Lee Simonson – Phone Conference Call Service

12
Mar 21
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Video Conferences Taking Mental Toll

Experts find video conferences are exhausting and emotionally draining

“A lot of people just don’t like a camera in their face and are tired of trying to look good.”

Old-fashioned telephone conference calling winning new fans

(Summary: This article is about the pros and cons of video conferencing vs. regular phone (audio) conference calling. If you are interested in obtaining a phone conference call service, you can click here for a fast conference call set-up.)

By now, you’ve heard these kinds of comments regarding the ubiquitous video conference calls:

“I can’t stand it anymore. Every time we have a video conference it’s a major production. I didn’t sign up to be in show business.”

“I don’t like the way I look and I can never get the lighting or angle right. I’m on a laptop and the camera is always up my nose.”

“The worst part of these video conferences is that I have to look and act interested in topics I have nothing to do with. I could turn off the camera, but then everyone thinks I left.”

“Not only are these video calls intrusive, but they give me a headache. I just want to close my eyes and zone out.”

Frustrations continue to mount as video conferencing becomes a staple of business life. Catapulted by the pandemic, millions of people are turning to their teenage sons and daughters for advice on how to present themselves in the best light — and yes, lighting is a big deal!

Meantime, millions more are yearning for simpler times when just picking up the phone and conferencing with associates, clients and colleagues seemed so easy and comfortable.

Here is a review of the latest scientific findings on why and how old-fashioned and basic phone conferencing is winning over new converts who aren’t interested in fixing their hair or making sure they have the right makeup.

New Peer Reviewed Study Shows How Video Conferencing Causes Angst

Stanford Professor Jeremy Bailenson, examined the psychological effects of spending hours per day on video conferencing platforms. He is a communication professor and founding director of the Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab (VHIL).

In the first peer-reviewed article, published in the journal Technology, Mind and Behavior on Feb. 23, 2021, Bailenson discusses video conferencing, looking at the specific reasons why being on video conference can cause mental fatigue and strain. Here is a summary and synopsis of the findings:

1) Exposure is “intense” and “unnatural.”

The reports says, “Both the amount of eye contact we engage in on video chats, as well as the size of faces on screens is unnatural.

“In a normal meeting, people will variously be looking at the speaker, taking notes or looking elsewhere. But on video calls, everyone is looking at everyone, all the time. A listener is treated nonverbally like a speaker, so even if you don’t speak once in a meeting, you are still looking at faces staring at you. The amount of eye contact is dramatically increased.

“Social anxiety of public speaking is one of the biggest phobias that exists in our population,” Bailenson said. “When you’re standing up there and everybody’s staring at you, that’s a stressful experience.”

video conference takes mental toll

Another source of stress is that, depending on your monitor size and whether you’re using an external monitor, faces on videoconferencing calls can appear too large for comfort.

“In general, for most setups, if it’s a one-on-one conversation when you’re with coworkers or even strangers on video, you’re seeing their face at a size which simulates a personal space that you normally experience when you’re with somebody intimately,” Bailenson said.

When someone’s face is that close to ours in real life, our brains interpret it as an intense situation that is either going to lead to mating or to conflict. “What’s happening, in effect, is you’re in this hyper-aroused state,” Bailenson said.

Solution: Until the platforms change their interface, Bailenson recommends taking Zoom out of the full-screen option and reducing the size of the Zoom window relative to the monitor to minimize face size, and to use an external keyboard to allow an increase in the personal space bubble between oneself and the grid.

2) It’s like constantly looking into a mirror — it’s stressful.

Quoting the report, “Most video platforms show a square of what you look like on camera during a chat. But that’s unnatural, Bailenson said. “In the real world, if somebody was following you around with a mirror constantly – so that while you were talking to people, making decisions, giving feedback, getting feedback – you were seeing yourself in a mirror, that would just be crazy. No one would ever consider that,” he added.

Bailenson cited studies showing that when you see a reflection of yourself, you are more critical of yourself. Many of us are now seeing ourselves on video chats for many hours every day. “It’s taxing on us. It’s stressful. And there’s lots of research showing that there are negative emotional consequences to seeing yourself in a mirror.”

3) Video conferencing makes you feel confined and stuck in one position.

The report emphasizes that typical phone conference calls enables “humans to walk around and move.” However, when you’re on a video call, you need to stay in one place and “movement is limited in ways that are not natural.” Research is indicating that when people are moving, they are better able to think and express themselves.

That’s one of the attributes of phone conference calling. Because no one can see you, you can sit, stand, walk, lay down, or do anything you need to do to make yourself comfortable. As long as you can talk, the rest doesn’t matter and no one will be making any judgements.

4) It’s harder to send and receive non-verbal gestures.

Bailenson emphasizes that in regular day to day interactions, it is natural to pick up body language — nonverbal communication — that each of us interpret subconsciously. But in a video conference, those cues area much more difficult to send and receive. Everyone is having a harder time understanding exactly what people are thinking and expressing since they are only seeing one part of a body.

As an example, he said, “Gestures could also mean different things in a video meeting context. A sidelong glance to someone during an in-person meeting means something very different than a person on a video chat grid looking off-screen to their child who just walked into their home office.”

He advocates that during long video sessions, participants should give themselves breaks and switch to audio only. He says, “This is not simply you turning off your camera to take a break from having to be nonverbally active, but also turning your body away from the screen.”

While Bailenson offers several ideas to mitigate the fatiguing and stressful effects of video conferencing, some may believe they are not preferable. For example, he recommends an interface where users would not be able to see themselves. However, a good number of people may want to know how their image is being presented to others throughout the conference.

A Goldmine for Makeup Companies!

Not only does effect the mental and emotional state of participants, but there are other effects as well — namely, the rush for makeup! Especially for men!

For good or bad, video conferencing is forcing men to become more self-conscious of their appearance. In a nutshell, they don’t like how they look. Video conferencing is causing them to see themselves in ways they never noticed before. That’s why, in the past year, it has been reported that Google searches for “men’s makeup” jumped nearly 80%, along with other searches including covering redness, hiding pimples and hiding under-eye bags. You can read more about this phenomenon here.

The Solution: A Phone Conference!

