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When you have a conference call rather it is from business to business, or business to an employee at home or abroad conducting business, it is important that the conference calling experience is productive and smooth sailing. No matter what role you play in the conference call, it is necessary that you maintain the proper etiquette for conference calls.

Before we get into the conference call etiquette, let us look at some of the things that could go wrong as a result of a bad conference call. You might not believe it, but there are many.

Here are some repercussions of a conference call gone bad:

Morale – If the proper etiquette is not followed, it might create some bad feelings between workers. You might find that it is harder to work with these employees as a result. Many people expect that their conference call will run with complete smoothness, no interruptions, and productivity, otherwise it is a complete waste of their time and yours.

Missed Deadlines – If there are constant interruptions or the conference call runs in a disorganized manner, things might be misunderstood. This could mean that an important deadline is missed because things were not correctly understood.

Misunderstandings – While this goes along with the missed deadlines, so many negative outcomes could arise from a misunderstanding. If for any reason, those on your conference call do not completely understand what you are telling them, it could result in not only missed deadlines, but a loss of customers, loss of revenue, loss of employees, or loss of business all the way around.

Getting it right the first time

Now that you know a few of the many problems that could arise from a conference call gone bad, it is time to take a look at the proper conference call etiquette. Every person on the conference call should practice these things. However, you cannot control the things that other people do or do not do; therefore, the only thing you can do is focus on yourself and your own etiquette and hope that everyone follows suit.

1. Quiet is the key – Make sure, when you are on the conference call that you are in a very quiet room, away from any disturbances. This will make sure that you hear everything that is going on and keep the misunderstandings to a minimum. It is impossible to keep the misunderstandings at bay if you have a dog barking, machines running, or people talking in the background.

2. The Telephone Equipment – Make sure that you are using a phone that will minimize the noise in the background. Some telephone and most all cell phones will pick up even the slightest noise or interference, which will not only cause troubles for you hearing the speakers, but others as well.

3. Using Telephone Technology – The mute button does wonders, but make sure you know how to use it. The mute button should be used if there is a lot of background noise that you simply cannot control or if someone is particularly talkative. Of course, make sure you know how to un-mute for when it is your turn to speak or answer a question.

4. Time – Make sure you set the conference call up in advance and let everyone know all information such as pass code or phone number. It is also necessary that you take time zones in to consideration if you have people across several time zones to include on the conference call.

5. Being on Time – If you are the conference call leader, you want to start right on time. Do not wait for others if they are late. People on the call want to start right away, because there may be other business they need to attend to. If you are simply in the call, be on time, you do not want to miss anything that might be important.

6. Introductions – Make sure that every person on the call introduces himself or herself. This will allow for building relationships and getting people to open up and feel comfortable.

7. Clarification – Not everyone will be able to tell who is who by the voice. Make sure before anyone speaks that his or her name is said first. For example, “this is Bob, could you repeat that company name again”.

8. Eating – Never eat while you are on a conference call, who wants to hear chewing in their ear? If you must get a drink of water, put the call on mute so no one will have to hear the emitted sounds. This includes chewing gum.

9. Keep on Topic – Do not fill the call with unnecessary talk. Keep to the point, because remember there may be several people on the call that have other pressing things to do.

With the above proper conference call etiquette rules, you will find that the conference calls runs in a much more smooth and efficient manner. Keeping the proper etiquette in mind while on the conference call will make the entire call that much more productive for everyone.

The holiday season beginning around Thanksgiving through New Year’s has got to be one of the most exciting times to be alive. Along with the excitement it can be one of the most stressful and expensive times of the year as well. An important part of the holidays is spending time with friends and family. It is inevitable though that someone won’t be able to make it home for the holidays. It happens every year. Getting everyone together under the same room can darn well be impossible.

But that doesn’t mean that it has to be hard to stay in close touch with loved ones. With some of today’s technology it is easier than ever. Don’t make the common mistake of thinking that technology equals big bucks.

