Teleconferencing is becoming the wave of the future as business has gone global. With having networks from different places and doing business with people from different locations, there is a need for a mode of communication that is less expensive than traveling which is offered by teleconferencing.

Defining Teleconferencing

Teleconferencing is the technology that allows two or more people to talk in real time via a telephone. A teleconference allows people are in different locations to connect to each other as if they are in the same room.

How It Works

There are many types of teleconferencing services that can be used in different ways. You can either purchase your own equipment to conduct a teleconference or you can pay for the use of equipment through a teleconferencing provider. Both options come with a set of advantages and disadvantages. But both can allow you to contact two from two to literally thousands of other people at the same time.

Services Offered

The most basic of all service is three-way calling service which is available through most local phone companies. However, this type is likely to have a not so good sound quality and is very limited. You most likely cannot connect to overseas numbers and are limited to certain regional or national locations.

If you are need of a teleconference system, you probably want to include more than two other participants in a conference. The following is a rundown of
the common services available through many teleconferencing providers:

• Pay Per Use Conference Call Pricing: These services are suitable for users whose calling needs vary from month to month. By having a Pay Per Use plan, users can avail of a low per-minute rate as long as the user only stick with a specified amount of minutes each month. In case you did not consume all of your minutes, you may be charged for the full amount anyway.
• Minutes Conferencing Call Pricing: This can be compared to the previous plan, but the rate is different. They vary from one provider to another, but they are typically lower than Pay Per Use plan. Minutes Conferencing Call Pricing plans typically have from 500 to 12,000 monthly minutes. If a user exceeds his limit, he will be charged extra.
• Flat Rate Conference Call Pricing: This is suitable for users who frequently make conference calls and those who need to include many callers in conference calls. This plan charges a flat rate each month to its users regardless of the minutes used.