What they don't tell you about conference calls

What they don't tell you about conference calls

by Markus Wahlgren

The multitude of users of conference calling services makes it
apparent that it is one of the favored means of communication in
the business world to date. Companies consider it more
cost-efficient, less taxing on the company's time and personnel,
and more effective in fostering business relations in the
international scene.

Like all good things, however, conference calling has several
limitations. While the numerous positive aspects of conference
calling are highly publicized, the limitations are hardly
visible.

The most obvious limitation of conference calling is the speed
with which it is developed in some countries and the delay in
others. Conference calling now largely involves video and data
as well as audio conferencing and makes use of highly advanced
equipment to deliver these new and improved services to
subscribers. The problem with this lies in the availability of
these equipments for the world's majority. Attendance and
participation in conferences may now be limited by the fact that
potential delegates in areas where the necessary equipment and
technological advancement has not yet arrived may not be able to
participate at all.

Another limitation is the lack of any set standard for
conference calling protocols. Certain measures for order and
smooth progress have been set for face-to-face conferences and
meetings. For conference calls, no such measures exist. The
normal etiquette and standard of behavior is necessary
even in these types of conferences to make sure that it would
not totally remove the aspect of interpersonal relations in
business dealings.

Last, but definitely no less important, is the instances of low
security and lack of proper billing standard provided to the
clients availing of conference calling services. These
conferences are recorded, and the clients should have control
over the contents of their conferences. Likewise, they should be
properly informed of the breakdown of the costs they have to pay
for these services.

From this it is apparent that there is a negative side to
conference calling. It is up to a potential user, therefore, to
weigh the pros and cons of using conference calls before
availing of a particular service.

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About the author:
Markus Wahlgren runs the popular site,
http://www.SaveOnConferenceCalling.com where conference
calling services are reviewed and unbiased articles published
to make the decision about conference calling easier.
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Ron Passfield

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Teleclasses: Your New Innovative Way to Learn

Teleclasses: Your New Innovative Way to Learn

by Kim Oliver

What the heck is a teleclass anyway? Teleclasses, also called
teleconferences, are an innovative method for bringing
information to you without you needing to leave your home or
office.

Most teleclasses are promoted by people who do business online.
You will find them advertised on websites, in online advertising
or perhaps in an email you receive. After speaking with several
focus groups, I now understand that many people are unaware of
exactly what a teleclass is and are concerned that there is some
type of catch or hidden cost.

First of all, teleclasses are simply conference calls, ranging
in size from three to thousands of participants. When you sign
up for a teleclass, you typically receive an email that will
give you the details for calling in. You simply dial the phone
number provided at the agreed upon time for the class, enter the
access code provided and you are instantly connected to the
other participants who registered for the call and the teleclass
leader.

You only need a telephone to participate in the calls. If you
don't have a computer to receive the confirmation email, most
teleclass leaders will provide an alternative to email for you
to get the necessary information, such as a telephone call.

Many people are afraid that there are hidden costs with
teleclasses. Many teleclasses are free or list for a nominal
cost, such as $19-$49. The only additional cost to you would be
whatever your phone company charges for long distance fees. So,
if your long distance cost is $.05/minute, then a 60 minute
teleclass would cost you only $3.00! Many people will opt to use
their cell phone to avail themselves of their free minutes so
the call costs nothing!

Teleclasses gained popularity after 9/11, when many people began
avoiding larger gatherings, such as seminars or workshops.
Teleclasses are the perfect way to gain information without
having to travel to a remote location where there are large
groups of people. Also, during today's information age when
people need information quickly, teleclasses make the perfect
choice.

Most teleclasses are 60-90 minutes in length and are geared
toward giving information on a variety of topics. Each teleclass
is generally devoted to a specific topic. An expert will
disseminate information on the call and participants are
generally given the opportunity to ask questions and to interact
with the presenter and the other participants either throughout
or at the end of the call.

Key points are highlighted but there is not the depth of
information most people get from attending an in-person event.
Also, there is generally not the same atmosphere or personal
touch people get from attending a live, in-person seminar but
the advantages are many.

