How Conference Calls Save You Money and Time

Conference calls have become the new way to have conversations with more than one person at a time when needed. Conference calls pricing, however, can range from a small amount for three-way calling to a large amount for adding in phone lines that can be connected to each other for conference calls.

Many businesses require conference calls to make sure that things are running smoothly, while some people would simply like them so they can talk to their loved ones at the same time. Certain companies now contain conference call plans in their standard offers.

The top three affordable conference calls companies in conference call plans today are TeleCHOICE, Global Conference and conference bridges. These three companies offer competitive prices for people who need to add the ability to add a conference call to their current plans.

Typically, phone companies offer three-way calling with a connection fee of seventy-five cents to connect the third person to the initial conversation. While this doesn’t sound that expensive, if either of the parties you call are long distance, this can add quite a bit to your bill.

TeleCHOICE offers affordable conference calls for six cents a minute, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. This can greatly lessen the costs of adding another person to your conversations, and adds the fun of being able to talk about things together in a group. Global Conference and conference bridges offer the ease of conference calling with a promise that your contract with them is not a binding one and you will be able to cancel your plan at any time.

Instead of having to call one person to talk, then another, and another, using a conference call will help cut down on the amount of time that you’re on the telephone. Using a conference call will also cost less in the end, especially if the people you want to call are all long distance or internationally located.

If you have loved ones overseas due to the military or a job and you have family who are local that would like to speak with them as well, a conference call can make everything easier. You or your loved one can make the initial call and then you can connect everyone else via a conference call. It will make things more time and cost efficient in the end.

Buying Advices for Conference Call Services

Conference calling is gaining great popularity due to its features and benefits to the business, such as reduced costs, time saving, easily accessible, easy to operate, and many more. These services are beneficial for both small and large businesses, as using the conference call service, the host can be connected to two, three, or even a thousand people at the same time. But choosing a conference call service is a matter of concern, and needs attention. Below are some features which one must consider before buying any conference call service:

Flexibility of customizing the conference call service, including entry of a participant while the conference is going on, is a crucial feature for any conference calling service. It makes the service similar to meetings in-person. It is also better to check the capacity of the conference call service, as there is often a limit to the number of participants that can be included in a single call. Conference call services should also offer the option of sending documents to the participants through fax. Some conference call services offer sub-conferencing—a special feature that allows the participants to communicate privately during the conference, and then come back to the main conference. This type of feature is very helpful in cross-departmental conference calls, where people from same department can opt for the feature of sub-conferencing to discuss some points.

Uninterrupted connectivity of any conference calling system is one of the features that you should look for while buying the service. You can’t imagine the scenario when you and other participants are facing problems due to connectivity during active participation.

Apart from the basic features that all conference calling services should offer, some special and value-based services can also help to make your decision. Some services offer call recording services for future use, and translation services during the conference call. This may also include the transcription of conference calls, which are sometimes useful for the company. You can choose these features if you like, but there may be some extra charges for these.

Apart from above mentioned fields to analyze before buying conference call services, cost to be incurred is also significant, because the main purpose of conference calling is reduction in cost incurred. So you must compare quotes from different providers to find out the best option, and also the features that they are providing within that range of price. Some companies may also offer trial versions or some free calls for the checking-up of their services, and you should look to avail such opportunities to gauge the functioning of conference call services.

Conference Call Etiquette

Conference calls are valuable business tools that must be handled professionally and systematically. Sometimes these conference calls may include new comers. Hence, an introduction about the company is essential to make a good impression. Some preliminary measures such as a quiet area, good quality phones and good headsets for better sounds should be provided to ensure high-quality, live and interactive conference calls devoid of background noises.