Yes, the old-fashioned phone conference call seems to be seeing a comeback, rescuing millions of video conference ex-pats who have been caught and consumed by the video tsunami. Here is a list of the top reasons why phone conference calling is seeing a come back. In other words, have prepared a list of the Top 10 Reasons Why Phone Conferencing is Coming Back. Here they are:

1) You don’t have to log-in to anything, online or on the phone.
2) You don’t have to fix any settings on your phone or computer, nor do you have to download programs or apps.
3) You don’t have to worry or think about what you look like or how you are dressed.
4) You don’t have to worry or think about your physical setting, your background or your lighting.
5) You’re free to do other things, even walk around, during a phone conference call.
6) You don’t have to worry or think about distractions or intrusions from family members or associates.
7) You can phone conference from anywhere you can carry a cell phone.
8) You don’t have to get a new set of passcodes every time you want to have a conference. You can re-use your phone passcodes anytime, until you want to change them.
9) You can tell your associates and friends, “I can hear you. I don’t have to see you too.”

When Verbal Communication is Enough

While video conferencing is skyrocketing in use and popularity, there are a few cracks beginning to show in the armor. Whether the novelty has worn off, or people are just becoming tired of “being on” for hours, video conferencing is starting to take a toll. Outside of a video conference about yoga or meditation, verbal communication seems to be enough for most people.

If you are looking to get off the video conferencing merry-go-round and settling into more of a traditional and relaxing way to community and collaborate, check out all the advantages of our phone conference service here. You can have your first phone conference in minutes.

13
Jul 20
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7 Person Conference Call

7 person conference call Looking to set up a 7-person conference call right now? You can get your conference call-in number and passcodes immediately by going to our Instant Activation page here.

There is no set-up fee and no monthly minimum — you only pay for the time you use, no more or less. The discounted rate is 4.9¢ per person, per minute and your conference line will be able to handle anywhere from 3 to 100 people at a time. So, having 7 people in your conference will never be an issue. Better yet, you’ll be able to use your conference service anytime in the future whenever you need it. Just keep your passcodes and use them the need arises. Tell your 7 member party to dial the toll-free number (you’ll get that in your email) and enter the passcode followed by the # sign (you’ll get your passcodes in the email too — one for you as the host and one to give to your guests.) The email will also provide full instructions, but it’s very easy.

Check in with your team.

A 7-Person conference call will allow you to meet with your team, employees, or salespeople to make sure that company goals are being met. You can keep a clear picture of the productivity and progress of the company by having a group phone call each morning, much the same way you would have morning meetings under normal conditions.

Collaborate with members of different organizations.

Depending on the type of project or job you are working on, you might have need to collaborate with multiple clients or vendors at the same time. The more hands you have on a project, the more complex the project management becomes. Frequent 7-person conference calls can keep everyone on the same page so that you can work in concert toward a successful conclusion.

Different plans for different usage.

If you are worried about paying for more services than you need, you’re not alone. Everyone is tightening the purse strings as the global economy faces a challenge not seen in modern times. But with our flexible pricing plans, we are sure to have an option for you.

If you need to make only occasional 7-person conference calls, you can set up your own conference number and only pay for the minutes and attendees that actually get on the call. This is the most economical if you will only need teleconferencing once in a while.

If you are going to need to be making a lot of conference calls, you might want to consider one of our unlimited flat rate options. You can handle from 7 to 10-person conference calls for a flat rate of $19 per month, with an unlimited number of uses.

Contact us for more information.

If you aren’t sure what teleconferencing services will meet your needs, we are more than happy to help you determine the best option for your business activities. Contact us today for assistance by calling 877-254-2424 or going to our Contact Us page. We’ll get back to you fast!

13
Jul 20
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6-Person Conference Call is Easy Set-Up

6 person conference call Do you have a 6-person conference call coming up quick? No problem. You can get your conference call-in number and passcodes in the next 2 minutes by going to our Instant Activation page here.

Once you submit the form, you’ll get an immediate email that will confirm you’re all set up. Just have everyone call the toll-free number and enter their passcode followed by the # sign, and you’re good to go. Your conference line will be always-on and available in the future too whenever you need it. There is no set up charge, or monthly minimums and you are only charged for the time you use, no more or less. It’s the perfect solution to getting 6 people on the phone at the same time to discuss your latest project or case. Your conference service will be able to accommodate anywhere from 3 to 100 people, so having 6 people on the line will never be an issue.

There are thousands of reasons you may need to have a conference call. Here are just a few:

— Project management with team and subcontractors
— Client presentation follow up with multiple members of the same organization
— Company updates, goal setting, new policies, or other organizational announcements
— Team performance reviews or feedback
— Negotiating a contract between more than a few parties, or involving two larger organizations with multiple individuals representing the company.

Despite fancy video conferencing, many people prefer a basic “old fashioned” phone conference

Even if your clients, team, or subcontractors are in the same city or geographical area, you will still need teleconferencing services in these tumultuous times. The pandemic is keeping most people at home, with employees working remotely in most cases. The best way to have communications for 6-person calls or more is to use a phone conferencing service.

There are some other options for holding virtual meetings today, with most of them offering video conferencing. There are a few problems with these apps. First, many of these apps have been developed just recently and there are security issues.

Second, these apps are sometimes rather difficult to set up. There is a complicated setup for everyone, whether you are a presenter or an attendee. In addition, everyone that attends the meeting must sign up for their own account on the app in order to joint the meeting. This adds people to spam marketing lists and other unwanted communications, all without getting a service that they are comfortable using.

Phone conferencing is reliable and convenient

Phone conferencing services are much more reliable. You don’t have to worry about internet slowdowns or outages, or other technical issues. Keeping your appointments and meetings fosters productivity and allows you to meet deadlines. Postponing or rescheduling virtual meetings can completely derail your schedule and plan for the day.

Finally, teleconferencing has been around long enough that most people are very familiar with how the services work. It is much easier for all attendees of any tech level to attend a call if they are able to do so simply by dialing a number and entering a meeting code.

We have different plans to suit every conferencing need

If you are a freelancer or small business with few employees, you may not need to have a 6-person conference call very often. But if you collaborate with a lot of people from different organizations, other freelancers, clients, etc., you’ll need to make conference calls frequently, especially while everyone is working remotely.

We offer several different plans for both pay-as-you-go teleconferencing and unlimited phone conferencing needs. If you aren’t sure which option makes sense for you, we are happy to help you understand the benefits and features of each, assess your needs, and help you decide on the best plan for you. Give us call anytime at 877-254-2424 or visit our Contact Us page, for immediate service. Thank you!

13
Jul 20
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4-Person Conference Call – Quick Set Up

4 person conference call Need a phone conference call for 4 people? You can set one up in the next 2 minutes by going to our Instant Activation page here.

