1619414
Making conference calls are now effective mediums that are used by more companies in making their conferences to better suit their busy schedules. With conference calls made through the telephone or even with the help of the web, it would be easier to set the date of the conference when all of the members are present. Since the clients in many companies are always busy, gathering them up and having them travel so that they can discuss important matters may be time consuming and too tiring for them. This is why it would be wiser for the companies to engage in conference calls rather than stay with the traditional face-to-face conferences. They can conduct the conference even without all of the members present in one hall. Even if they are in their offices, the conference can still be active and they can talk about the important matters of the company.
With conference calls made through the web, you can also see the people you are talking to. This is another improvement in the area of conference calling. Also, documenting the conference would not be that hard to do since the conference calls can be recorded and saved. This can then be used in the future if the company may need it. All of the important aspects of the conference are recorded thus if a member is absent, he can simply retrieve the file and listen to it. By this, he can catch up on what happened during the meeting without disturbing others members of the company.
More companies are now able to distinguish the importance of conference calls in dealing with their clients abroad and locally. They are able to communicate with them in a better and more convenient way. Traveling may not be needed since they can already talk and discuss important matters in their offices.
Conference calls are now a better way to make the companies have a smooth flowing conferences. It is then easier to gather up the members since they may not be needed to be present in a certain location. They can simply stay where they are and have the conference. Thus, the clients can have a less tiring preparation for the conference, they have also saved their time by not traveling. And more importantly, they have saved money through conference calls.
Having all the necessary equipment in a good condition would make the conference more smooth flowing. Also, conference calls should be tested first so that further impediments that may be crossed in the future may be avoided before the conference even start.
Free Conference Call [http://free-conference-call.info/] is an exceptionally useful site. Free Conference Call [http://free-conference-call.info/] helps you with finding the best Free Conference Call, avoid the frauds, scams, reveling the great benefits and tips that Free Conference Call can give you and more!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1619414
Improving Conference Calls
Do you find yourself frustrated by long and unproductive conference calls? What reputation do you have for managing conference calls? Establish expectations and a reputation for short and effective conference calls. Get your time back for other activities.
ESTABLISH EXPECTATIONS UP FRONT
If you are the moderator scheduling the conference call, send out a list in advance with pertinent information. This information should contain the Purpose of the call, dial number with PIN code if necessary, the moderator, the start time, the end time, list of participants and specific agenda items. Attached relevant documents to email invitations for the conference call so the participants can prepare in advance. If documents are required from other participants to review on the call, make sure that these are coordinated and completed in advance. The more prepared you are for the call, the productive the time can be and the better able that you will be to stay on schedule.
PURPOSE
List the purpose or topic of the call clearly and succinctly. This should be the goal or objective of the call. Typically a conference call should be limited to one or two specific goals. This enables you to keep the conference call focused and succinct.
In some cases it may be more difficult to keep a conference call focused on a specific topic. For example, when reviewing the schedule for a large project there may be multiple topics that are relevant to time milestones in the project. If this is the case, keep the call focused on specific milestones that are due or relative to the point in the schedule.
Sometimes conference calls are used to gather information from many people in the field. These group calls can be effective if the purpose is for a moderator or manager to disperse information to several people simultaneously. However, if the call is used to gather information from several different individuals as a weekly update to management, is it really an effective use of time for anyone other than the manager? Is it really a good use of time to interrupt the schedules of many people to conduct a social town hall discussion in which each person waits in silent anticipation for peers to give a weekly update? Consider how much more effective it would be to obtain a written weekly report in lieu of a conference call. A written report can be read at convenience, creates a reference document for discussion if necessary, and enables the manager to work with priority or confidential communications in an appropriate manner. If you are already using both weekly reports and conference calls, then it is time to do some soul searching to determine if any of the communication is being treated with value or if it has just become a meaningless routine.
DIAL IN and PIN NUMBER
Always include the conference call Dial In Number and PIN Number on the invitation and any scheduled reminders. Make it easy to find the number. It can be a distraction to have people dial into the conference call late because they could not find the phone number.
MODERATOR
Every conference call should have one identified and assigned moderator. If there is a group of peers, it may be appropriate to rotate the role of moderator from time to time with repeating calls, Typically, the individual creating the invitation is the moderator. The moderator is responsible for making sure that the call starts and stops on time. The moderator is responsible for keeping the call on track and gently guiding individuals back on track in the event that conversation begins to run away on a tangent. The moderator may also be responsible for controlling emotional responses or maintaining a professional level of courteous communications. It may be necessary to encourage some individuals to participate, or discourage some individuals who may have a tendency to filibuster. It is the responsibility of the moderator to keep the call on schedule and focused on the purpose of the call.
It is the role of the moderator to reduce or eliminate distractions or interruptions. It is the role of the participants to remain quiet and respectful unless there is something useful and relevant to add to the conversation. Distractions may sometimes appear as opinions, jokes, anecdotes or personal stories that contribute very little to the progress of the conversation. It is the responsibility of the moderator to control the call and keep it focused.