Here are some ideas that you can use to technology to make the keeping in touch easier and more affordable:

Setup a Personal Toll-free 800 number
Making a call to a toll-free number is nothing new. You probably do it everyday. Toll-free numbers are popular with businesses because it is an easy way for their customers to reach them. Toll free numbers can do the same thing for you and keeping in touch with loved ones.

The personal toll-free number I have used for the last three years only charges me $2.00/month for the number and it is only 2.5 cents per minute for the call. My loved ones can always reach me, even from a payphone.

You can even get a stand alone toll-free service that will allow you to forward the toll-free number to a cell phone, home phone, work phone, or any other number. You can even change the forwarding on the fly. The best part about a stand-alone provider is that you don’t have to switch carriers.

Try a BIG family conference call
Conference calling is very convenient especially when you need to speak with lots of people from two or more locations.

The way it works is you call to setup your account and you are given a toll-free 800 number and a unique PIN code to your account. Then you invite everyone to the conference call by giving them the time, toll-free number, and PIN code to your conference.

These work really great in my family for Thanksgiving day. Everyone gets to hop on the phone and talk to everyone else at the same time.
That way you don’t have to take the time to call each person seperately. It really saves time.

Give VoIP a try!
VoIP is a phone service that works over your broadband internet connection. The reason that I recommend trying VoIP is because it saves customers so much money. VoIP eliminates the middle man in the phone game. Almost all long distance companies nowadays route all of their calls over the Internet.

I bet you are wondering how much we are talking about. My favorite VoIP provider only charges $19.99 per month for unlimited calling to anywhere in the USA and Canada.

You get all the standard calling features like like voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, three-way calling, call forwarding, 7 digit local dialing, etc.

Add video to your calls
One of the really cool ‘Jetson’ style gadgets out right now is video conferencing. Imagine talking face to face with people who can’t make it home for the holidays. Their service for unlimited video calling is the same $19.99/month. All you need is a broadband internet connection and a special phone with the camera built-in.

The special phone is really cool and affordable. You can usually get one for around $100 depending on their promo. Who knew that video calls could be so affordable? If you are comfortable using the computer you can also use software to have group video conferences. Programs like Skype and most instant messengers from Yahoo!, MSN, and AOL support video.

There are a lot of ways to stay connected out there. Like anything in life if you take a little bit of time to plan and look around you will find something easy that will make life more enjoyable. Hopefully I gave you some ideas that will give you a great starting place for your holiday planning.

Modern technology convergence equips ordinary people with the basics to engage in video conferencing. Users can utilize the two most popular email and live chat providers Yahoo and MSN to set up simple video conferencing their softwares. People can call, talk and watch each other – regardless of location – and communicate in real time.

This can simply be point to point (between two people) or multipoint (more than two at different location) communication. Hardware requirements are simple such as a computer, web cam, microphone, and a broadband connection to participate in videoconference. People can participate in natural and normal conversations – they see and hear each other.

What started out as a simple enhancement to the popular Instant Messenger and yahoo Messenger chat software is now becoming an indispensable communication tool for the corporate world as well due the enormous cost savings. People can now attend to business activities and meetings with clients and business associates in the comfort of their office or home, eliminating the requirement to go to another place simply to discuss an important matter. It also removes the anonymity of the basic telephone conversation since it enables face-to-face meetings regardless of distance. The cost of setting up a video conferencing is definitely a lot less than the costs of travel and hotel accommodations.

Videoconferencing is undeniably an easier way to conduct meetings and interviews and give lectures and address employees located in other parts of the country or the globe.

Some big corporations, including educational and medical institutions have set up their own conference rooms with dedicated video conference terminals to enhance their communication capabilities using dedicated hardware and equipment fully equipped with control systems, document viewers, overhead cameras, vision switchers and slide viewers complete with compressor and decompressor interface.

Dedicated hardware makes it easier to transmit large files of information and data, regardless of type, over the net.

Video conferencing is proven to be a reliable and an excellent method of communication. It allows you to connect not only with other people but also with other companies. For the true e-commerce entrepreneur, it allows you to run your business in your locality and connect with suppliers located on another state or another part of the world with simplicity. It completely eliminates miscommunication since you talk face-to-face, and nuances of speech and facial expressions are visible.

