Tuesday, February 5, 2008

The Conference Call - A Great Way To Communicate

The telephone was one of the greatest inventions of all time. Originally created for 2 users, who would talk to each other over a certain period of time, usually 10-20 minutes. This device lets people communicate, through a switch board, over great distances. More and more new features have been added to telephones over the past years, and more features will continue to be developed. A conference call is done with a telephone that connects 2 or more users together to have a discussion and share information.

If you run or participate in a business that actively does conference calls, it's important that you know how to make one. Usually, your superior, or a co-worker, will guide you through it. That is not always the case though. If your doing this for personal use, odds are you aren't going to have a conference call specialist sitting next to you. The good thing about this task is that no special equipment is required. You don't need fancy gizmos or a high tech phone, just a regular phone connected to a phone line.

To participate in a conference call, you will have to be invited or be hosting it. Usually an invite can be given in person, through the mail, by e-mail, or even by phone. You would dial the number that had been given to you, which will connect you to the host, or the operator who is assisting the call. Most of the time, you are also given a participant PIN code. This is in order to get the people who were truly invited to the call, without the troublemakers. Although, it is possible for the people, who were invited, to be the troublemakers. Anyways, during the conference call there may be a set of guidelines set up. This will depend on the individual call, but usually consists of not talking while others are talking, treating others with respect, etc. A lot of the time this isn't an issue because there are measures that can be taken to mute all others and allow one person to speak. Once everyone is connected, the host of the call will begin the presentation, discussion, debate, etc on the topic that was given. Most of the time, the call, to the callers and not the host, is toll free. On the other hand, the host, which is the company or person who set up the call, usually has to pay by the hour and per person.

Over the years many companies and people alike have found that this method works well. It brings in the people who would like some more information on what they are, or will be, doing. The call then sheds light on the subject giving people the comfort they need to push forward with whatever it is that they are doing. People agree that it is just much more comforting discussing something rather then just reading it. If you are asked to participate in one of these calls, you should at least try it and get the feel for it. Make sure you know all the details which include cost, what you will be discussing, etc. before you make the call.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of BestConferenceCallingServices.com He provides more information on how to correctly setup a conference call, plus audio, web and video conference calling specials that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

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