START TIME and END TIME
Schedule the call to start five minutes past the hour. Most calls are scheduled to start precisely on the hour and the first five minutes of the call are wasted while waiting for some individuals to dial into the call. Sometimes it is difficult to start on the hour because a previous call or meeting may be ending precisely on the hour. Schedule your call to start five minutes past the hour and start precisely at the scheduled time. If you always start at the scheduled time, you will develop a reputation for being precise and the participants will plan accordingly. If you always start late or consistently spend the first five minutes waiting for participants to join the call, then the other participants will become accustomed to this delay. Schedule the call to start five minutes past the hour and start the call on time every time.
Schedule a precise End Time for the call and stick to it. Develop a reputation for ending your calls on time. It will create a sense of urgency and a rhythm for the conference calls as people realize that the purpose of the call must be met in a designated amount of time. It will enable the participants to schedule other activities after the call with confidence. It will keep the call focused. Complete the call with a summary of highlights and action items. If there are follow-up items, or if additional time is required, schedule the next phone call and use the summary highlights and action items as the agenda for the next conference call. Every action item should have name or names of associated owners to complete, or there is no purpose for the list of action items.
ROLL CALL
Conduct a time check near the end of the call and reserve the last few minutes for summary wrap-up and roll call. What, roll call at the end of the call? Yes, do your roll call at the end of the call, not at the beginning. It is inevitable that some individuals may join the call late. Avoid the temptation to wait for participants to join or to introduce distractions and interruptions by late arrivals. Start the call on time and get right to the purpose of the call. Conduct your roll call at the end when everyone has had a chance to join.
YOUR NEXT CALL
Example: Schedule a conference call to start five minutes past the hour and start precisely on time. Schedule the call for 40 minutes, unlike most calls that are scheduled for one hour. The shorter period of time and specific start and stop times will get the attention of the participants. There will be a sense of urgency since the call will not consume an entire hour, regardless of the topic. Do a time check at 30 minutes into the call, reminding participants that the call will have a hard stop at 40 minutes. At 35 minutes begin the wrap-up of the call, restate the highlights or commitments and use this to establish the agenda for the next call. Finish your call with a roll call of attendees and terminate the call at 40 minutes as planned. If you this consistently, the other participants will prepare appropriately in advance of the call for the fast paced rhythm of the call and focus on purpose. Side conversations and distractions will diminish, participants will be timely, and everyone will benefit from better use of time.
INVITATION
The following is an example of a format that can be used for conference call invitations. It is designed to establish the expectations and character of the conference call. Apply structure to your conference calls and earn a reputation for consistent focused punctuality. That is a good reputation to have if you want to have more productive conference calls and more time back to yourself.
Conference Call Purpose: ______________________________
Dial In Number: ____________________ PIN: ____________________
Moderator: ______________________________
Start Time: __(Example: 10:05 AM)__________ End Time: __(Example: 10:45 AM)__________
Participants: ___(Name)___________________________
___(Name)___________________________
___(Name)___________________________
Agenda Topics: ___(First Priority)___________________________
___(Second Priority)_________________________
___(Third Priority)___________________________
* This call will start precisely at the Start Time and end at the designated time. Please be on time. There will be a roll call at the end of the conference call, so it will not be necessary to announce yourself if you dial in late. The last five minutes of the call will be reserved for summary wrap-up and assignment of action items for the next scheduled call if necessary. Please prepare or review any relevant materials prior to the call. In the event that the agenda items are not fully covered in the allotted time for this conference call, another call will be scheduled. Thank you for your cooperation. Let's get ready for productive and focused communication.
______________________________________________________
Words of Wisdom
"A conference is a gathering of important people who singly can do nothing, but together can decide that nothing can be done."
- Fred Allen
"The ability to focus attention on important things is a defining characteristic of intelligence."
- Robert J. Shiller
"Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you're going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus."
- Oprah Winfrey
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/583037
ESTABLISH EXPECTATIONS UP FRONT
If you are the moderator scheduling the conference call, send out a list in advance with pertinent information. This information should contain the Purpose of the call, dial number with PIN code if necessary, the moderator, the start time, the end time, list of participants and specific agenda items. Attached relevant documents to email invitations for the conference call so the participants can prepare in advance. If documents are required from other participants to review on the call, make sure that these are coordinated and completed in advance. The more prepared you are for the call, the productive the time can be and the better able that you will be to stay on schedule.
PURPOSE
List the purpose or topic of the call clearly and succinctly. This should be the goal or objective of the call. Typically a conference call should be limited to one or two specific goals. This enables you to keep the conference call focused and succinct.
In some cases it may be more difficult to keep a conference call focused on a specific topic. For example, when reviewing the schedule for a large project there may be multiple topics that are relevant to time milestones in the project. If this is the case, keep the call focused on specific milestones that are due or relative to the point in the schedule.
Sometimes conference calls are used to gather information from many people in the field. These group calls can be effective if the purpose is for a moderator or manager to disperse information to several people simultaneously. However, if the call is used to gather information from several different individuals as a weekly update to management, is it really an effective use of time for anyone other than the manager? Is it really a good use of time to interrupt the schedules of many people to conduct a social town hall discussion in which each person waits in silent anticipation for peers to give a weekly update? Consider how much more effective it would be to obtain a written weekly report in lieu of a conference call. A written report can be read at convenience, creates a reference document for discussion if necessary, and enables the manager to work with priority or confidential communications in an appropriate manner. If you are already using both weekly reports and conference calls, then it is time to do some soul searching to determine if any of the communication is being treated with value or if it has just become a meaningless routine.