The facilitator, moderator or the operator should advise participants of the basic rules of the call before general interaction begins. The basic rules include both general etiquette and any specific rules the moderator deems necessary. After all the expected participants have arrived, the moderator should introduce each person and provide a short background or description of that person's responsibilities on the call. This introduction is necessary, as there may be guests or newcomers on the call. Though cell phones can technically be included in conference calls, they should be avoided whenever possible, as there could be static on the lines, and it may affect the quality of the connection. Punctuality is a sign of professionalism, as it is difficult for participants to make small talk on a conference call while waiting for a latecomer. Conference call should not be put on hold, because the participants will be forced to listen to your on-hold music, or they will not be sure when and whether you will continue the call. Call waiting should be temporarily disabled, as it may be disruptive and confusing to conference call participants. Conference call etiquette dictates that the participant gives undivided attention for the length of the call. Every speaker should be identified by name, location or position so that all other call participants will recognize a voice and help keep the call on track and avoid misunderstandings. If speakerphones are used, then the phones should be put in mute to avoid background noise.

These basic rules when strictly followed enhance the quality of conference calls and professionalism to the entire satisfaction of the call participants, thereby making the task successful.

Creating a Winning Phone Call Conference

Starting the Meeting

* Test the dial-in number and access password 10 minutes prior to start of meeting to ensure the phone call conference service is available and scheduled properly.
* State your name first, before the business meeting begins.
* Appoint someone other than moderator to take meeting minutes. Whoever is taking minutes should have their phone muted because the clicking of typing will be too distracting for others.
* Have a prepared reference list of who is attending the conference call meeting.
* Conduct a roll call so you know who is on your conference call.
* Request that each participant use the "Mute" button on their local phone to reduce background noise problems. Instruct participants to only "Un-mute" when they need to speak.

During the Meeting

* Do not put your phone on HOLD. This usually puts music into your conference and prevents others from continuing the meeting.
* If no one in your room needs to speak, use the "Mute" button on the phone to prevent background noise from disrupting the meeting. When someone needs to speak, simply release the "Mute".

Concluding the Meeting

* Make a last request for additional questions or concerns prior to ending the call.
* Establish the day and time for your next phone call conference.
* After closing the meeting and bidding farewell to your audience, be the last person to disconnect from the call.
* Forward meeting minutes to the audience within 24 hours following the phone call conference.

Conclusion

Using the tips listed above, your next phone call conference can be a winner for all attending. Plan in advance, and take the time to ensure the conference number works just before the meeting. Be flexible and even humorous about small problems that make occur during the call. Your professionalism in handling such situations will be evident.

Purchasing a Conference Bridge Will Save You Time and Money

Whether you are the owner of a multi-million dollar corporate company or operate a small family business, utilising the benefits of an audio conference bridge requires little effort and time to connect all parties to your conference call.

Conference calls are usually initiated by one caller who contacts the other participants one at a time connecting each person to the call. Having access to your own conference call bridge will eliminate this lengthy and sometimes expensive process. A conference bridge will enable callers to dial a specific phone number and security code which will connect them directly to the conference call. This way it is not left up to one person to contact all participants. Many conference bridges have different options and advanced features to suit your needs.

With the popularity of conference calling increasing, you can find many conference call providers willing to manage your conference calls for a reasonable price, depending on the packeage and service you require, however, if your business uses these services multiple times on a daily bases, then you might want to consider an in-house conference bridge, saving your company time and money. A conference bridge can cost you anywhere in the vacinity of $10,000 to $20,000. However purchasing one can save you a lot of money in the long run.

Owning a call conference bridge also means that you have to supervise its maintenance. Make sure that your equipments are handled with well-trained people. When you have decided on purchasing a conference bridge, make sure it is of high-quality, so when using your conference bridge for long periods of time there will be no issues.

Make sure that you give security of prime importance. A lot of business loose money or even shut down because of information theft caused by inefficient conference call bridges.

Make sure that you give security of prime importance. A lot of business lose money or even shut down because of information theft caused by inefficient conference call bridges. When looking for a conference bridge, aside from guaranteed security, you should also consider audio quality. Remember that conference bridges are rather pricey, so at least get something that’s worth your money. Voice output should always be clear no matter where you are in the world.