Conference Calling - Benefits to Businesses

Teleconferencing has long been a very popular choice for conferences between individuals who find it too costly to travel continuously to meetings. Due to their lower cost and time saving conferencing solution, conference calls have gained steady roots in the professional world. A conference call consists of three or more participants who are being linked into a single conversation via telephone. There are also VoIP and video teleconferences, which are also great alternatives to traveling for conferences. There are quite a few options open to you and your business, so you should evaluate your conferencing needs, and decide which type of conference is best for you.

With the traditional teleconference, landlines were used to connect multiple participants. As times have changed, teleconferences have evolved. They are now compatible with mobile phones, and have many new features that have appeared over the years. You are also able to host a free conference call, saving even more money for your business. There are a couple of service types available with the traditional teleconference:

1. Flat Rate:Flat rate conference calling involves paying a single rate; the rates are not based on the number of calls, number of minutes used, or the amount of participants. You make a regular payment for unlimited usage of the features and services offered in your package. If your business is making many conference calls per month, you can save in the long run with an unlimited plan.
2. Prepaid: Prepaid conferencing involves paying for only the minutes you need. Generally, you purchase the minutes you are interested in before the call. This is a wonderful option for the rare conference call. Since many small businesses do not find the need to hold these calls very often, this may be the perfect solution for them.
3. Toll Free: Toll free numbers are becoming incredibly popular for conference calls, as you need only pay for the long distance charges incurred. Businesses have become particularly fond of them.

If the traditional form of teleconferencing does not interest you, you can also look into VoIP conferencing, or video conferencing. VoIP conferencing is the same as the traditional method, except the voice is transmitted through the internet instead of through cellular or landline networks. It costs significantly less, and can be the same rate no matter where in the world you might be calling. As for video conferences, they are perfect for those who want to simulate the conference atmosphere as much as possible; while also being able to greet the individual participants face to face. Video conferences and VoIP conferences both require an internet connection, while some smart phones offer applications for video and VoIP calls. Remember: video calls require a high speed connection in order to perform properly, without sacrificing picture or sound quality. There are several options available for conference calls, with something to suit everyone. While the traditional form of conference calling (landline) is still the most popular, the several other options are gaining popularity by landslides.