DIAL IN and PIN NUMBER
Always include the conference call Dial In Number and PIN Number on the invitation and any scheduled reminders. Make it easy to find the number. It can be a distraction to have people dial into the conference call late because they could not find the phone number.
MODERATOR
Every conference call should have one identified and assigned moderator. If there is a group of peers, it may be appropriate to rotate the role of moderator from time to time with repeating calls, Typically, the individual creating the invitation is the moderator. The moderator is responsible for making sure that the call starts and stops on time. The moderator is responsible for keeping the call on track and gently guiding individuals back on track in the event that conversation begins to run away on a tangent. The moderator may also be responsible for controlling emotional responses or maintaining a professional level of courteous communications. It may be necessary to encourage some individuals to participate, or discourage some individuals who may have a tendency to filibuster. It is the responsibility of the moderator to keep the call on schedule and focused on the purpose of the call.
It is the role of the moderator to reduce or eliminate distractions or interruptions. It is the role of the participants to remain quiet and respectful unless there is something useful and relevant to add to the conversation. Distractions may sometimes appear as opinions, jokes, anecdotes or personal stories that contribute very little to the progress of the conversation. It is the responsibility of the moderator to control the call and keep it focused.
START TIME and END TIME
Schedule the call to start five minutes past the hour. Most calls are scheduled to start precisely on the hour and the first five minutes of the call are wasted while waiting for some individuals to dial into the call. Sometimes it is difficult to start on the hour because a previous call or meeting may be ending precisely on the hour. Schedule your call to start five minutes past the hour and start precisely at the scheduled time. If you always start at the scheduled time, you will develop a reputation for being precise and the participants will plan accordingly. If you always start late or consistently spend the first five minutes waiting for participants to join the call, then the other participants will become accustomed to this delay. Schedule the call to start five minutes past the hour and start the call on time every time.
Schedule a precise End Time for the call and stick to it. Develop a reputation for ending your calls on time. It will create a sense of urgency and a rhythm for the conference calls as people realize that the purpose of the call must be met in a designated amount of time. It will enable the participants to schedule other activities after the call with confidence. It will keep the call focused. Complete the call with a summary of highlights and action items. If there are follow-up items, or if additional time is required, schedule the next phone call and use the summary highlights and action items as the agenda for the next conference call. Every action item should have name or names of associated owners to complete, or there is no purpose for the list of action items.
ROLL CALL
Conduct a time check near the end of the call and reserve the last few minutes for summary wrap-up and roll call. What, roll call at the end of the call? Yes, do your roll call at the end of the call, not at the beginning. It is inevitable that some individuals may join the call late. Avoid the temptation to wait for participants to join or to introduce distractions and interruptions by late arrivals. Start the call on time and get right to the purpose of the call. Conduct your roll call at the end when everyone has had a chance to join.
YOUR NEXT CALL
Example: Schedule a conference call to start five minutes past the hour and start precisely on time. Schedule the call for 40 minutes, unlike most calls that are scheduled for one hour. The shorter period of time and specific start and stop times will get the attention of the participants. There will be a sense of urgency since the call will not consume an entire hour, regardless of the topic. Do a time check at 30 minutes into the call, reminding participants that the call will have a hard stop at 40 minutes. At 35 minutes begin the wrap-up of the call, restate the highlights or commitments and use this to establish the agenda for the next call. Finish your call with a roll call of attendees and terminate the call at 40 minutes as planned. If you this consistently, the other participants will prepare appropriately in advance of the call for the fast paced rhythm of the call and focus on purpose. Side conversations and distractions will diminish, participants will be timely, and everyone will benefit from better use of time.
INVITATION
The following is an example of a format that can be used for conference call invitations. It is designed to establish the expectations and character of the conference call. Apply structure to your conference calls and earn a reputation for consistent focused punctuality. That is a good reputation to have if you want to have more productive conference calls and more time back to yourself.
Conference Call Purpose: ______________________________
Dial In Number: ____________________ PIN: ____________________
Moderator: ______________________________
Start Time: __(Example: 10:05 AM)__________ End Time: __(Example: 10:45 AM)__________
Participants: ___(Name)___________________________
___(Name)___________________________
___(Name)___________________________
Agenda Topics: ___(First Priority)___________________________
___(Second Priority)_________________________
___(Third Priority)___________________________
* This call will start precisely at the Start Time and end at the designated time. Please be on time. There will be a roll call at the end of the conference call, so it will not be necessary to announce yourself if you dial in late. The last five minutes of the call will be reserved for summary wrap-up and assignment of action items for the next scheduled call if necessary. Please prepare or review any relevant materials prior to the call. In the event that the agenda items are not fully covered in the allotted time for this conference call, another call will be scheduled. Thank you for your cooperation. Let's get ready for productive and focused communication.
