What Is a Conference Call?

A conference call is an event in which the participants join together for a meeting by telephone. This allows them to have conversations and share information as if they were all face-to-face with each other, even though there are physical limitations imposed on how far apart their locations can be. It also requires procedural changes such as the timing of questions being asked before or after answers, so that everyone has equal time to speak during the course of a conversation.

A conference call allows numerous people to join the same call at the same time. While conference calls are most often associated with multiparty telephone conversations, advances in voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) technology have made it feasible to host and participate in conference calls using smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers.

Below, we’ll go through the different sorts of conference calls, how the technology works, and what to look for when picking a service.

What Kinds of Conference Calls Are There?

You’re probably on at least a few collaborative calls each day, whether you work for a startup, a sole proprietorship, or a company. Although more firms are using video conferencing to keep their staff connected, 71% of enterprise enterprises still utilize audio-only conference calls to do business.

As a consequence, the word “conference call” has come to refer to three distinct forms of distant collaboration:

• Participants dial into an audio-only collective call with a group of three or more people in a traditional conference call. Participants may join the call using a landline or a VoIP-enabled device.
• Participants attend a video conference, which includes real-time footage of the participants.
• Participants attend a conference call, and a presenter uses the internet to give a presentation to the group. A web conference differs from a prepared video in that it is largely a live one-to-many call, although participants may generally engage in some limited capacity.

Finally, teams must remain connected, and face-to-face meetings are becoming more difficult to have as remote cooperation becomes more prevalent. As a result, regardless of the sort of conference calling you use, technology has become an integral element of the corporate world.

What Is a Conference Call and How Does It Work?

Conference calls are similar to phone conversations, except they include three or more participants. A conference call may be started in one of two ways:

• Caller dials a participant to start a call: A caller dials a participant to start a call. As the caller calls further numbers, new people are added to the conversation.
• Participants dial a number that links them to a conference bridge, which is a special server that can handle many calls at the same time and patch the audio through so that all callers may listen and participate.

As a consequence, conference calls have become a convenient, rapid, and easy method for individuals all over the globe to interact. While texting, emailing, and messaging applications are becoming more popular, nothing compares the convenience and efficiency of dialing a phone number, provided you use a good provider.

Providers of Conference Calls

The majority of the top business phone systems have basic conference call capacity. Providers, on the other hand, have been able to set themselves apart by providing extra services to improve your calls. Some, for example, have greater participant limits, while others include extras like as call recording, polling, video conferencing, and more. Price, features, functionality, and scalability vary for each service.

There are plenty of Providers of Conference Calls on the market, but here are a few of our favorites:

Nextiva

Nextiva is a VoIP business phone system that gives organizations a range of communication and collaboration capabilities to interact with coworkers and customers. It provides businesses with features such as unlimited phone and video calling, participant caps, business SMS, team messaging, call recording, file sharing, and more. With a 36-month commitment, plans start at $21.95 per user, per month for five to 19 users, but volume reductions are possible as you add more users.

Zoom

Zoom is well-known for its video conferencing capabilities for both corporate and personal usage, but its platform also offers enterprises high-quality, dependable, and cheap audio conferencing conversations. The platform’s user-friendly design, paired with its multipurpose features, makes it a popular conferencing option for both small and large corporations. Toll-based dial-in plans start at $14.99 per license, per month, but to gain toll-free call-in choices, as well as dial-in and call-out capability, you’ll need to upgrade to Zoom’s Audio Plan.

GoToMeeting

GoToMeeting is a web-based audio and video conferencing software that gives companies the tools they need to have professional meetings. Meeting lock, corporate messaging, cloud recording, and call transcriptions are just a few of the features that elevate every conference call to the next level. Participants may participate in calls using an internet-connected device or a landline. Plans start at $14.00 per month per organizer and have a limit of 150 participants.

How to Make Your Conference Calls More Effective

Not every conference call is handled the same way. Some of these may lead to efficient team cooperation, which improves communication and opens up new possibilities. Many conference calls, on the other hand, might waste time and resources.

Here are a few suggestions for improving the efficiency of your conference calls:

• If you have foreign participants on your call, provide them a local dial-in number so they don’t have to pay long-distance conference calling expenses.
• Send out the following instructions: Don’t presume that everyone understands how to join a conference call and participate in it. Call invitations from platforms like as Zoom and GoToMeeting provide extensive how-to instructions, including all dial-ins, access codes, URLs, PINs, and more.
• Use the right tools: Providers of Conference Calls will empower the host with functionality like participant muting, noise-canceling, caller ID, and meeting locks. Use these tools to create high-quality, professional calls.
• Keep a record of your meetings: Recording your conference calls eliminates the need for extensive note-taking. The majority of providers will have this feature and will enable you to record locally or in the cloud.

FAQs

What is the procedure for obtaining a conference call number?

For your conference calls, your VoIP or conference call provider will offer you with a dial-in number. Most providers will provide a personal meeting number to each licensed user and allow you to generate a separate conference call number for each meeting. This enables your company to host multiple conference calls at once.

Is there a time restriction on how long a conference call may last?

That will be determined by your service provider. Some service providers have constraints, while others provide unlimited conference call time. Your call length will be affected by the plan you choose. Upgrade your business license to have access to lengthier conference calls, which is generally encouraged by providers.

Is it possible for callers to join a conference call before the host?

Most of the time, the host will need to join the conference call before other participants can enter the call. However, some Providers of Conference Calls offer functionality to allow participants to join before the host.

What are the advantages of an audio-only conference call over a video conference?

Conference calls that are solely audio are less distracting and scary. Audio calls use less bandwidth when joined over VoIP, and even landlines may participate.

Is it possible for overseas participants to participate in my conference call?

Yes. Your conference call service provider will supply you with a list of dial-in numbers for international participants to join your conversations.

Conclusion

Conference calls aren’t a new communication tool, but as workforces become more scattered, they’ll become more common. Conference calls are a globally accessible method to communicate from anywhere in the globe, whether your organization and workers utilize VoIP, landlines, or a mix of the two.

Consider experimenting with audio-only conference calls if your company already employs video conferencing software. It’s a less expensive, less distracting option that’s better suited to bigger meeting groups. Integrate conference calls into your communication stack to make use of this technology.