Thursday, June 12, 2008

The Basics Of Audio Conferencing Services

By Dwayne Hall

There are two types of "free" in the audio conferencing industry. Toll-free audio conferencing means every participant in a conference call dials a toll-free number. The moderator of the conference call has to pay for every toll-free caller on his conference call at a rate depending upon whatever the conferencing company is charging. Free audio conferencing is when everyone on the conference call dials a regular long distance number. So you are not paying any per-minute rate to the conferencing company (which is great), but you are paying your long distance provider whatever they charge you for long distance. Of course, this is typically less expensive than toll-free conference calling.

Customer can access the conferencing service with a dial-in number and an optional password to disseminate among the group of callers. Such a password to access the service can be either permanent, with a limited usage (number of calls, time period, etc.), or created only for a single teleconference session.

How Should You Decide?

If audio is too basic for a company's needs, web conferencing may be a more acceptable solution. The level of involvement in a web conference can range from viewing simple text via a central server, or even with the addition of audio provider real time voice as well. Web conferencing is a little more costly depending on how much interaction the software allows.

Audio conferencing can be used for group work when a small group of students is assigned a team project. They would meet via the audio conference bridge at scheduled times to complete their work. The project work can be presented by video, audio, and computer conference depending upon the content.

Smooth Communication

Web conferencing with audio provides an appropriate medium for incorporating certain visual elements into the flow of verbal communication, enabling participants to view a PowerPoint presentation, take a guided Web tour or collaborate on documents with others. In many cases, Web conferencing can even enable remote control of a participant's computer. Web conferencing differs from video or voice over Internet protocol in that it involves sharing data over a browser while the parties use a teleconference.

Audio Conferencing Services can have live operators that will introduce each person as they join the conference. This way you know that the conference will not be interrupted every time someone new joins the conversation. The operators will also log when a person joins the conference and when they leave.

The Bottom Line Results

This report is based on the insights of 281 business users of video conferencing products and services from around the world. Their experience and value comparisons of HD video conferencing as a substitute for face-to-face meetings, as a substitute for audio conferences and as a substitute for web conferences are presented. The demand curve of HD video conferencing as a substitute for same day business trips, overnight trips and inter-continental trips are determined and reviewed.

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