______________________________________________________
Words of Wisdom
"A conference is a gathering of important people who singly can do nothing, but together can decide that nothing can be done."
- Fred Allen
"The ability to focus attention on important things is a defining characteristic of intelligence."
- Robert J. Shiller
"Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you're going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus."
- Oprah Winfrey
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/583037
Benefit From Cheap Conference Calls and Don't Get Ripped Off!
Conference calls have been an alternative way of gathering people together in a business seminars or meetings. It can save everyone the hassle of traveling from one place to another just to attend a business gathering. Not only that, it can also relatively lower down company expenses because all you really need is a telephone system and you are good to go. Technology has really gone a long way and has helped the business sector in making cost-effective solutions that fits their needs.
You may think that setting up a call conference may be costly. Actually it need not be. There are a number of conference call service providers in the market that are offering affordable call conferencing packages which are available for everyone.
How come some cheap conference call providers can reduce their rates that low?
Firstly, offering cheap rates is their marketing strategy to get more people to commission their service. Second, cheap conference calls are often service providers themselves and have their very own network that they use during conference calls. This way, there are actually no or at least very minimal overhead cost. Without these additional costs, they can easily lower down their rates.
How do cheap conference calls work?
Providers usually would give their costumer a unique toll free number. The participants of the conference call will then dial-in the given number. The host would simply call the toll number and can easily conduct the conference right there and then.
Advantages of cheap conference calls
Reservation-less conferencing
Cheap conference call does not need reservations for a person to join the conference. A client can call a conference anytime he needs one without making prior reservations.
Call management system
Cheap conference calls also provide their own call management system. Just be sure to check with your provider other services and additional features that come with the package you paid for. Call management system would ensure that you have a smooth-flowing conference at all times.
Operator assisted
Cheap conference calls also provide live operators upon request but you would usually be required to pay additional cost for this. Since cheap conference calls are committed to provide the most cost-effective solution possible for their costumers they usually use automated system instead of live operators to cut down the cost of the service you have to pay for.
Easy setup
You might think that you need extra tools to set up conferencing, but this is actually not the case. There are no additional equipments that you need to have to make a conference call. All you need to have is a simple telephone system that you would use during the conference.
Get in touch with hundreds of people
The primary use of a conference call is to get two or more people together. But with a cheap call conference, it gets even better. You can converse and connect to one person or to one hundred people all at the same time.
Who would benefit from cheap call conferences?
Call conferencing is not exclusive for business use. It could also be used for medical consultations and for small organization's staff meetings.
Start-up companies would greatly benefit from cheap call conferencing. They would give your company the professionalism it needs without you shelling out a big fortune. Cheap call conferencing would perfectly fit your budget.
Small organizations and charity institutions can also use cheap conference calls. This way, they can get in touch with their staff wherever they are in the world. You do not need to pay for high cellphone bills anymore or to travel far just to talk to your staff. Cheap conference makes it easier for you.
Cheap conference calls, are they any good? In conclusion, they are! They offer cost-effective solutions to suits your needs without paying for high fees. They are very economical compared to traveling to different places just to meet with certain people whether it is for your business or for your organization.
Apart from being affordable, cheap conference calls are not short when in comes to technical advantage. They can offer the same service most high-priced providers offer. What you really have to do is to evaluate your provider's services and ask them about what they can offer you. It would be a good idea to compare providers and choose what you think is best suited for your cause.
Communication is very vital in a thriving company. With cheap conference calls, you can create seamless communication with your people and still save up a little of your budget.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/436921
You may think that setting up a call conference may be costly. Actually it need not be. There are a number of conference call service providers in the market that are offering affordable call conferencing packages which are available for everyone.
How come some cheap conference call providers can reduce their rates that low?
Firstly, offering cheap rates is their marketing strategy to get more people to commission their service. Second, cheap conference calls are often service providers themselves and have their very own network that they use during conference calls. This way, there are actually no or at least very minimal overhead cost. Without these additional costs, they can easily lower down their rates.
How do cheap conference calls work?
Providers usually would give their costumer a unique toll free number. The participants of the conference call will then dial-in the given number. The host would simply call the toll number and can easily conduct the conference right there and then.
Advantages of cheap conference calls
Reservation-less conferencing
Cheap conference call does not need reservations for a person to join the conference. A client can call a conference anytime he needs one without making prior reservations.
Call management system
Cheap conference calls also provide their own call management system. Just be sure to check with your provider other services and additional features that come with the package you paid for. Call management system would ensure that you have a smooth-flowing conference at all times.
Operator assisted
Cheap conference calls also provide live operators upon request but you would usually be required to pay additional cost for this. Since cheap conference calls are committed to provide the most cost-effective solution possible for their costumers they usually use automated system instead of live operators to cut down the cost of the service you have to pay for.
Easy setup
You might think that you need extra tools to set up conferencing, but this is actually not the case. There are no additional equipments that you need to have to make a conference call. All you need to have is a simple telephone system that you would use during the conference.
Get in touch with hundreds of people
The primary use of a conference call is to get two or more people together. But with a cheap call conference, it gets even better. You can converse and connect to one person or to one hundred people all at the same time.