Fill out the form and you’ll immediately receive your toll-free call-in number and passcodes in an email. Your discounted cost is 4.9¢ per minute, per person and you’ll only be charged for the time you use, no more, no less. Better yet, there is no set-up fee or monthly minimums. Again, you only pay for what you use. And you can use the service whenever you want in the future too.

Virtual meetings

The coronavirus has changed the way we work forever. Most companies are operating with minimal staff, or all of their staff is working from home. This creates a bigger need for virtual meetings than ever before.

There are a lot of options for virtual meetings, with more apps coming out every day that the pandemic stretches on. The most popular allow for video conferencing. There are some good reasons to avoid video, including the burden on employee home internet speed and bandwidth. The more people you have in such a meeting the more lag you will experience.

Why 4-person conference calls?

Virtual meetings aren’t for everyone. The apps can be complicated to set up and use if you are unfamiliar with the technology. If attendees are also unfamiliar with the platform it could cause delays in your meeting.

The most reliable way to communicate with your team is with conference calling services. If you get a pay as you go conference call line, you can meet with your team over the phone at any time that you need. You simply share the conference call phone number with the people you need on the call, and they can dial in at the designated time.

Do you make a lot of calls, or only a few?

When considering the best method to communicate with your team, you also need to think about how often you’ll need to make a conference call. If you’re only going to be using the service occasionally, it might make more sense to use a pay-as-you-go conferencing service. If you’re going to be doing a lot of teleconferencing, you might want to get our flat-rate service that gives you unlimited access for one low rate per month.

With everyone working from home, the need for these conference calls is going to continue to increase. Not only are you going to be making calls to clients and their teams, but you’ll also be making calls with your own team and supervisors to make sure that all clients are taken care of. It could be a good idea to jump into a flat rate conferencing plan.

What is the best option for a 4-person conference call?

When it comes right down to it, a traditional conference call is often the best solution for all parties. Still curious? Check out our other plans to get the best fit for your particular needs. We’re always here to assist you so feel free to give us a call or use the form on the Contact Us webpage. Thank you! We look forward to being your conference call provider for a long time to come.

13
Jul 20
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5-Person Conference Call Can Be Set-Up Fast

5 person conference call If you are looking to have a 5-person conference call, you can get your call-in number and passcodes immediately by taking advantage of our Instant Activation conference service here.

We specialize in providing fast conferencing set-ups for businesses, professional firms and non-profit organizations that need on-demand conferencing for 3-10 people. Don’t worry — when you sign up to get your call-in number and conferencing passcodes, you are NOT limited to just 5 people. Your conference bridge will enable you to have up to 100 callers. Better yet, there is no set-up fee and you are only charged for what you use. In other words, if 5 people are on the call, you are billed 5 cents per minute, per person. If 10 people are on the call, you are billed the same rate. It’s fast, simple and the perfect way to get your work done.

There is a huge demand for 5-person conference calls in today’s business world. Over the last 20 years businesses have increasingly turned to digital or virtual communication. Due to the pandemic, that trend has been accelerated ten-fold. More people are working from home than ever before, and they are likely to continue to do so for some time.

The changing business landscape.

Many studies have been done showing that people are less stressed, more focused, and more productive when working remotely compared to working in an office. But companies, particularly small businesses, have balked at allowing more of their employees work from home. Now they are being pushed into the practice, and many are finding that the benefits are numerous.

Uses for a 5-person conference call.

You can use our conference calling services to keep your team up to date, and to collaborate with others on projects. You can also use these services to meet with your clients, especially when you need to present or communicate with multiple people at the same company.

The easiest method of 5-way communication.

When you use traditional conferencing options, you have a much easier time meeting with your team or clients. Setting up the hosting end is very easy, and we can always walk you through it if you need help. If you are getting an unlimited plan because you’ll be using it frequently, you only have to do the set up one time in most cases. And, your attendees calling in have zero set up. Anyone can use a 5-person conference call, even if they struggle with tech.

Solutions for continuous communication with your team and clients.

There is a need for conference calling solutions for teams to maintain continuous communication. If you are used to having morning meetings with your staff each day, you can hold these over a conference call while everyone is working from home. While you can use video conferencing for these situations, a traditional conference call over the phone is often the easiest and most convenient option for everyone.

Easy teleconferencing options.

You can decide for yourself what type of conferencing services you need. Will you need to meet with your team every morning over the phone while you’re out of the office? Do you need to only meet with your team once a week or once a month? Choosing the right 5-person conference calling package based on your needs can be challenging, but we are here to assist you in finding the best plan for you.

If you are looking fot have a lot of conference calls, you might be well advised to look into our flat-rate service. You pay one flat rate per month for unlimited conferencing. You can talk as much as you want, whenever you want. Rates start at $9 per month for a 5-line capacity. We stand ready to assist you so contact us today to learn more about how our phone conferencing services can benefit you.

11
Jun 20
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Teleconference Service Guide | Conference Call Options

teleconference service guide

This teleconference service guide will provide a summary of conference call options you can evaluate when choosing an effective and reliable conference call service.

Here are a few questions you can ask potential vendors.
– Does the company insist you to share your contact list, such as LinkedIn contacts or account information on Facebook?
– Does the company provide you with an option of video conferencing?
– Does it include high security having a 7-digit password?
– Does it offer FREE recording capabilities?
– Does the conference service offer both toll-free and non-toll-free options?
– Does it provide live operators to assist in managing the conferences for essential meetings?
– Does it have customer testimonials on its website?
– Does the business offer live on-demand services for customers?
– Does a live individual answer the phone when you call the business?
– Does it offer pay-as-you-go plans in addition to flat-rate/fixed services?

Benefits of 24Conference and professional conference service providers

With more than 20 years of experience offering conferencing services to non-profits, professional offices, businesses, and corporations, we offer a variety of teleconference services to help people and associates cooperate and share important information.

Using a professional service like 24Conference has proven to save considerable resources, money and time. The latest experience with the shutdown caused by the coronavirus has shown first hand how important conferencing is in helping people connect while working remotely.

By and large, it is much less expensive to outsource your conferencing versus having your own in-house system, which requires maintanence and staff time.

Choosing Conference Call Plan

There are a number of conference call plans available. You just need to find the one that suits your purposes. Each one has its benefits. Generally speaking, they all make conferencing available to you 24/7, without any reservations necessary. With your conference call-in number and your passcodes, you and your participants can access the conference bridge anytime, from anywhere and you can enjoy an unlimited number of calls for an unlimited amount of time. It’s all yours!