For example, you don't have to speak if you don't want to. No
one will even know you are on the call. You can maintain your
anonymity. You can hang up if the call doesn't interest you. You
can multitask in the comfort of your own home or office. As long
as your phone is muted, no one will know what you are doing.

You don't have to be concerned about what to wear. You can
attend a teleclass in your bath robe if you want. (This may not
be so easy if you are already at the office!) Also, driving
directions are never a problem. Teleclasses don't tie up any
more of your time than the actual call is scheduled for, leaving
you free to continue with your active, busy life.

Teleclasses are a new, convenient alternative for people looking
to gain information without investing a lot of time. Many times
a teleclass is offered by people who also provide in-person
workshops. The teleclass is a great way to "test drive" the
speaker to determine whether or not you want to invest your time
in a full-day seminar.

If you are interested in registering for any of these classes,
just visit www.coachingforexcellence.biz and click on the
"Classes" link on the left-hand navigation bar or to go directly
to the teleclass page, just click on the following link or copy
and paste it into your browser:
http://www.coachingforexcellence.biz/Teleclasses.shtml.

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About the author:
Kim Olver has an undergraduate degree in psychology, a graduate
degree in counseling, is a National Certified Counselor and is a
licensed professional counselor. She offers free chats,
assessments, a blog and an eZine, as well as workshops,
teleclasses, e-courses, counseling and coaching. Visit her
website at www.CoachingforExcellence.biz or contact her at (708)
957-6047.
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The Lowdown on VoIP

The Lowdown on VoIP

by Mike Schuda

It seems like technology is headed for a massive telephone
change over. The traditional Public Switched Telephone Network
(PSTN) is looking to be replaced by VoIP. VoIP is short for
Voice over IP. VoIP is the routing of conversations over an IP
network or the Internet. VoIP uses a packet-switched network
instead of the circuit-switched voice transmission lines used by
traditional telephone networks. VoIP does not need an Internet
connection to work. A company that has a LAN connection with all
of its computers can utilize VoIP technology.

VoIP is a great technology, but has a variety of issues with
implementation. VoIP may face problems with latency because IPs
do not provide Quality of Service guarantees, nor do they
provide their packets of information in sequential order.
High-speed Internet connections are required for VoIP and
firewalls often prove tricky for VoIP technology. To combat
this, many people use Session Border Controllers (SBC).

VoIP technology has many advantages. There are more new features
with VoIP because of the lack of an International
Telecommunications Union. VoIP is still very much an open market
for developers, so the technology is constantly being improved.
VoIP also has a lower cost than traditional sources because of
the monopolies that exist or traditional phone companies being
controlled by the government. Some users even see VoIP phone
calls as free because they do not have to pay extra for the
service. The user only pays the Internet service provider, and
therefore the usage of VoIP seems to be free. You can also take
your VoIP phone wherever you go because all you need is a
network connection to make it work. VoIP technology will also
benefit network agents who work for call centers. Agents can
help callers from anywhere in the country with an Internet
connection. Finally, because VoIP is on the computer, there is
increased functionality. Conference calls can be held,
information can be sent, and things like address books can be
updated and shared over VoIP.

While VoIP has many advantages, there are a few drawbacks to the
service. One of the biggest drawbacks is reliability. Telephone
lines have back up generators in case of power outages, so
phones can keep working. Because VoIP is connected to the
Internet, a power outage will end a VoIP call when the computer
shuts down. To combat this, users must buy an expensive
uninterruptible power supply or a generator that must then be
installed on the premises. Internet connections are also subject
to disconnection, depending on crowded networks, and the quality
of the ISP. If the Internet connection drops, then the VoIP call
will be dropped. VoIP is also a problem for emergency calls.
Because of the nature of the Internet and VoIP systems,
emergency workers cannot trace calls. In the event that someone
with an emergency has a problem but is unable to give an
address, the emergency worker will not be able to trace the call
and find the person. VoIP carriers are already attempting to fix
this problem by implementing a technical work-around. Finally,
it will be very difficult to integrate VoIP on a massive scale,
because while the standard Plain Old Telephone System (POTS) has
a common standard, VoIP does not.