Who would benefit from cheap call conferences?
Call conferencing is not exclusive for business use. It could also be used for medical consultations and for small organization's staff meetings.
Start-up companies would greatly benefit from cheap call conferencing. They would give your company the professionalism it needs without you shelling out a big fortune. Cheap call conferencing would perfectly fit your budget.
Small organizations and charity institutions can also use cheap conference calls. This way, they can get in touch with their staff wherever they are in the world. You do not need to pay for high cellphone bills anymore or to travel far just to talk to your staff. Cheap conference makes it easier for you.
Cheap conference calls, are they any good? In conclusion, they are! They offer cost-effective solutions to suits your needs without paying for high fees. They are very economical compared to traveling to different places just to meet with certain people whether it is for your business or for your organization.
Apart from being affordable, cheap conference calls are not short when in comes to technical advantage. They can offer the same service most high-priced providers offer. What you really have to do is to evaluate your provider's services and ask them about what they can offer you. It would be a good idea to compare providers and choose what you think is best suited for your cause.
Communication is very vital in a thriving company. With cheap conference calls, you can create seamless communication with your people and still save up a little of your budget.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/436921
Selasa, 25 September 2012
11 Things To Remember When Choosing A Conference Call Service
A conference call involves the communication between a calling party and more than one listener. There are numerous conference call services available, making it difficult to make a quick decision. The service that you choose will ultimately depend on the expectations and uses you wish get out of your conference calls. For some, only a few details matter, such as price, while others are in need of advanced services like on-the-spot technical support. Below are a few factors to consider when choosing the conference call service that is most compatible with your needs.
Business Conference Calls
When it comes time to report quarterly stats, many companies turn to conference calls. This allows them to communicate the ups and downs of their business to interested parties. A higher-level company executive, such as the CEO, often reads the company reports. Once the results are revealed, the call is then accessible for others to join in, namely stock analysts, who come with a slew of questions. Businesses may also use conference calls to promote their products or services. Seminar leaders may open a conference call to the public to share their marketing techniques or business strategies for free or a small price.
Entertainment-Based Conference Calls
Today, people are looking for more and more ways to make new friends or find the companion of their dreams. When bars and clubs get to be too much, the allure of chatting on a "party line" becomes increasingly appealing. Entertainment-based conference calls are used to provide a break from boredom, as well as a way to socialize with others. Participants call a phone number set aside for this purpose and are plugged into a whole new world of mingling and flirting.
Audio vs. Visual
Audio conference calls are less expensive and require less equipment than visual conferencing. Web conference calls also open up a host of potential problems, such as malfunctioning chat, instant message, and web cam services. Streaming video may also pose concerns. Although the capabilities of visual conference calls are vast and have a better way of getting the point across, depending on your intended audience, the concept might be too advanced.
To use visual conferencing as a business tool, you will also have to familiarize yourself with an assortment of software selections and other online options. Learning visual conferencing techniques is a process. For example, include too many large files and you may end up with a communication problem.
Conference Call Limitations
What kind of conference call do you want? Some services allow the called party to speak during a call, while other selections only allow called parties to listen to what is being said.
Conference Call Set-Up
Do you want to control how conference calls are received and made? Calling parties can place calls to desired participants or entrance to a call is gained by calling a special phone number.
Reservation vs Non-Reservation
When you choose a service offering reservation-less conference calls, you will enjoy more freedom. Calls can be placed at any time without speaking to an operator or setting up an appointment. Reservation services require you to schedule your call ahead of time.
Conference Call Commands
What sort of capabilities do calling parties have when choosing a service? Things to consider include the ability to get operator assistance, mute and unmute participants, alter ringing tones and record conversations.
Call Planning is Essential
Knowing how long your conference call will be allows you to shuffle along participants to meet time expectations. As a rule of thumb, a conference call centers on an hour or more. Larger groups demand longer time frames, but without the use of video, it is difficult to keep the interest of all participants.
Usually, about 1-3 minutes are given to each participant to voice his or her opinions. Often, an hour-long conversation handles about 1-2 topics. Another important factor pertaining to conference calls is to prepare for last-minute technical issues. Be aware of applicable time zones and schedule a conference call that will accommodate all of your desired participants. When choosing a service, make sure all customer and technical support will be handled in a timely manner.
Billing Plans
Accepting a variety of credit cards, some services offer per minute pricing plans. Once the conference call is completed, a call summary is emailed to you with all of the details. Applicable charges are then placed on your credit card. Additional plans include flat rate unlimited and monthly plans. Some companies offer a flat monthly rate of $60 for a maximum of five people that allows unlimited usage for the month.
Special Services
Will the conference call service you choose provide you with extra services? Depending on your needs, you may desire to have a taped recording of your conference call. Some services offer this luxury for a flat fee (around $25). Some charge an hourly rate if you wish to have a transcript of your call. Rebroadcasts are also offered through some services for a fee. For an extra charge, operator assistance might be available, which helps with the moderation of conference calls.
Several Conference Call Service Companies Reviewed
Accu Conference: This on-demand, fully automated toll-free service offers reservation-less service, free call recordings and live in-call web control for 9.9 cents per line. Operator service costs 13.9 cents. Unlimited use, flat-rate conferencing is offered, starting at $99 per month.