Below are several plans — everything from unlimited fixed-rate/flat rate to pay-as-you-go plans. Also, we also offer legal conference calls and the top-of-the-line operator-managed conference call services. The costs of conference calling can differ depending on what kind of conference call service you have. While choosing any of our plans, it is essential to consider the unique needs of your organization. We are always here to assist you in navigating your options!

Pay-As-You-Go Conference Call

It is also called “pay-per-use” teleconferencing. This conference calling service is the most popular plan used by non-profits and businesses for collaboration and communication. The service is simple and affordable.

When you use this plan, you pay only for those services you use, and you pay for them after you use them. You can calculate the cost by multiplying the rate with the total minutes you will be using (for instance: 8 individuals on a conference call for 8 minutes = 64 total minutes. 64 minutes times 4.9¢ per minute = $3.14.)

Pay-As-You-Go Conferencing Benefits

Here is a list of the major advantages and benefits that this teleconferencing service offers:
– No need to buy any software or hardware
– No need to make a reservation to get service (use on-demand, 24/7)
– Free options and features such as auto hang up and music-on-hold
– A choice between non-toll-free and toll-free access
– Billing only after the conference call
– No monthly minimums
– No setup charges
– Have your conference call in the next 2 minutes with our fast conference call set-up

The value and reliability of this plan should put it at the top of your list of considerations. There are a lot of different formats and plans available to you. however, you can never go wrong with this plan. The value of this plan should not be underestimated.

This conference calling service is provided by almost all the vendors in different formats to fit their budget. With the advancement of global communication, and with the business associates and contacts spread all over the globe, the accessibility for 24/7 access has become universal. Irrespective of the time of the day, the users can access the conference bridges on-demand for conducting the business without any need to make reservations. At the time of signing up for conference service, you will be given a call-in number and password to start a conference call at any time with any number of members.

You may dial a regular local number or toll-free number to get into the conference. When talking about the costs, there are two options for you. You can choose a monthly fixed rate that offers unlimited usage or pay-per-minute rate.

Pay-as-You-Go conferencing is increasing in popularity because it is convenient and cost-effective. Regardless of where your contacts are in the world and irrespective of what time zone they are in, every person can pick the phone easily to stay connected. Perhaps it is a project of software development you are advancing in India or a manufacturing deal in China. Your contacts can work together and share their ideas over the phone.

Flat Rate Conferencing with Unlimited Usage

One of the most requested services is unlimited conferencing at a flat rate every month. This option is provided every month without any long-term contract. With this, you can talk when you want for as long as you want. You can be practically unlimited because the price is fixed. It is essential to note that with the help of a flat-rate plan, you are charged a fixed fee every month, even if you are not using it. In comparison with other programs, this service can save you if your business has a unique need for conferencing!

A significant difference between other plans and this option is that it does not provide the participants with a toll-free number. Instead, you dial a regular long-distance number for accessing the conference bridge.

But since most businesses and people have long-distance costs bundled with their local service, and there is NO long distance costs associated with cell phone usage, flat rate conference service is becoming very popular. A lot of non-profit groups, businesses, and organizations have significantly reduced their conferencing expenditures by merely shifting to a flat-rate service.

Conference Calling with Local Numbers

Local access is the most reasonable service. This service allows the members to dial a local number if present in significant cities. So, if you are in an area of New York City, you will dial a phone number of a New York City, while your conferees in Los Angeles or Chicago will dial a number for their respective cities.

No matter where you dial-in from, you will end up taking on the same conference bridge. The people who do not live in major cities can also enjoy the low-cost choice of Local Access conferencing. We recommend you this safest and most reliable option if you are a professional organization: a paid conference service with a diversity of conferencing plans to choose from!

Operator Managed Conference Call

Of course, the highly professional service is the operator-managed conference call service. It is the best option for essential calls when you need the proficiency of a highly-trained operator to call every member and hand-place them into a conference bridge.

The corporations choose this service all the time, particularly for the calls related to delicate or critical topics such as company-wide crisis, calls to the media, investor-relation calls updates.

There will be times when you require the services of a professional operator to staff and help you during a conference call. The operators can do different functions, and we are among the conference providers that can offer a complete list of options. Let us talk about the types of services our operators can offer:

Our operators can call your participants and add them to the conference call. It saves the participants from reminding themselves when to call so they only need to answer the phone.

What do Operators do?

Our operators receive your online order and then confirm the details with you the same time. (We appreciate 24 hours notice for operator managed calls.) Details will include the names and phone numbers of your guests and the exact time you want your call to start. Likewise, the operators can introduce every guest personally into the meeting. For instance, “Joining the call now is Mr. Smith from ABC Company.”

Per your instructions, your allotted operator can implement any features or functions you may require. For instance, you may need to mute the members to allow the leader to speak to the conference without background noise or interruption.

The operators can manage Q & A sessions (Question and Answer Sessions). All the users will be advised to press a number on the keypad to be placed in a queue. Then, the operators can screen your members and introduce them to the conference one at a time. It offers a more effective and organized interactive presentation.

The operator aided audio conferences are considered the best service. They offer an increased level of professional attention and can be used for critical or essential calls. They are used often in the education and legal fields and are standard for investor relations and corporate calls.

Video Conference: How to Video Conference with Your Webcam

It is quite inexpensive and easy to get a video conference call service for your organization or office. There is no need to invest hundreds of dollars on equipment when the webcam of your desktop performs well. Besides, you do not need any software. With our service, you can run the conference without any time, and none of your members will need to install or download any software on their desktops. The entire process is simple and fast.

Here are some of the benefits of getting a professional service of video conferencing:
– Upload any document and enable screen sharing
– Compatible with Mac and Windows
– Use built-in VOIP audio or your regular conferencing call service
– Broadly accepted and easy to use flash interface
– Configure screen format anyway according to your needs
– Recording capabilities, instant messaging, whiteboard, screen sharing, file sharing, and full-duplex video conferencing
– Immediate access without any reservations needed
– Get unlimited month-to-month usage or pay on a per-user basis
– No software or hardware to buy or maintain
– Easy setup and no start-up costs

One of the most notable features known as “screen sharing” allows you to have participants see whatever is on your screen. So, what you see on your desktop, they see on their screens. It can be anything; a document, slide show, video, or website. They will keep right up with you as you move on with your presentation. Also, you can use a pointer to let them know what to look at.

Because video conference call service has become reasonably priced and because the technology has brought it to your laptop, desktop, and even your phone, you will notice a lot of applications for it in non-profits, businesses, and family use. Of course, there are several free services such as Yahoo and Skype that provide video on a one-to-one basis. However, if you’re involved in having a smaller number of people on your video conference call, you will require a paid service like the one we are offering.