Video conferencing guarantees a bright future for your business because it keeps you up to date on any critical information that may affect your business on a real-time basis. It is affordable and simple that not having the capability may be compared to committing suicide, business-wise.

A conference call involves the communication between a calling party and more than one listener. There are numerous conference call services available, making it difficult to make a quick decision. The service that you choose will ultimately depend on the expectations and uses you wish get out of your conference calls. For some, only a few details matter, such as price, while others are in need of advanced services like on-the-spot technical support. Below are a few factors to consider when choosing the conference call service that is most compatible with your needs.

Business Conference Calls

When it comes time to report quarterly stats, many companies turn to conference calls. This allows them to communicate the ups and downs of their business to interested parties. A higher-level company executive, such as the CEO, often reads the company reports. Once the results are revealed, the call is then accessible for others to join in, namely stock analysts, who come with a slew of questions. Businesses may also use conference calls to promote their products or services. Seminar leaders may open a conference call to the public to share their marketing techniques or business strategies for free or a small price.

Entertainment-Based Conference Calls

Today, people are looking for more and more ways to make new friends or find the companion of their dreams. When bars and clubs get to be too much, the allure of chatting on a “party line” becomes increasingly appealing. Entertainment-based conference calls are used to provide a break from boredom, as well as a way to socialize with others. Participants call a phone number set aside for this purpose and are plugged into a whole new world of mingling and flirting.

Audio vs. Visual

Audio conference calls are less expensive and require less equipment than visual conferencing. Web conference calls also open up a host of potential problems, such as malfunctioning chat, instant message, and web cam services. Streaming video may also pose concerns. Although the capabilities of visual conference calls are vast and have a better way of getting the point across, depending on your intended audience, the concept might be too advanced.

To use visual conferencing as a business tool, you will also have to familiarize yourself with an assortment of software selections and other online options. Learning visual conferencing techniques is a process. For example, include too many large files and you may end up with a communication problem.

Conference Call Limitations

What kind of conference call do you want? Some services allow the called party to speak during a call, while other selections only allow called parties to listen to what is being said.

Conference Call Set-Up

Do you want to control how conference calls are received and made? Calling parties can place calls to desired participants or entrance to a call is gained by calling a special phone number.

Reservation vs Non-Reservation

When you choose a service offering reservation-less conference calls, you will enjoy more freedom. Calls can be placed at any time without speaking to an operator or setting up an appointment. Reservation services require you to schedule your call ahead of time.

Conference Call Commands

What sort of capabilities do calling parties have when choosing a service? Things to consider include the ability to get operator assistance, mute and unmute participants, alter ringing tones and record conversations.

Call Planning is Essential

Knowing how long your conference call will be allows you to shuffle along participants to meet time expectations. As a rule of thumb, a conference call centers on an hour or more. Larger groups demand longer time frames, but without the use of video, it is difficult to keep the interest of all participants.

Usually, about 1-3 minutes are given to each participant to voice his or her opinions. Often, an hour-long conversation handles about 1-2 topics. Another important factor pertaining to conference calls is to prepare for last-minute technical issues. Be aware of applicable time zones and schedule a conference call that will accommodate all of your desired participants. When choosing a service, make sure all customer and technical support will be handled in a timely manner.

Billing Plans

Accepting a variety of credit cards, some services offer per minute pricing plans. Once the conference call is completed, a call summary is emailed to you with all of the details. Applicable charges are then placed on your credit card. Additional plans include flat rate unlimited and monthly plans. Some companies offer a flat monthly rate of $60 for a maximum of five people that allows unlimited usage for the month.

Special Services

Will the conference call service you choose provide you with extra services? Depending on your needs, you may desire to have a taped recording of your conference call. Some services offer this luxury for a flat fee (around $25). Some charge an hourly rate if you wish to have a transcript of your call. Rebroadcasts are also offered through some services for a fee. For an extra charge, operator assistance might be available, which helps with the moderation of conference calls.

