|
|
What is a Conference Call?
Home » Information Technology » Conference Calls » What is a Conference Call?The expansion of the corporate world has forced businesses to determine creative ways to stay connected. A conference call is one such solution—it allows people who are disconnected geographically to stay connected in their work. A conference call allows three or more (there is no real limit to how many) people to take part in a phone conversation, and thus allows for idea sharing between people from across the state or around the world.
Businesses can either purchase or rent a conference call system from vendors. A purchased system would likely include tech support and other amenities, but the general leaning in business is to rent a conference call system. A conference call is rented according to the number of people, or “seats,” that will take part in the call and how long each participant will be on the call. (e.g. fifteen cents per minute per caller)
The other conference call decision for businesses is whether to hold operator-assisted or reservationless conferencing. Operator-assisted conferencing is administered by an operator—participants call in to the operator, who then patches them into the call. Reservationless conferencing, however, is the growing trend in which your company receives a permanent toll-free number and two pass codes. The conference host dials in first and puts in his pass code, and then everyone else can dial in and enter the participant pass code. The advantage to a reservationless conference call is the freedom it provides—a one-time setup can be used anytime for groups of all sizes.
The disadvantage to a conference call, of course, is that you do not benefit from the personal interaction that a face-to-face meeting provides, but conference call technology has advanced to the point that conference calls are both affordable and trustworthy, and in many cases, these advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Related Conference Calls Articles
- What is a Conference Call?
- Why should my business use a Conference Call?
- What is proper Conference Call etiquette?
- What details do I need to consider if I am the host of a Conference Call?
- How should I choose between a Conference Call and video or web conferencing?