Want to see our video conference service in action? Give us a call us for a free demo to see all the benefits of video conferencing for your prospects, customers, and associates. With the advancements in video technology and with the rates going down, you’ll be using video conferencing more and more.

The More You Know, the More You’ll Like 24Conference

As you can see, we have different plans to service your particular conferencing needs — for every purpose and budget. We look forward to serving you in the future and our sign-up process is fast and easy. In fact, you can get set-up in less than 2 minutes by using our Fast Conference Call Set-up process. Please give us a call at 877-254-2424 and let us know what we can do for you. We look forward to working with you!

26
May 20
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Teleconference Service: Fast Set-Up

As a leading teleconference service, we can provide you an easy and fast set-up. If you are looking for an always-on conference service that is available 24/7 for your use, you can get your call-in number and passcodes in the next 2 minutes here with our Instant Activation service.

Here is a quick summary of the benefits of this teleconference service:

1) It offers toll-free calling, which is our specialty. You will get an 888, 877, 866, or 855 toll-free number for the conference bridge. You’ll get two passcodes — one for you as the host and another for your guests.

2) You only pay for the minutes you use. There is no set up fee or monthly minimums. After making the call, your credit card is charged, and a receipt is sent to your number. Also, you will get an emailed summary of the call instantly after it ends, listing the number of participants, the time each person stayed on the call, all shows by their caller ID numbers. You can also monitor your conference call online, seeing who is entering and leaving your conference in real time.

3) You can use your conferencing service today, tomorrow, next week — whenever you need it. You keep the same passcodes and can use them over and over again. There are no reservations, so you don’t have to let us know when you want to use the service. The passcodes always stay the same till you want to change them, which can be done quickly through calling our Customer Service department, which offers instant live assistance, without phone trees or recording you have to navigate. When was the last time you called any customer service department and had the live person answer the phone?

4) You will enjoy the best value and highest quality in the conference calling industry. Meanwhile, you’ll save on travel and meeting costs. With more and more work being remotely, teleconferencing services are seeing a dramatic surge in use, especially since conference rates have continued to trend downward.

Overall, if you are looking to add teleconferencing to your organizational culture or business, there has been a great time to get started.

teleconference service

Another Option: Have an Operator Manage Your Call

For important calls, you might want to consider having an experienced operator to help you. The operator managed and staffed the conference call, offers a live operator who dials-out to all the parties, and patches them through to the conference bridge. The guests only require answering the phone. Within the US, the cost to have an operator on your call is 19 cents per person/per minute for domestic calls. This is the highest level of customer service and conferencing you can obtain.

Usually, the operator dials you first and after that your guests in the way you prefer. You will need to provide a lot of numbers and names of those people you want us to call, as well as the time you wish the call to begin. For assuring you call is appropriately staffed, we appreciate having 24 hours’ notice. At the selected time, we will call all those people and add them to the conference. This highest level of conference is used for the essential conference call by court personnel, attorneys, businesses, corporates, and other people who are searching for time-saving and convenient ways to conduct the conference in the best way.

Operator Dial-In and Dial-Out Services

Operator Dial-In Service: It is when you and your guests call a toll-free number and are welcomed by the available operator, to get and compile information about your guests. You may need to gather a list of those people, by company, name, or other variable data points you like. It is famous for the investor calls when firms want to get contact information about the people from the press or reporters.

Operator Dial-Out Service: This is the highest level of conferencing available, which is considered a top-of-the-line service. Our professionally trained operators call you and your guests and place them into a conference call. Let us know if you would like us to introduce each caller when they join the conference call. It is one of the ideal solutions for the essential and high-level sales calls, international conference calls, legal conferences with depositions or judges, investor relation calls, or the other calls that require professional management and top-flight attention.

When it comes to professional conference calling, professionals have a variety of options. That’s why we encourage you to call us at 877-254-2424 and let us know about your specific needs so that we can work with you to offer the best service at the most competitive and lowest rates possible.

More Teleconference Choices for Non-Profits, Businesses, and Corporations

We have affordable plans for high-quality conferencing, and our plans are intended to meet the most every business need – including conferencing with local access numbers, full-service operator managed calls, flat and fixed-rate unlimited conferencing, and toll-free 800 conference call. You will see our primary offering at the top of this page. On every service page, you will see a different conference rate involving several free options that come with each service. These options, for example, music on hold, can be changed at any time. It is easy to set up a conference call and can be done in less than one hour. There are no long-term contracts and no cancellation or set-up fees. After setting up your account, you can begin a conference call anytime, because our services are ‘reservation-less.’

When you have your individual passcodes, there is no need to schedule the conference call with us; you can access the conference bridge 24/7. Outsourcing the conference call services and having access to a conference bridge that operated and handled by a company that emphasizes on offering best service is much more efficient and cost-effective as compared to purchasing your own hardware, software, and phone lines.

It is least expensive to have a piece of large conference bridge in comparison with owning a whole conference bridge, which requires maintenance contracts, fixed overhead costs like phone lines, and maybe underutilized with time. This is the reason why most non-profits and companies focus on retaining the conference services on a pay-as-you-go basis to reimburse for the flows and ebbs of usage.

There can be a time when significantly less phone conferencing is required, and the other time when usage is high. Per-use conferencing in a practical, convenient, and accurate way to increase collaboration and productivity among the investors, customers, prospects, board members, working colleagues, and even the general public for reputational management.

Professional and Reliable Teleconferencing Service

If you are looking for a professional teleconference service that can offer you dependable and reliable access with responsive customer service, we can help you today! Just give us a call and let us know what your particular needs are. We will assist you in designing a program that meets your requirements as well as your budget.

Tips on How to Improve the Quality of Your Teleconference

There are numerous conference call providers out there using all kinds of conference call hardware and equipment. As we all know, ‘You get what you pay for,’ some of it is good, and some of it is better. To be sure, we use the best hardware on the market today, and we go that extra mile to make sure you access the high-quality bridge hardware. Luckily, breakdowns and outages are less.

Mute Participants with Background Noise or Bad Connections
There are numerous ways you can help to improve the quality of calls. Don’t forget! A conference bridge is going to relay any sound it hears. “Full digital duplex” is a technology in which the conference bridge will choose two or three, or even one hundred, individuals talking at once. It does not clip people or isolate individual speakers off. So, whatever background noises you hear on a conference call are coming from the phones of the participants – kids screaming, dogs barking, fire sirens, etc. The moderators can mute every person on the call, except for those individuals who call in using the passcode of the host.