Several Conference Call Service Companies Reviewed

Accu Conference : This on-demand, fully automated toll-free service offers reservation-less service, free call recordings and live in-call web control for 9.9 cents per line. Operator service costs 13.9 cents. Unlimited use, flat-rate conferencing is offered, starting at $99 per month.

No Cost Conference : Offers free, reservation-less conference call capabilities, available 24 hours a day. You will receive a pin and dial-in phone number once a quick registration is completed. Free and cheap conference call services are good for short notice calls and limited budgets. With this option, reliability of service does become a concern.

WebEx : Offers conference call services, as well as helpful products, such as Meeting Center, Training Center, Support Center and Sales Center. They offer different solutions to better serve small, medium and large companies. They also offer decent live technical support and pay-per-use services.

OnConference : This service offers no set-up fee and has a listed price of 19 cents per minute per person with or without toll-free access.

Contact Call : Highly recommended for their operator-assisted services.

When you conduct careful comparisons and research on the many conference call services, you will be able to take advantage of a wealth of savings that regular phone services cannot provide.

Conference calling is one of the best business solutions to conduct a meeting over the telephone, in which more than three persons can participate to share some points. Or in other words, it is a means of communicating with more than one person simultaneously, without actually being physically present at a designated place. Conference calling offers mainly three modes for communication, i.e., audio, video, and web based conference calls. It is obvious that these conference calls eliminate a major cost for the companies, and therefore, are very much advantageous for the organizations. Some of the advantages offered by these conference calls are:

Cost Effective Process: Though the fee for availing the service varies with service providers, yet conference call is a much economical option to conduct a virtual meeting and to convey the message to the people concerned. Because in conducting a meeting with the conventional processes, a lot of travel expenses and hotel accommodation expenses are involved; whereas in case of conference calling, nothing of that sort is required.

Time saving process: It is as easy as thinking of talking to some persons and you can make a conference call immediately. Usually it is very good option for conferences that are called on very short notices. It also does not involve any loss of work and the message can be conveyed at a faster pace.

Helps in relation building: It is sometimes difficult for a business to conduct meetings for every segment of employees at regular intervals, which may lead to some misconceptions among employees and they may feel neglected. However, conference calling can eliminate such situations and helps in building good employer-employee relationship.

Simple and easily accessible: The service provider links the persons to be involved in a conference call and the persons do not need to have any special equipment for the same, as it simply linked with the ordinary phone or mobile phone. The person conducting a conference call is facilitated with a speaker, so that all persons involved must be heard at that point. The other persons can talk with the main conductor from their places.

Facilitate Data transfer: Audio conference calling is limited only to transfer instructions or views verbally; but via video conferencing, it is possible to transfer presentations or data to all the persons. With this service there will be no mistakes in sending and receiving instructions, as if there is any, one can clear it immediately and correct it.

Distance is not a problem: With the help of conference calling, the limitations of distance can be eliminated, as it can be used for talking to persons anywhere around the globe. That is why it is most commonly used by small as well as big business houses for communication purposes.

From the above advantages that conference calling provide, we can easily gauge the importance that they hold for any business model and organization setup—they are indispensable!

Whether you belong to a large Fortune 500 company or are in the process of starting your own business, you probably have the need to meet with associates, investors, or other colleagues. Conference calling will assist you in making these meetings manageable and efficient from any location.

Conference calling is a service used by businesses that allows multiple parties to participate in a phone call, no matter how close or far away they are from the source of the call. Large businesses use conference calling services to communicate with associates across the country or even across the globe, making meetings effortless and efficient.

For conference calling to work one company needs to purchase and participate in a conference calling service, either through a telephone company or a web server. When the leader of the conference call wants to have a meeting he simply informs all of the participants of the time the meeting will take place and the information needed to access the call. The called party can be set up to either have their voices heard or to merely be at the listening end of the meeting.

If you are new to the world of conference calling you may be overwhelmed with the amount of conference calling services that are available. Like most new products and services you will definitely want to do your research and discover which service will best suit your needs and fit into the budget of your business.