No Cost Conference : Offers free, reservation-less conference call capabilities, available 24 hours a day. You will receive a pin and dial-in phone number once a quick registration is completed. Free and cheap conference call services are good for short notice calls and limited budgets. With this option, reliability of service does become a concern.
WebEx: Offers conference call services, as well as helpful products, such as Meeting Center, Training Center, Support Center and Sales Center. They offer different solutions to better serve small, medium and large companies. They also offer decent live technical support and pay-per-use services.
OnConference: This service offers no set-up fee and has a listed price of 19 cents per minute per person with or without toll-free access.
Contact Call: Highly recommended for their operator-assisted services.
When you conduct careful comparisons and research on the many conference call services, you will be able to take advantage of a wealth of savings that regular phone services cannot provide.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/356843
Business Conference Calls
When it comes time to report quarterly stats, many companies turn to conference calls. This allows them to communicate the ups and downs of their business to interested parties. A higher-level company executive, such as the CEO, often reads the company reports. Once the results are revealed, the call is then accessible for others to join in, namely stock analysts, who come with a slew of questions. Businesses may also use conference calls to promote their products or services. Seminar leaders may open a conference call to the public to share their marketing techniques or business strategies for free or a small price.
Entertainment-Based Conference Calls
Today, people are looking for more and more ways to make new friends or find the companion of their dreams. When bars and clubs get to be too much, the allure of chatting on a "party line" becomes increasingly appealing. Entertainment-based conference calls are used to provide a break from boredom, as well as a way to socialize with others. Participants call a phone number set aside for this purpose and are plugged into a whole new world of mingling and flirting.
Audio vs. Visual
Audio conference calls are less expensive and require less equipment than visual conferencing. Web conference calls also open up a host of potential problems, such as malfunctioning chat, instant message, and web cam services. Streaming video may also pose concerns. Although the capabilities of visual conference calls are vast and have a better way of getting the point across, depending on your intended audience, the concept might be too advanced.
To use visual conferencing as a business tool, you will also have to familiarize yourself with an assortment of software selections and other online options. Learning visual conferencing techniques is a process. For example, include too many large files and you may end up with a communication problem.
Conference Call Limitations
What kind of conference call do you want? Some services allow the called party to speak during a call, while other selections only allow called parties to listen to what is being said.
Conference Call Set-Up
Do you want to control how conference calls are received and made? Calling parties can place calls to desired participants or entrance to a call is gained by calling a special phone number.
Reservation vs Non-Reservation
When you choose a service offering reservation-less conference calls, you will enjoy more freedom. Calls can be placed at any time without speaking to an operator or setting up an appointment. Reservation services require you to schedule your call ahead of time.
Conference Call Commands
What sort of capabilities do calling parties have when choosing a service? Things to consider include the ability to get operator assistance, mute and unmute participants, alter ringing tones and record conversations.
Call Planning is Essential
Knowing how long your conference call will be allows you to shuffle along participants to meet time expectations. As a rule of thumb, a conference call centers on an hour or more. Larger groups demand longer time frames, but without the use of video, it is difficult to keep the interest of all participants.
Usually, about 1-3 minutes are given to each participant to voice his or her opinions. Often, an hour-long conversation handles about 1-2 topics. Another important factor pertaining to conference calls is to prepare for last-minute technical issues. Be aware of applicable time zones and schedule a conference call that will accommodate all of your desired participants. When choosing a service, make sure all customer and technical support will be handled in a timely manner.
Billing Plans
Accepting a variety of credit cards, some services offer per minute pricing plans. Once the conference call is completed, a call summary is emailed to you with all of the details. Applicable charges are then placed on your credit card. Additional plans include flat rate unlimited and monthly plans. Some companies offer a flat monthly rate of $60 for a maximum of five people that allows unlimited usage for the month.
Special Services
Will the conference call service you choose provide you with extra services? Depending on your needs, you may desire to have a taped recording of your conference call. Some services offer this luxury for a flat fee (around $25). Some charge an hourly rate if you wish to have a transcript of your call. Rebroadcasts are also offered through some services for a fee. For an extra charge, operator assistance might be available, which helps with the moderation of conference calls.
Several Conference Call Service Companies Reviewed
Accu Conference: This on-demand, fully automated toll-free service offers reservation-less service, free call recordings and live in-call web control for 9.9 cents per line. Operator service costs 13.9 cents. Unlimited use, flat-rate conferencing is offered, starting at $99 per month.
No Cost Conference : Offers free, reservation-less conference call capabilities, available 24 hours a day. You will receive a pin and dial-in phone number once a quick registration is completed. Free and cheap conference call services are good for short notice calls and limited budgets. With this option, reliability of service does become a concern.
WebEx: Offers conference call services, as well as helpful products, such as Meeting Center, Training Center, Support Center and Sales Center. They offer different solutions to better serve small, medium and large companies. They also offer decent live technical support and pay-per-use services.
OnConference: This service offers no set-up fee and has a listed price of 19 cents per minute per person with or without toll-free access.