VoIP has many advantages as well as some large drawbacks. The
main roadblock in the way of global VoIP adoption is
reliability. When VoIP proves that it can be just as reliable as
traditional telephone services have been over many years, then
it will start to be adopted. VoIP technology is always
improving, so the problems with VoIP today are likely to be
solved sooner than many people expect. VoIP can truly
revolutionize both the business world and home life.

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About the author:
Mike Schuda writes about a variety of new technologies, but
focuses primarily on VoIP technology.

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The Internet Phone Revolution.

The Internet Phone Revolution.

by Roger Overanout

The world is on the brink of a phone revolution, with a growing
number of people cutting their telecom bills by making free
calls via the World Wide Web.

A recent sign of this is that EBay, the online auction website,
is so sure the idea will catch on, that it has paid $4.1 billion
for the Internet Phone firm Skype Technologies.

Shortly all the millions of people who buy and sell goods on
eBay will be able to use Skype's software, to talk to each other
free and also make cut price calls to other landlines and cell
phones.

Internet Phone services such as Skype are specially valuable for
people who make a great deal of international telephone calls,
as even these are free as long as both caller and receiver use
the Skype software. The service works best over a broadband
World Wide Web link but it can be used over dial up. Also a
microphone headset is required to improve sound quality,
nonetheless you can also use the external speakers and
microphone that are supplied with most personal computers these
days.

Its terribly convenient to make an Internet Phone call, just
determine which Skype user or phone number you want to call,
press dial and a few seconds later you will hear the phone ring
at the other end. Skype claims that the sound quality for an
Internet Phone call is at least as good as a normal phone call,
particularly if you use a headset. Nevertheless, some users
complain about echoes and some delays between speaking and
hearing the feedback.

There are also more drawbacks, most Internet phone services
don't permit calls to emergency services, also you may not hear
incoming telephone calls whilst you are away from your computer,
and if you go offline or switch off your computer you will not
be able to receive calls at all. On the plus side you can use
the Internet Phone services to make conference calls and if you
have a Web Cam you could also set up a videoconference.

Skype is not the only provider of free Internet Phone calls;
they are also available with Vontage, BT Google Talk and several
others.

Vontage is one of the most popular. The service uses a router
and your normal telephone so you just make calls in the usual
way, but they are carried over the Internet rather than you
telephone company's landline. Telephone calls to other Vontage
users are free, and you get extra services such as voice mail
and call waiting included in the monthly charge cost.

With the on going take up of Broad Band services around the
world one has to wonder what is the longer term future for
traditional land line based telephone services?

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About the author:
For all the latest news and information about Internet Phones
and VoIP check with www.internetphonecenter.info

You may reproduce this article provided you maintain an active
link back to http://www.internetphonecenter.info

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Conference Call Etiquette You Need To Know

Conference Call Etiquette You Need To Know

by D Ruplinger

I have worked for large company for several years and have been on more conference calls, tele-seminars, and tele-training calls than I can remember. Those experiences have led me to develop a list of "Conference Call Tips and Etiquette" that can help make conference calls more pleasant, run smoother, and help avoid embarrassment. I'm sure the list I've put together isn't all inclusive but it does cover the major things I have experienced or learned about during the course of all those calls I've been on.

-- Find a quiet place. Background noise will be heard on the call and it can be very distracting to other participants. If you are at home and have small children playing nearby or have a noisy dog, try to find the quietest part of your house. The other participants on the call will appreciate it. If it is not possible to be away from the noise, mute your phone whenever you are not talking. Pressing *6 will mute most phones.

-- Avoid Using A Cell Phone. Try to avoid calling into a conference call from a cell phone whenever possible. Cell phones add tremendous background noise to a conference call. If a cell phone is your only choice, muting the cell phone is a necessity whenever you are not speaking. Also, make sure you are not driving when you are on you the call.

-- Be on time for the call. Don't get on the call late and expect someone to catch you up with what is going on while everyone else waits. It is rude and disrespectful to the other participants to not be on time. It gives them the impression that your time is more important than theirs.