Call from Landline for Best Quality
This feature can be very beneficial, mainly if you are formatting a call to numerous people listening to only a few ones. For instance, let’s suppose you have a call where four individuals are going to discuss most of the things. Well! Those four people can call into the conference using the Host or Moderator passcode. When you are ready to mute every person on the call, except the moderators, press the keypad command, and you remove the bad connection or background noise instantly. It can be irritating when someone, for instance, calls from a mobile phone and does not have a good connection. The noises from the bad connection will echo during the conference. Hence, when need to encourage a lot of participants as possible to call from a landline phone, or at least call from a mobile phone that is in a good reception and transmitting location.

Limit Use of Speaker Phones if You Can
Don’t forget! If you are going to use a speakerphone to call into the conference, that a lot of speakerphones are NOT full digital duplex and will cut off the speakers if anyone else is talking. Also, it can cause some problems, in addition to the fact that they will pick the background noise in the room. Always make sure that the things around you are quiet. If you see you have a bad quality in a conference, all you need to do is to hang up and try again to get the best phone connection. Usually, it solves most of the problems.

Summary of Teleconference Services

We offer a variety of different professional teleconference calling plans, all intended to fit your needs and budget. If you are searching for a budget-friendly conference call service that offers affordability, reliability, and high-quality, we can assist you. Just sign up and create your account without investing a single penny. Here is a brief summary of some additional plans you may want to consider:

Fixed Rate Plan with Unlimited Minutes

If you are going to host a lot of conferences, and your guests do not mind dialing a long-distance number, then our plan of unlimited conferencing for one low flat rate per month can save you a considerable amount of money. And remember, if your participants are calling from their cell phones, or from their landlines that have bundled service and enable them to call anywhere in the U.S. or Canada for free, there is no additional cost to dial long distance. This is the best set-up if you are looking to have predictable costs each month that you can budget for in advance.

Have some questions? We are here for you. Just give us a call at 877-254-2424 and let us show you the best options that can work according to your needs. It will provide you with an excellent opportunity to select the best plan that is according to your requirements and budget.

14
May 20
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Quick Conference Call Set-Up

quick conference call set up

For a quick conference call set up in the next 2 minutes, you can go to our Instant Activation Conference Call Set-Up page here.

As soon as you fill in your contact and payment information, you’ll receive an immediate email that contains your toll free call-in number, and a set of two passcodes — one passcode for you, and one for your guests. Your conference bridge will be instantly activated and you be able to use it immediately and at any time in the future. (If you don’t get the email, please check your spam/junk folder.)

If you are interested in more details, you are welcome to review the following guide that will provide you more information about our conference calling services, our different programs and how they work.

Advantages of our Quick Start, Instant Activation, Conference Call Service

Most people need to set up conference calls quickly because they need to discuss something very important — maybe a business call or something involving an emergency or time sensitive issue — regardless, you’ll want the advantages only a conference service can provide. Of course, you’ll want to be able to hear everyone, clearly, and have the ability to mute individual lines that may be causing distortion such as bad cell phone connections or random background noises like dogs barking, fire sirens, or other distracting sounds.

There are a number of advantages:

1) There are no set-up fees. It’s completely free to get your conference call-in numbers and passcodes.

2) There are no contracts or long term commitments. You can stop using the service at any time without any penalties.

3) There is no need to make reservations. You can access your conference bridge anytime 24/7.

4) Your rates will never go up as long as you retain your account.

We’ve been in the business for over 30 years and we are well aware that there are times when you need to set up a conference call immediately. This is the best and fastest way to achieve that and we’re here to help. If you have any questions, just give us a call at 877-254-2424.

How our Quick Start Conference Service Works

Once you fill out the order form with your relevant information and click Submit, you’ll receive an immediate email. Inside the email will be the toll free call-in number everyone calls to access the conference, along with your unique passcodes — a host passcode for the person(s) who will be the leader, and a guest passcode for all your quests.

When you get your email, just let everyone know, usually through email, what time you want them to call. It can be anytime you choose. The conference bridge is open 24/7.

Your toll-free conference number will work in the U.S. and Canada, and you will also receive a non-toll free number that anyone in the world can call. Your conference bridge will have the capacity to accommodate 100 guests.

When you want your conference to begin, just let everyone know the time they should dial in. Everyone dials into the conference call-in number and enters their respective passcodes (followed by the # sign) and your conference call will begin.

You also want to let your conference guests know what their passcode is — it will also be contained in the email you receive. It’s a seven digit passcode followed by the # sign. When they dial the toll free number, they will be prompted to enter their passcode. And when you call in, you’ll be prompted to enter your Host (moderator) passcode followed by the # sign too. When everyone has entered their passcode, your conference call will begin and you can talk as long as you want.

You’ll hear one-beep if someone enters the conference, and you’ll hear two-beeps when someone leaves. You’ll also receive instructions on how you can monitor your conference call online in real-time. You’ll be able to see, via caller-ID numbers, who is in your conference at any given time. You’ll also be able to mute individual callers if they are bringing unwanted noises into the call. For example, bad cell phone connections, distracting sounds like dogs barking or fire sirens. You’ll have all the controls at your finger tips.

You can talk as long as you want. Your rate is 4.9 cents per minute, per person, and your credit card will be charged after you’re done with your conference call.

You can keep your passcodes and use them again whenever you want. You can complete access to your conference bridge and no reservations are necessary. This is an on-demand service and you are welcomed to host your conference calls at anytime.

Extremely Affordable Conference Calling

It costs less than you think. Even if you’ve never used a professional phone conference call service before, this is a great way to benefit from the latest technology at an extremely affordable rate. (For example, let’s say you have 5 people who will be on a 15 minute conference call. That would be $3.67 + tax.) Considering everyone will benefit from having a toll free number to call to access the conference, that’s a great deal!

Better yet, you won’t hear any advertisements and you’ll know your call is 100% secure with your unique passcodes. Moreover, because everyone is calling in on a toll free number, no one will run the chance of being charged extra by their cell phone carrier for accessing a conference line (recently, carriers such as T-Mobile and Sprint have been charging their customers a penny a minute to access “free” conference bridges. Carriers like AT&T have been blocking calls entirely.)

No Contract, No Obligation Phone Conferencing

One of the biggest advantages of this conferencing service is that there are no long term agreements, contracts or commitments. You can use the service just once and forget it. We’ll charge your credit card AFTER your call and send you a receipt. But after that, you don’t have to worry about it again.