Contact Call: Highly recommended for their operator-assisted services.
When you conduct careful comparisons and research on the many conference call services, you will be able to take advantage of a wealth of savings that regular phone services cannot provide.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/356843
Different Types of Conference Calls You Can Use in Your Business
For companies that use conference calling services, there are a variety of options available. Regardless of the options, there are a few things most conference calling services have in common. In this article, we will discuss five main types of conference calls.
The most common form of conference call is a reservationless conference call. Reservationless conference calling services don't require much set up before use. You simply enter a phone number and access code. In order to receive calls, you must also provide those who will call you with a separate access code. Thus, the entire procedure involves you having to enter a number and access code and have the other participants call and enter an access code.
The operator assisted conference call involves an operator to record and monitor the conference call. This kind of conference call can be more expensive and often requires you to schedule your call time in advance. The amount of time available for operator assisted conference calls varies by service provider.
The easiest type of conference call to initiate is the operator dialed conference call. Operator dialed conference calls allow you to dedicated more of your time and energy to the topics of conversation rather than to configuring calls. The operator takes care of calling and adding each participant to the call at the scheduled times. The operator dialed conference call is the easiest when any participants are new to conference calling.
The newest type of conference call is Internet conference calling, which is sometimes referred to as web conferencing. This type of conference calling can require a lot of setup and varies a lot from one service to another. It may require special software to be installed in each participant computer. It may also require that participant be thoroughly familiar with using the software used. Often a support technician needs to be available to solve any unexpected problems that come up.
One simple type of conference call to note is three-way calling. Businesses often find this simple type of conference call to be the most economical if they only do a few small conference calls a month. Three-way calling, which can in some cases include more than three parties in a call, is typically set up through the phone company and has a nominal monthly charge as well as a small usage charge.
Hopefully this article has taught you a little bit about the conference calling options available to businesses. If you're in charge of a business, you now know what to look for and what the sellers are talking about when you shop for the right conference calling plan for your business. If you simply work at a business that is implementing conference calling, you should now have an idea of what to expect and how things will work.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/305191
The most common form of conference call is a reservationless conference call. Reservationless conference calling services don't require much set up before use. You simply enter a phone number and access code. In order to receive calls, you must also provide those who will call you with a separate access code. Thus, the entire procedure involves you having to enter a number and access code and have the other participants call and enter an access code.
The operator assisted conference call involves an operator to record and monitor the conference call. This kind of conference call can be more expensive and often requires you to schedule your call time in advance. The amount of time available for operator assisted conference calls varies by service provider.
The easiest type of conference call to initiate is the operator dialed conference call. Operator dialed conference calls allow you to dedicated more of your time and energy to the topics of conversation rather than to configuring calls. The operator takes care of calling and adding each participant to the call at the scheduled times. The operator dialed conference call is the easiest when any participants are new to conference calling.
The newest type of conference call is Internet conference calling, which is sometimes referred to as web conferencing. This type of conference calling can require a lot of setup and varies a lot from one service to another. It may require special software to be installed in each participant computer. It may also require that participant be thoroughly familiar with using the software used. Often a support technician needs to be available to solve any unexpected problems that come up.
One simple type of conference call to note is three-way calling. Businesses often find this simple type of conference call to be the most economical if they only do a few small conference calls a month. Three-way calling, which can in some cases include more than three parties in a call, is typically set up through the phone company and has a nominal monthly charge as well as a small usage charge.
Hopefully this article has taught you a little bit about the conference calling options available to businesses. If you're in charge of a business, you now know what to look for and what the sellers are talking about when you shop for the right conference calling plan for your business. If you simply work at a business that is implementing conference calling, you should now have an idea of what to expect and how things will work.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/305191
Conference Calling - Meeting the Needs of the Modern Business
These days it seems business is becoming more and more complex and globalized. We are doing business with people everywhere in the US and in many instances, people in other countries. Due to the wide use of the Internet, the words "foreign country" doesn't even seem to apply anymore.
The Internet has brought us all closer together in one aspect, but how does that affect investor relations, sales pitches, meetings, and group sessions? A lot of people now work closer with their computers than they do with co-workers and because of the Internet, many companies have people working for them from different parts of the world who have never even met each other.
Never before has conference calling been a more popular solution to the communication needs of companies and individuals all over the world. Conference calls are becoming increasingly popular as a method of bringing people together for meetings and discussions.
In this article, I will do my best to explain the advantages of conference calling for your business communication needs. Whether you are talking about meetings with investors, conference calls with your employees, making your sales presentation to groups, or simply needing several people in on the same discussion, conference calling is the most useful tool there is.
Chat rooms and message boards just don't cut it. Message boards are impersonal, not real-time, and tend to get filled with useless information that isn't directly related to your topic. Chat rooms are just that, chatty. You type in messages in real-time so it is better than a message board, but it again lacks the personal touches and insights conference calling provides.
Voice inflection, as many of you know is a great way to tell how someone feels about what you are saying. Simple typed messages do not give you that same advantage. When we hear our counterparts speak, we can tell how enthusiastic, positive, negative, or apathetic they are about what you say.