-- Don't Use The Hold Button. Do not put the conference call on hold if your phone has hold music or those annoying beeps that sound every few seconds. To say it is a huge interruption and distraction for everyone else on the call is an understatement. I was once on a conference call for training on a new software product our company was introducing. Someone else put the call on hold for nearly 20 minutes and we ended up listening to her hold music for the entire time. If you have to leave a conference call for any period of time, hang up the phone and call back in when you are ready to rejoin.

-- Be Cautious With Cordless Phones. If you are joining a conference call from a cordless phone make sure the phone does not have a lot of static background noise. Usually static background noise starts when you start to get out of range of the phone base or is you get near another device that interferes with phone such as some small electric appliances and answering machines.

-- Avoid Shuffling Papers. One very annoying thing that some people do on a conference call is shuffle papers. It sounds very loud on the phone. Other small potentially noisy habits to avoid are : continually clearing your throat, tapping your pencil, drumming your fingers on the desk, etc.

-- Be Aware Of Whether Or Not Your Phone Is On Mute. If you do put your phone on mute while on a conference call, and it is always a good idea to do so whenever you are not talking, remember to take it back off mute when you talk. Likewise remember to put it back on mute when you are finished. Nearly everyone who has been on conference calls regularly can recount at least one memory of someone forgetting to put their phone back on mute and then saying something that was definitely not intended for the ears of the other conference call participants, such as a negative remark about something relating to the call or another person on the call.

-- Be Polite. Do not try to talk over another person on the call even if you feel you have a very important point to cover. It is in bad taste to do so and will result in everyone else on the call not being able to understand what you or the other person is saying. Be patient; wait until the other person has finished; and then talk.

Following the above tips can help make conference calls more successful, and more importantly, take up the least amount of time possible so you can get to 1,000 other tasks you have to accomplish like taking a time management course! But that's another story.

About the author

D Ruplinger is a featured writer for http://www.conferencering.com/. For more information about conference calls visit http://www.conferencering.com/.


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Three Ways Flat Rate Conferencing Can Help Grow Your Business

Three Ways Flat Rate Conferencing Can Help Grow Your Business

by Tom Parker

There is no question that teleconferencing is revolutionizing the way that people do business, both on the Internet and offline.

Internet marketers, coaches, consultants, counsellors, major corporations, even Sunday School teachers are using teleconferencing to stay in contact with their staff, clients, potential customers, and classes without having to set up a meeting place.

Teleconferencing has also added a new dimension to the way people can teach and deliver information over the Internet. Seminars and classes can now be held for hundreds of people at the same time without having to leave their homes. With a preset date and time, people can call a number and either learn more information about a topic or participate in a forum of discussion.

Charges for admission to these types of calls can be anywhere from $20 to $30 up to $100's of dollars for typically one hour.

Three Ways To Boost Your Income And Grow Your Business

Teleconferences can lead to an amazing growth in your income, and credibility as an expert on a given situation. You can also ADD more to your conferencing by utilizing flat rate conferencing.

Flat rate teleconferencing is simply setting up an account for unlimited monthly conference calls for a set rate. By doing so, marketers are seeing exponential growth in both their reach of new customers and as a byproduct, their income.

In watching this use of flat rate telenconferencing among individual marketers, corporate executives, coaches, and consultants I have singled out three ways that flat rate conferencing can lead to added growth and income.

1. Talk As Much As You Want.

Typically the average conference call would last for one hour. But, there are times when the conversation, and/or, meeting would take on a whole new life and 60 minutes just isn't enough time. But, either the call is cut off or the host has to pay extra charges.

With flat rate conferencing you can host your call for as long as you want with no worries of extra charges or disconnections. People are more at ease and can have added time to grasp what is being taught or talked about.

2. No reservations needed.

With regular conference calls you need to reserve your bridge in advance. With flat rate calling, there is no need. You can set up calls wihthin a minutes notice if need be.

This works well with telecommuters and for staff meetings.

3. You can set a conferencing budget.

If you can budget something every month you can use it to grow your income. With flat rate teleconferencing you are able to know every month how much you'll be spending on it and know how much you'll be earning with it.

If you're using teleconferencing to hold paid seminars or courses you can hold as many as you want each month for the same price.

