Conference Call Cost Savings

Is your conference call bill getting out of control?

Those of us in business management know the importance of keeping to a budget and beating it whenever possible. Managers can maximize efficiency in business communications and cut wasted resources by using audio and web conferencing. Here is a rundown of how audio conferencing works so you can consider how best to manage these services to the benefit of your organization.

Intro to Audio Conferencing Cost Savings

Audio conferencing is an Internet administered version of the classic teleconference but offers an ease and convenience that was never available through traditional teleconferencing services. Gone are the days of missing a meeting because the limit on number of attendees has been met. Exorbitant fees are a thing of the past. Internet audio conferencing services have made audio conferencing an even better way to save on travel expenses for your business.
Reservation not Required

With audio conferencing, the sessions can be done by reservation, where each participant calls into a specific phone number to be connected with the group. This type of conferencing is not as expensive as it once was. Most providers charge by the minute, rather than by the number of attendees as was the norm on traditional teleconferences.

Reservationless sessions can now be arranged using the Internet. This was not possible with traditional teleconferencing. Callers use a unique phone number provided to you that allows you to receive all reservationless calls. The access number given to the participants allows them to enter the non-reserved call.

Technical Aspects

Traditional telephone networks provided a dedicated line for each phone number. This ensured clear calls and prevented disruptions in communication. This is accomplished online, using private IP networks. Where public IP networks are subject to disruption when other applications take up bandwidth, private networks do not suffer this complication.

The Internet does not transmit the actual analog audio signals from the telephone. Instead, these signals are converted into digital information that can then be transmitted via the Internet. This makes the data easy to record and playback whenever necessary. No additional devices are needed, as would be the case with traditional teleconferencing.

With all the advantages audio conferencing has over teleconferencing, you can rely more heavily on virtual meetings, saving thousands on your company’s budget. Not only will you look like the hero for cutting costs, the company as whole will benefit from increased productivity that comes about when employees can communicate at great distances easily and conveniently.

Discount Audio and Web Conferencing: Key Words and Definitions

Anytime we talk about technology, many of us get scared, eyes glaze over or we attempt to use language that is at best "fuzzy" to us and likely others. 

Whether you are an assistant looking at conferencing options to present to your boss, a manager looking to pitch conferencing services to their board or staff, or anyone looking to communicate their communication needs to their IT staff; we wanted to attempt to demystify the audio and web conference calling lingo.  Here are a few common key phrases and definitions to understand.  We will try to have a few blog postings this week on additional keywords.

Moderator - The person facilitating the conference or event. The moderator can be the person leading or hosting the event, however it is usually most productive if the moderator is a person other than the primary speaker.

Conference Quickstart. Conference Quickstart allows a host to turn off Music on Hold so participants may start the conference prior to the host joining.

Host dial-out.  Instant connect allows a host to dial-out from the conference to bring in an expert, other participants, or initiate a meeting "on the fly".  InstantConnect may be launched using a DTMF command or fly View.

DTMF or Dual Tine Multi-Frequency signals - Also called touch-tone dialing. The tones that are heard when you press the buttons on a touch-tone telephone.

Web conferencing - A term that describes the industry forming around the creation of virtual events. This industry is a convergence of technology developed to provide cost-effective interactive communication channels for individuals and businesses. Webcast A presentation in which a live event is recorded and streamed over the Internet, or archived for viewing at a later time.

You can read about more definitions and keywords at www.flyconferencing.com/glossary.