Conference calling is relational, while message boards and chat rooms are merely informational. That is the great difference in those options. You don't make sales through information alone. You make sales by creating relationships.
You don't encourage or motivate your employees or partners through information alone, you do it by creating relationships. You don't instill confidence to your investors through providing just information, you do it by letting them hear how enthusiastic and positive you are about your proposal.
Only conference calling can provide the relationship solution when working with people who are too far away to physically attend meetings.
A simple search on your favorite search engine or just following the links in the footer of this article can provide you with many options for your specific conference calling needs.
What are some of the things that separate good conference calling services and bad ones? That is the question I get asked the most when discussing this topic. Here are some of the features you should look for;
High sound quality; The last thing you want to do is try to hold an important meeting through static, interrupted service, and low quality sound. The sound quality of your conference calls is far more important than the price or other features. If they cannot hear you speak clearly and you cannot hear them clearly, what is the use of a conference call at all?
Operators: While an operator assisted call is not necessary, having someone from your conference call service provider greeting each person as they are connected is a valuable service. They can tell the participants what to expect better than your own staff can, since they are familiar with the conference call software and service. In addition to that, the operator can and should monitor the entire call to make sure the sound quality maintains ahigh level of clarity. They will know what to do to fix it if a problem arises.
Recordings and Copies: If your conference call provider has the ability to record and provide playback of your conference call sessions, then you will want to take advantage of that feature. Some conference call providers can even provide it to you on CD afterwards. This is enormously helpful for you to be able to review your conference call sessions later. It may also serve as a record of agreements made during the conference call session.
Price: Last, but certainly not least, you have to consider price. You may be able to choose a conference call provider that gives you all of the features I mentioned above and more, or you may be on a tight budget and have to settle for less service. Whichever conference call service you use, do not sacrifice sound quality for price. That is the one feature you cannot afford to do without, no matter what the cost.
I hope this article on conference calling has been helpful to you. It was my goal to share with you what features I consider the most helpful to me in my business meetings.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/167116
The Internet has brought us all closer together in one aspect, but how does that affect investor relations, sales pitches, meetings, and group sessions? A lot of people now work closer with their computers than they do with co-workers and because of the Internet, many companies have people working for them from different parts of the world who have never even met each other.
Never before has conference calling been a more popular solution to the communication needs of companies and individuals all over the world. Conference calls are becoming increasingly popular as a method of bringing people together for meetings and discussions.
In this article, I will do my best to explain the advantages of conference calling for your business communication needs. Whether you are talking about meetings with investors, conference calls with your employees, making your sales presentation to groups, or simply needing several people in on the same discussion, conference calling is the most useful tool there is.
Chat rooms and message boards just don't cut it. Message boards are impersonal, not real-time, and tend to get filled with useless information that isn't directly related to your topic. Chat rooms are just that, chatty. You type in messages in real-time so it is better than a message board, but it again lacks the personal touches and insights conference calling provides.
Voice inflection, as many of you know is a great way to tell how someone feels about what you are saying. Simple typed messages do not give you that same advantage. When we hear our counterparts speak, we can tell how enthusiastic, positive, negative, or apathetic they are about what you say.
Conference calling is relational, while message boards and chat rooms are merely informational. That is the great difference in those options. You don't make sales through information alone. You make sales by creating relationships.
You don't encourage or motivate your employees or partners through information alone, you do it by creating relationships. You don't instill confidence to your investors through providing just information, you do it by letting them hear how enthusiastic and positive you are about your proposal.
Only conference calling can provide the relationship solution when working with people who are too far away to physically attend meetings.
A simple search on your favorite search engine or just following the links in the footer of this article can provide you with many options for your specific conference calling needs.
What are some of the things that separate good conference calling services and bad ones? That is the question I get asked the most when discussing this topic. Here are some of the features you should look for;
High sound quality; The last thing you want to do is try to hold an important meeting through static, interrupted service, and low quality sound. The sound quality of your conference calls is far more important than the price or other features. If they cannot hear you speak clearly and you cannot hear them clearly, what is the use of a conference call at all?
Operators: While an operator assisted call is not necessary, having someone from your conference call service provider greeting each person as they are connected is a valuable service. They can tell the participants what to expect better than your own staff can, since they are familiar with the conference call software and service. In addition to that, the operator can and should monitor the entire call to make sure the sound quality maintains ahigh level of clarity. They will know what to do to fix it if a problem arises.
Recordings and Copies: If your conference call provider has the ability to record and provide playback of your conference call sessions, then you will want to take advantage of that feature. Some conference call providers can even provide it to you on CD afterwards. This is enormously helpful for you to be able to review your conference call sessions later. It may also serve as a record of agreements made during the conference call session.
Price: Last, but certainly not least, you have to consider price. You may be able to choose a conference call provider that gives you all of the features I mentioned above and more, or you may be on a tight budget and have to settle for less service. Whichever conference call service you use, do not sacrifice sound quality for price. That is the one feature you cannot afford to do without, no matter what the cost.
I hope this article on conference calling has been helpful to you. It was my goal to share with you what features I consider the most helpful to me in my business meetings.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/167116
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