People Are Learning More And Enjoying It

Teleconferencing has not only changed the way that people do business online, and added a new income avenue, but it has also helped alot of people get started with their own business, changed the way they learn, has helped coaches and counselors give more attention to their clients, and Sunday School teachers lead a lesson to shut ins and people who were on vacation.

And people are enjoying the new option of attending a seminar or class without leaving thier home.

Flat rate conferencing is going to add a new way for people to experience this more often and give businesses, and teachers, a new tool to reach more people.

About the author

Tom Parker has put together a website to help people who want to host a teleconference or class, and has made it affordable for everyone! http://www.affordableconferencing.com/ is your place for reliable, affordable, reservationless teleconference lines for easy hosting. Go and check out the rates and get your conference started today!

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Learn How Conference Calling Can Seal The Deal

Learn How Conference Calling Can Seal The Deal

by Alan Jason Smith


In today's business environment, companies that excel embrace the global dynamics of an international market with conference calling. The international market opens doors in many countries for increased competition, increased business, and increased profit. The international market has affected foreign policy, and continues to be a key point to success for many companies across the board. Larger markets and target groups increase potential clients. These increases provide room for growth, and please investors with the potential for wracking up the dollar signs.

While an international market allows for increased sales and a broader target group, international markets can also increase costs and burden. International markets require significant travel budgets, communication budgets, and increased attention to cultural differences. Companies who work across a single nation as well as with many countries must be familiar with local customs, and must embrace business traditions that may vary across borders.

Business dealings that occur in person present a particular challenge. Deals that require more than once staff member increase travel budget exponentially. As more office members become involved in an international transaction, the travel plans can become more complicated and the bottom line benefits of the deal are lessened with the expenditure. Conference calling to close the big deal offers an attractive solution to the mayhem that is traveling to meetings, and does so at a considerable advantage to both parties.

Conference calling provides a mechanism for meeting with many people in many places across the globe. With a conference call meeting, no one has to pack. There are not expense forms to fill out with a conference call. Because a conference call is not in person, business men can concentrate on the business at hand and not on which handshake or form of eye contact is more acceptable. Conference calls reduce travel costs because participants can take the conference call at their personal desk.

Conference calls can be crucial to sealing the deal even when they involve only members from one side of a deal. Conference calls are en effective way to disseminate information across a corporation quickly. Conference calls packages that allow for calls without reservation and at any hour of the day afford companies instant access to all members of their team. This means that company personnel assets in one place can also positively impact company actions in another region.

Conference calls to seal the big deal also offer some unique services. Operator-assisted conference calls ensure quality communication for all parties involved. Operators can be available for only the onset of the call, or can stay online for the duration of the call. Operators monitor the quality of the call, and ensure that all participants have a clear connection and can hear what is being said. Operators can record conversations held during a conference call, providing a record for all interactions during the call.

Conference calls can be beneficial for large-scale important meetings, as well as smaller meetings. Confernce calling occurs regardless of the weather, and can be an effective substitute for personal meetings when inclement weather arises. Conference calls provide increased opportunities for emplyeees at one job site to communicate with employees at another job site. This inexpensive method of communication increases the avenues of communication and opens new doors to coporate communication. Foreign deals, intercompany meetings, and other opportunities to interact that were once neglected due to travel costs can now be successfully completed with conference calling. When closing the big deal, companies can utilize all of their best players at a fraction of the cost with conference calling.

About the author

Alan Jason Smith is the owner of http://www.abeconferencecalling.com/ which is a great place to find conference calling links, resources and articles. For more information go to: http://www.abeconferencecalling.com/

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VOIP Service: Sign Up And Save

VOIP Service: Sign Up And Save by Ron King

If you want to save money on your telephone service using the internet, you will need to sign up with a VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) service provider. They will sell you the necessary equipment and assign you a number, which is used like a regular phone number.

VOIP providers are useful and very cheap. Most providers offer VOIP connections free of charge. They make their money by charging for calls to the regular telephone network. Most providers allow you to call any phone number in the world for a moderately low fee. For modest monthly fees (about $8-$20), they offer unlimited calls to certain geographic areas. They also provide voicemail, call forwarding and conference calls, at no extra charge.

