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If you’re looking for a conference call provider chances are you already know the advantages that teleconferencing confers to businesses in search of efficiencies and greater productivity. Reduced travel costs, broader participation in meetings, and quicker decision making are just a few of the results you can expect from a well-executed conference call. Who relies on conference calls today? The answer might surprise you. Teleconferencing has moved beyond simple "phone gatherings" and is now often a medium of choice for:
- Staff meetings
- Board meetings
- Company broadcasts
- Sales and marketing efforts
- New product offerings
- Investor relations
- Performance reviews
- Legal depositions
- Continuing education
Conference calls clearly have the ability to do a lot. Tapping that ability, however, depends on the capabilities—and quality-of the conference call provider you finally end up choosing. There are certain things to look for. First, make sure the provider you’re considering offers both reservationless and operator assisted teleconferencing. Reservationless conference calling allows you to call impromptu meetings with up to hundreds of participants on the spur of the moment. The service, offered by most teleconference providers, is fully automated, making it available 24 hours a day. Participants simply dial in to a toll-free number and punch in a pass code granting them entry to the call. Conferences cost just pennies a minute. Features and services for reservationless conference calls include music-on-hold, tones announcing people entering or leaving the call, roll-call capabilities, the ability to lock out latecomers and/or unwanted callers and the ability to instantly switch from interactive to lecture mode so that only the host is able to speak.
Operator-assisted conference calls, on the other hand, are for larger "event" calls that are typically scheduled in advance. As the name suggests, operator-assisted conferences come with an operator who can provide a full array of services and amenities before, during and after the call. If that’s the kind of call you’re interested verify that your conference call provider offers:
- Pre-Conferencing services. Make sure you can meet with the operator before the conference to discuss how you want the event to flow.
- Continual monitoring. You want your operator to be there for the whole conference and available anytime you need assistance.
- Q&A and Polling services. Many conference call providers question and answer sessions and/or polling sessions during or after a conference call. Participants respond on their keypads.
- Operator introduction. On an operator assisted call the operator should introduce the speakers and check off participants’ names, phone numbers and company affiliations from a prescribed list.
With a little research you should be able to find the right services for your business. Turn to A+ Conferencing as your conference call provider, because we will be able to meet all of your needs and requirements.
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