When choosing a conference calling service there are several features you will want to consider. First you’ll need to choose a service that will allow the number of participants you will need to use the conference call. Some providers allow anywhere from 25 to 150 participants. You will also need to consider which type of conference calling will be most efficient and convenient for your needs. Reservation-less conference calling for instance does not utilize an operator so you can schedule the call at your convenience. Web conference calling allows you to show data and presentations through a PC to other participants.

As you research various conference calling services, do not be deceived by the word “free”. It is true that the actual conference calling service is free to you and the other participants because you won’t need to pay a fee for an account. However, there will be expenses in the form of paying the normal long distance rate that each caller’s long distance carrier would charge for the length of the call. The conference calling service itself is “free” but all parties involved will be spending some money on the cost of the long distance call.

Conference calling services make business meetings easy and efficient by allowing all parties to participate without the hassle of finding a time and place to meet in person. Conference calls can be accessed by multiple parties from multiple places, so a business owner in Iowa could conference with associates as far as Italy, Jamaica, or China all at the same time. When finding your ideal conference calling service, be sure to do your research and utilize the best service for your business needs.

The international marketplace has been made a lot more accessible to businesses of all sizes. With affordable web conferencing, even small operations are able to take part in corporate meetings, even when the host boardroom is halfway around the globe. Virtually any individual or group can use web conferencing to conduct business on a global scale with customers, clients and partners, while eliminating travel expenses.

Cheap web conferencing allows businesses to bring together key players from many departments situated in different parts of the country or the world, without having the leave the relative comfort of the office. Like conference calling, companies are able to meet with staff members, discuss new projects, develop sales presentations, and ultimately increase overall productivity without having to spend a single penny on travel expenses or accommodations.

Affordable web conferencing is easy to use, and helps companies save money.

Like a regular meeting, cheap web conferencing brings great minds together in a wholly online environment. Instead of packing your bags, boarding a plane and spending a week in a hotel conference room, cheap web conferencing allows you to simply stay in your office and attend the meeting virtually. Successful forward-thinking businesses rely heavily on the web, and the digital corporate lifestyle has been made even more enjoyable through cheap web conferencing.

Cheap web conferencing incorporates various aspects of multimedia to make the online meeting as effective, interactive and productive as possible. For example, a presentation will incorporate audio, video and graphics for a more lucid way to facilitate communication with the rest of the conference attendees.

File sharing in cheap web conferencing allows participants to edit presentations on the fly, and to share important documents with clients, partners and co-workers. Web conferencing enables users to utilize many tools including whiteboard features, video streaming, desktop sharing, VoIP (Voice over IP) and instant messaging. Many web conferencing programs also have a built-in alarm function to send you an email reminder of upcoming meetings.

Small businesses to multi-million dollar corporations agree that the greatest advantage to web conferencing is its capacity to save money. Cheap web conferencing lets users attend meetings without spending a single dime on airline tickets or hotel accommodations. This innovative way of conducting business also eliminates future expenses of planning and implementing upcoming corporate events.

So before you set aside a sizeable piece of your budget for traveling overseas or hosting an international corporate function, think of how virtual meetings via web conferencing can bring the world’s great minds to you. Affordable web conferencing makes the globe one big boardroom.

Web conference call is in its infancy and many people are not aware of its multifarious application. Initially, web conference call was used as an audio conference call and was limited to presentation calls. Live video conferencing became possible with the arrival of broadband. The right amalgamation of several features of Internet, computers and software has transformed web conference call to the level of face-to-face meeting.

The greatest advantage that web conference calling has over offline conference calls is that it gives real time interaction with several people. When implemented properly it is just like having a discussion in your conference hall. Unlike most offline conference calls, in web conference call the people engaged in conversation can share and exchange ideas by illustrating it on the whiteboard. This becomes very handy in cases where only drawings can clearly explain the idea. Since this is done in real time with the support of audio, the effect it has is far reaching and cannot be matched by offline conference calls.

Web conference calling is an ideal conference call service for business as it gives the opportunity to discuss issues and put them to vote and fix the issue on hand. This means that by sitting in your office in Manhattan through the conference call you can talk with your subordinates in any part of the world and discuss the business plans. There is no limit to the number of people who can take part in the digital web conference. Offline conference call has the limitation of number and when there are more than three locations it throws up several difficulties. The number of location is never a problem in web conference calling.