Vonage, BroadVoice, Diamond, iConnectHere, Lingo, mywebphone, Packet8, and VoicePulse are some of the major VOIP providers. Most of these companies are based in the United States; some also have offices in other countries.

VOIP equipment includes a broadband modem and an ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter) or IP phone. Both the ATA and IP phone connect directly to the modem, but the ATA allows you to use older analog phones. No matter which equipment you use, it has a unique number that identifies your current IP (Internet Protocol) address. If you're constantly on the move, your VOIP provider tracks your current IP address, which allows people to contact you no matter where you are.

Even if you're using your Internet phone from a single location, a VOIP provider is usually still necessary. The majority of residential Internet connections have 'dynamic' IP addresses, so every time you reconnect to the Internet, you have a different IP address.

The VOIP provider is also useful, because people can contact you by entering your user name, rather than your IP address.

When choosing a VOIP provider, keep in mind the protocol they use. SIP seems to be the emerging standard. It offers fairly easy connection routes between different VOIP providers. H.323 and IAX protocols are sometimes offered in addition to SIP. Skype, popular for PC-to-PC VOIP systems, uses a proprietary protocol, so it is not easy to connect to the Skype network from another VOIP provider.

It is a bit of work to research and set everything up, but the sooner you start, the quicker you will be able to look back and say, "Why did I wait so long?"

About the author

Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer. Visit http://www.voip-solutions-now.com/ to learn more about this subject.

Copyright 2005 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact.

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Ron Passfield

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Skype Lets You Make Free Phone Calls Online

Skype Lets You Make Free Phone Calls Online by Jim Edwards

Copyright 2005 Jim Edwards

Everywhere you turn phone companies offer 3 or 5-cent long distance phone calls, or even unlimited long distance for a flat fee monthly.

Now you can make reliable calls using the Internet for anywhere from 0 to 2.3-cents per minute.

Welcome to Skype, the Internet telephony company that has set the traditional telephone world on its ear.

Recently purchased by Ebay for 2.6 billion dollars, Skype stands ready to revolutionize worldwide voice communication simply because they enable you to carry on crystal clear voice communication with anyone else in the world with a either a phone or Internet connection.

What's the catch you ask?

Well, to make phone calls, you need a computer, a microphone, speakers, a modem, an Internet connection and the free Skype software you can download from www.skype.com

To make a free phone call, you need someone on the receiving end with a computer, Internet connection, and the Skype software installed.

To make a call from your computer to a land-based phone virtually anywhere in the world, you must pre-pay for calling minutes in blocks of 10 Euros (approximately $12 U.S.).

One block of calling minutes gets you about 500 minutes of calling time, or a little over 8 hours of talking time.

Skype uses a technology called IP telephony.

IP telephony first appeared commercially back in the lat 1990's with services like Dialpad.com, which initially offered phone calls from computers to land-based phones in exchange for watching online advertising.

This model soon failed, but the thought of making ultra-cheap phone calls through a computer did not.

And, as the recent mega sale of Skype reveals, a market now exists that can put Internet telephony to work on a grand scale, or at least large enough to make eBay pony up with a lot of cash and stock to give it a try.

Once you install the software, you log onto the service and can make phone calls to other Skype users through their computers at no charge.

You can set up a call list, much like an instant messaging "buddy list" so with a couple clicks of the mouse you can ring your friends up for a chat.

Or, if you pre-pay for calling minutes, you can enter in the country code and phone number of your pals, click a button, and their phone or cell phone will ring.

Skype also allows you to hold conference calls with up to 4 other people at the same time, making it easy to hold group meetings.

Skype includes a group chat feature which allows you to hold a group chat session with up to 48 other people at the same time... excellent for "webinars" or even planning that next family reunion.

Skype also allows you to transfer files to and from other users, perfect for sharing photos, music and short video clips with your pals.

Tip: Get a good headset microphone.

It makes using the service more enjoyable and also eliminates the echo created by your own speakers feeding back into your PC's microphone.

About the author

Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and co-author of an amazing program that teaches you how to use free articles to quickly drive thousands of targeted visitors to your website, affiliate links, or blogs... without spending a dime on advertising! Click Here>
http://hop.clickbank.net/?ronpass/ezarticles

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