What if you want to have another conference call? It’s easy. Just use the same call-in number and passcodes whenever you want. We’ll keep them active and you are free to use them over and over again. You’ll get charged on a “pay as you go” basis with no worries about monthly charges or minimum expenses. You’ll only pay for the time you use, when you use it. So get started today and find out how easy it is to keep everyone in the loop.

It May be Quick, But It’s Reliable and High Quality Too

No busy signals here. Fortunately, you don’t sacrifice anything when you get your conference call set up quickly. If anything, you are signing up for the highest rated conference system in the world — highest in quality, highest in reliability, and highest in customer service.

Ready to Meet Your Specific Conferencing Needs

In addition to our quick conference set-up service, we offer several other conferencing plans that may assist you in your office communication and collaboration projects. The two most popular services are the toll-free on-demand dial-in service, and the operator managed and staffed dial-out service. Conference discussions are protected with the strictest security standards in the industry.

You have several alternatives to consider when determining the best way to manage your business conference calls. We have various plans and programs that offer many advantages in designing your conferencing services for your particular needs. Here some of the most popular conference calling plans for business and corporations:

1) Toll-Free Call-In Number with Multiple Sets of Passcodes: This is the same service as our Quick Conference Call Set-Up you may have signed-up for (above.) Better yet, it may be helpful to know that you are not limited to just one set of passcodes. You can get as many as you like. That way, you can give each of your staff, departments or divisions their own separate passcodes and monitor the usage of each for compliance or billing purposes. A set of passcodes consists of a host/moderator code, along with a guest/participant code. As the host(s), you have various controls such as muting any or all of the guests to eliminate background noise. Offering customers and/or prospects a toll free call in number is considered a professional convenience and is appreciated by everyone.

You can use your passcodes to access the conference bridge as many times as you want. There is no limit to the number of calls you can make. If you have multiple users, we can easily provide you additional passcodes and you can have several conference calls taking place at the same time. You can also keep track of how many minutes are being used by each set of passcodes. Many corporations and businesses use this to monitor and allocate department expenses.

2) Non-Toll Free Call-In Number with Unlimited Usage: If you are looking to cut business expenses, then the fastest and easiest way is to use a phone conference service that offers unlimited usage. In other words, there are NO per minute costs. You pay one flat rate every month and get to use the conference service anytime you want, for as long as you want. There is only one little catch — it is not a toll free service, so everyone dials a 212, 605 or 614 area code number to access the conference. However, since there is no long distance charges on cell phones, and many businesses have free long distance bundled with their local service, calling a long distance number is no longer an issue. Getting a flat rate conference service is an ideal solution for companies that are heavy and consistent conference users. Some businesses have cut their conferencing costs up to 90% by switching to a fixed monthly rate.

3) Video-Web Conferencing: The recent pandemic proves that you don’t need thousands of dollars in fancy equipment and conference centers to take advantage of the latest video technology. You only need the camera built into your laptop or desktop, or a separate $25 webcam add-on, to access video conferencing. Our video service enables you to enjoy streaming video among several people at once. It’s also a great way to share PowerPoint slides and other collaborative materials. Let us provide you a free week so you can see for yourself how this technology could change the way you do business. Keep in mind that you can set up an account at no cost and there are no set-up fees.

Highest Level of Professional Conferencing and Customer Service

We take pride in providing the highest level of professional conference calling services, including operator managed and staffed conferencing, toll-free access numbers and real-time online conference monitoring. Using the latest conference bridge technology and the best quality hardware, along with maintaining the most rigorous training standards for our personnel, our services are second to none.

As conference professionals, we service other professionals who are looking to host distortion free conference calls domestically and around the world. Lawyers, doctors, architects, government officials, non-profit executives — anyone who needs on-demand conference services to collaborate and coordinate topics and projects — are just a few examples of types of people who utilize our services.

Businesses, non-profits, legal firms, and medical groups can all agree on one thing — reliable conference calling constitutes an important element in their communication and collaborative efforts.

Professionals, be they engineers, doctors, lawyers, accountants, or any other profession, need to have reliable conference services that provide the highest level of quality and service. They need to know — before, not after — that their conference lines won’t be filled with static, distortions, interference, lost connections, or bleeding (that’s when you actually hear other peoples’ conferences ‘bleed’ into your conference.) As one professional once declared, “Free isn’t worth it.”

Because there is a high demand for conference call services, rates are very competitive and can be had for a fraction of the price that was being charged just 10 or 20 years ago. Not only that, but technology has been marching on, and everyone is getting more for less.

For example, it used to cost tens of thousands of dollars to activate video conference rooms. Now, with webcams built into monitors and laptops, it doesn’t cost anything. Even if you had to buy a separate webcam it wouldn’t cost more than $50. Internet bandwidth has also made tremendous strides and the quality of broadcasting audio and video over the Internet sometimes rivals the fiber optic connections landline telephones use.

Professionals enjoy the idea of having a toll-free dial-in number they and their guests can use at a moment’s notice — it’s important that the service is available “on demand” 24/7 and can be used at anytime. But gaining in popularity is a service that provides the ultimate convenience and high-level support that professionals may need more often than not — it’s called operator managed conference calling. (It’s also called operator staffed or assisted conferencing.)

Give us a call today at 877-254-2424 and let us help you design the most flexible conferencing program to meet your objectives and budget.

08
May 20
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Choosing the Best Conference Call Service

Choosing best conference call service

Choosing the best conference call service is an important step in assuring your business and organizational communications are reliable and cost effective. Because teleconferencing has become an important office stable, there are several questions you should ask when it comes to researching, analyzing and selecting your conference provider. Here is a check list of questions you should be asking potential vendors as you narrow down your search.

Here are the Top 10 criteria you need to ask when deciding which phone conference call service is best for you:

1) Does a live person answer the phone when you call the business?
2) Does the business offer live on-demand customer service?
3) Does it include customer testimonials on its website?
4) Does the conference service provide both toll-free and non-toll-free options?
5) Does it provide pay-as-you-go plans in addition to fixed/flat-rate services?
6) Does it provide live operators to help manage the conferences for important meetings?
7) Does it offer free recording capabilities?
8) Does it include high security with a 7-digit passcode?
9) Does the company offer a video conferencing option?
10) Does the company ask you to share your private contact list, such as your Facebook account information or LinkedIn contacts? (If the answer is yes, then run!)

Some of these questions may not be relevant to you. You can decide how much weight you give each question.

And if you are casual conference user, you can even consider the idea of using a free conferencing service. But beware, some phone carriers block calls to those free services or charge extra fees when you use them. For example, T-Mobile charges a penny per minute for participants who call into a free conference calling service, which means the service isn’t actually “free” at all. Therefore, if you are a business or a nonprofit organization, you’re much better off with a reliable service that allows all callers to get through without being blocked.