Conference call through web has certain limitations like web cam positioning. It also requires high amount of concentration from the participants. Most of the limitations associated with web conference call can be easily solved. Several business establishments now prefer web conference call over offline conference call as it saves money, time and energy.

Affordable web conferencing isn’t a myth. Rarely anything in this world can be considered cheap these days, which is why examining how your company spends money should be an ongoing effort. A cardinal rule that unfortunately goes unnoticed by many managers is the fact that time is money, even when you are working. Think about it. Say you have several people working on a project for an important client. An initial analysis may reveal that productivity levels are at their maximum. But you notice that despite this fact the project just isn’t making the headway that it should. If this is the case it may be necessary to analyze just how much time is spent doing each task involved.

What you may find is shocking.

The numbers don’t lie; your team is probably spending a little too much time on the phone making and taking calls. No matter how organized your team is there are times when calling is actually hindering the projects. That is because communicating primary by phone calls is no longer as practical as it once was. The majority of time is spent playing phone tag. Leaving and returning messages, calling over and over again to get simple questions answered. Many businesses have taken to using teleconferences in order to be able to collaborate better. While teleconferences are a powerful tool, they may not be the best tools for some projects. This leads us to affordable web conferencing and related conference services.

Many people avoid web conferencing thinking it to be expensive, but in many cases affordable web conferencing is just as cheap teleconferencing. A review of the many web conferencing services available will show that for the most part web conferencing rates allow for the same volume discounts and flat rates that normal call conferencing offers.

Not only that but web conferencing offers solutions that work for those looking for more interaction at an affordable premium. Setting up an affordable web conference is not much more difficult then setting up a phone conference.

Thirty years ago, business owners wondered how they ever got by without the telephone. Twenty years ago, it was the fax machine. Just ten years ago, corporate players marveled at life before email and today, successful business people can’t imagine life without audio and web conferencing.

This latest technological breakthrough has had a huge impact on the corporate scene. Unlike typical conference calls, audio and web conferencing offers a full-featured solution for conducting on-demand meetings anywhere in the world, at any time. It is now feasible and affordable for companies to exchange ideas and get valuable real-time input, without the inordinate expenses or hassles of travel.

The Basics
Before delving into the finer aspects of audio and web conferencing, it is important to understand a few terms. “Conferencing” refers to a discussion that occurs between a group of individuals, where ideas are exchanged and data are shared via a communication technology. The phrase “web conferencing” means that the whole conferencing system is hosted or conducted in a web environment, specifically a web server or application.

Audio inputs are a basic feature of web conferencing. Peripheral devices are added to the computer in order to facilitate voice communication between conference participants. Devices like headphones and microphones soon gave birth to a type of communication called audio and web conferencing.

An audio and web conferencing system behaves basically like a telephone setup. It is a more economical version of phone or conference calling, but rather than establishing complicated telephone systems to confer with your staff in different office locations, you can now make use of the audio and web conferencing system. This is an economical way to keep your business moving while minimizing lost time and expensive travel and meeting room costs.

There are a number of key features in using an audio and web conferencing system.

The first and most obvious benefit is the easy-to-use audio controls. Most audio and web conferencing vendors will offer intuitive controls for audio, allowing you to easily control your audio meeting using your telephone keypad or a form of web-based audio control panel. You are given a wide range of options including the ability to mute lines, take roll call and lock or terminate the conference.

Not all audio and web conferencing programs utilize the existing telephone system, but some do. With integrated, low-cost phone systems, these audio and web conferencing applications allow you to use your phone to discuss, share, negotiate and collaborate with your clients and fellow employees.

Many audio and web conferencing tools offer easy setup, and most are intuitive with user-oriented interfaces. Some are integrated into popular desktop items, such as Microsoft Outlook email programs.

Meetings on demand have never been easier. For some, they’ve never been possible. Now, thanks to audio and web conferencing, with a click of the mouse you can launch a meeting right when you need it.