Conference Calling

Conference calling allows you to have three or more people to be online at the same time to converse. The number of participates in the conference call may vary from a few to over a thousand. It is the convenient, easy and affordable way to communicate with others when they are located at different places.

Conference Calling Services
There are two major services available to set up conference calling. They are dial in and dial out services. With the dial in service, persons who are needed in the conference are given a number to dial. Wherever they are located, they just need to dial the given number to participate in the conference. The host will be waiting at the other end. With the dial out service, the host has to call the numbers of participants of conference and invite them to join. Once all the participants are available, the conference can start.

Can Be Used For
Conference calling can be used for any reason starting from business communication to social and personal communication. Generally conference calls are frequently used in business. The companies with branches at various locations use the conference calling facility, to communicate with all or some selected employees working in different branches. This is very popular for those companies which provide products or services to the clients based on their needs. The employees often discuss with the clients for clarification of the requirements using conference calling.

Types of Conferencing
There are 3 major types of conferencing. Each of these differs in the type of conference calling and the equipments needed.

Audio Conferencing
The participants of the conference can only talk with each other. They cannot see each other or know where the others are located. The basic equipment is the telephone. In this type of conference calling, the participants can be made only to listen or participate actively in the conference. The limitations of the called party can be set by the calling party. For business use, the company which is the host uses the conference call bridges to set up the conference call. To use the conference call bridge you will need a number, a host PIN and guest PIN. Then inform the guests the time of conference, the number they have to dial in and the access PIN for validation to enter the conference call. When your company is big and uses conference calling quite often then it is better to own a bridge. Otherwise it can be rented where your company may be charged monthly or hourly depending upon the plan. To participate in the conference call, the guests need a telephone.

Video Conferencing
In this type of conferencing, the participants can see each other. This type of conferencing is best for provider-client communication for finalizing a deal. The use of non verbal gestures is allowed in this type of conferencing as video is available. The equipments are much more expensive than the previous type as video is included.

Web Conferencing
In this type of conferencing, the participants can even share their applications. Nowadays, the companies are using web conferencing to allow their employees to discuss on a specific project where they are distributed across different branches. To participate in the web conference, you need a computer connected to the internet. When web conferencing is setup the participants can see each other’s computer screen or any other application that is crucial. For voice communication, telephones or the latest voice over IP technology (VOIP) is used.

You also have the option to record your conference and then play back later. Most of the providers of conference calling equipments have this feature also. With conference calling, you can save time and money. When your employees or the participants in general are scattered across the globe then assembling them to a particular location will cost you more. When you want these meetings to be held often, you cannot imagine the expenses incurred. Thanks to Conference calling which simplifies your job and saves you time, effort and money.