Audio Conferencing
Audio conferencing allow people in different locations to connect simultaneously, through conventional telephone services. It allows any number of participants to communicate when they are physically unable to be present at the same time. Also known as free teleconferencing or voice conferencing, this mode of communication permit individuals to connect and collaborate together, on one, secure private telephone line. This form of communication is widely used in fields such as education, commerce and business to allow participants to connect when they are physically unable to be present.
Many standard touch tone phones have a ‘flash’ button, which permits you to add one caller to the line, with the person you are already speaking to. This feature is limited, however if there are several people you would like to attend the call.
How Does an Audio Conference Differ From a Regular Call?
Three or more individuals make up an audio conference call. In teleconferencing, callers connect to a conference bridge. A conference bridge is a server which allows multiple people to communicate together. Traditional telephones use ‘circuit switching’. For this type of call, it is routed through a series of interconnected switches until it reaches the Conferencing Bridge. The bridge then connects multiple calls together.
If calls are all connected within one office building, the calls are connected through what is called a PBX, (private branch exchange). This is a miniature telephone network within that organization. All connections remain open for the duration of the call. Because only one person will speak at a time typically, technically only one part of the connection is in use at any given time.
There is also a second type of audio conference call. This type of call is similar to the traditional teleconference call, except the technology behind it is called VoIP, or voice over internet protocol. This method takes analog audio signals, similar to those used when on a standard telephone, and converts it into digital data that may be transmitted over the internet, permitting internet audio conferencing. The difference is simply how the data moves from one point to another.
Types of audio conferencing services
When choosing an audio conferencing on Demand, it’s handy to know that there are three types for you to choose from. The first method is known as ‘dial in’; the second is ‘reservationless’; also known as a toll free conference call; and the third is ‘operator attended’.
Dial In Teleconferencing
Dial in conferencing simply involves dialing into a pre-designated telephone number that is distributed to participants invited on the call. It is also accompanied with a pass code that you must enter in through a touch tone telephone, once you have dialed the conference call access number. The access pass code is what will permit you to enter the conference call.
Reservationless Conference Calls
The reservationless conference call of audio conference call is used for businesses which choose to allow participants within the United States and/or Canada to dial into the conference call toll free. This means if you are not within a local dialing calling area, you incur no long distance fees, which are charged to the company hosting the call. You will also have to enter a pass code in order to be permitted into the call.
Operator Assisted Audio Conference Calls
An operator assist conference call utilizes several pre-selected services offered by the conference call company to the customer who supports the flow and professional nature of the call. Some common operator assisted services requested by the customer include: operator dial out (to bring participants into the call), call introductions, question/answer moderator, live call monitoring (to assist with trouble shooting, answering questions, etc), roll call, translation services, post call close, faxing/emailing documents to participants and much more.
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