Here at 24Conference, we make no bones about it — we believe we’re the best conference service out there. The following will explain why:

Why 24Conference is a Stand-Out Provider

With a 20-year track record providing conferencing services to corporations, businesses, professional offices, non-profits, and even families, 24Conference offers a wide range of teleconference services to those who want to use audio phone conferencing technology to collaborate and share information with others.

Most of the time, you can save substantial resources by outsourcing your conferencing. Generally speaking, it is less expensive to outsource teleconferencing services than it would be to install your own conference bridge hardware, software, and phone lines.

Unless you are an extremely heavy user with in-house staff to maintain a system of your own design, it is much more prudent to outsource. Even in-house systems have become less popular as organizations opt to direct their budgets to core business priorities. This allows them to spend their time and money on the aspects of their business that matter most.

Choosing a Conference Call Plan

Each paid service has its advantages. Regardless of which plan you choose, note that with us, you don’t need a reservation to host a conference and your lines can be accessed 24/7. You get to enjoy an unlimited number of conferences and corresponding dial-in passcodes; you can even host more than one conference at once!

On the right side of this webpage, you’ll see a number of different teleconferencing service options that you can choose from. We have everything from pay-as-you-go to unlimited flat/fixed-rate plans. We also offer top-of-the-line operator-managed conference calls and legal conference call services.

Per-minute costs and rates for conference calls can vary widely depending on what sort of conference call service you currently have. Below are a few of the options you have to choose from. When picking one of our plans, it’s important to think about what your organization’s unique needs are, and we’re happy to help you navigate your options!

Unlimited Usage with Flat-Fixed Monthly Rate

One of the most popular services is unlimited conferencing at a fixed monthly rate. This low-cost option is offered on a month-to-month basis with no long-term contract, and with it, you can talk whenever you want for as long as you want. Because the price is fixed, you’re practically unlimited!

So, what’s the catch? It’s important to note that with a fixed-rate plan, you’re still charged a monthly flat fee even if you don’t use it. However, if your company has a great need for conferencing, this service can save you a small fortune compared to other plans!

Another difference between this plan and other options is that it does not offer a toll-free number to participants; rather, they dial a regular long-distance number to access the conference bridge.

Yet, considering that most people and businesses have long distance costs bundled with their local services (or make calls via cell phones, which include free long distance calls to begin with), you can see why many organizations, businesses, and nonprofit groups have substantially cut their conferencing expenses simply by converting to a fixed-rate service.

Pay-As-You-Go Conference Call

Otherwise known as “pay-per-use teleconferencing,” a pay-as-you-go phone conference calling service is one of the most popular plans used by businesses and nonprofits for communication and collaboration! This service is simple, straightforward, and can be less expensive for businesses with fewer conferencing needs.

With this plan, you only pay for the conferencing services you actually use, and you only pay for them after you’ve already used them. You can calculate an estimate of your costs by multiplying your per-minute rate by the total number of conference minutes you think you’ll be using (for example: 10 people tuning in to a conference call for 10 minutes equals 100 total “conference minutes”).

Pay-as-you-go rates vary depending on which service you use, and using a toll-free number will cost more than using a non-toll-free number.

Still not sure if pay-as-you-go is the right plan for you? Consider these reasons why pay-per-use conferencing may be just right for your needs:

1) There are no setup fees.
2) You can host your first conference call on the same day you set up the service.
3) There are no monthly minimums.
4) Because there are no long-term contracts, you won’t be penalized should you decide at any time to opt out of the service.
5) You are only billed for the time that you use when you use it!
6) You are only billed after your call.
7) You have a choice between toll-free and non-toll-free access, and we’re happy to chat with you about the difference and get you set up with the option that makes the most sense for you.
8) You get free features and options such as music-on-hold and auto hang up.
9) You don’t need to make a reservation to get service: you can use your service on-demand, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
10) You don’t need to purchase any hardware or software.

If reliability is important to your organization, a pay-per-use phone conferencing plan is absolutely worth considering. There are many other plans and formats available to you, but you truly can’t go wrong with this one — pay-per-use programs are a staple in the communication services of both big and small companies alike. The value of this program is unsurpassed!

Conference Calling with Local Number

The most inexpensive service is called Local Access (aka Local Meet Me). This service enables participants to dial a local number if located in major cities. So, if you are in the New York City area, you’ll dial a New York City phone number to tune in to the call, whereas your colleagues in Chicago or Los Angeles will dial a phone number for their respective cities. Regardless of where you each dial-in from, you’ll all still end up speaking on the same conference bridge.

Even those who don’t live in major cities can still enjoy the low-cost option of Local Access conferencing. If you are a professional organization, we highly recommend choosing the most reliable, safest option: a paid conference service with a variety of conferencing plans to choose from!

Operator Managed Conference Call

The most professional service is, of course, the operator-managed conference call service. This is a wonderful option for important calls when you need the expertise of a professionally-trained operator to call each of your participants and hand-place them into the conference bridge.

Corporations opt for this service all the time, especially for calls regarding critical or delicate topics such as investor-relation calls, calls to the media, or company-wide crisis updates.

Regardless of why you’d like an operator to assist your conference call, rest assured that our operators are well-trained and equipped to manage your call for you.

We also offer an international overseas conference call service, legal conference call service, web and video call services, and a 365 Lync service, as well.

With 24Conference, there’s a plan for every budget and purpose. If you’re still having trouble deciding, give us a call at 877-254-2424 or send us a message and we’ll get you set up with the most cost-effective plan to meet your particular needs. We look forward to working with you!

07
May 20
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Legal Conference Call: Attorneys-Judge, Depositions

legal conference call

Legal conference calls among attorneys and judges, and for conducting depositions, is growing exponentially — not only because it’s convenient and time-saving, but because of other extenuating circumstances such as the pandemic. Even the Supreme Court of the U.S. is using conferencing to conduct hearings. Traditional phone conferencing has proven to be a reliable way to save time and money by enabling both plaintiffs, defendants and courts to communicate more easily.

Providing conferencing services to the legal profession is one of our core services at 24Conference and you can go directly to our legal service page here. Overall, what used to take several hours can now be condensed on a conference call in a fraction of the time. Better yet, attorneys never have to leave their offices.

There are no set up fees and billing is done on a pay as you go basis. You only pay for the time on the conferencing bridge you actually use.

The three most popular formats for phone conferencing for law offices are:

1) Operator managed conference calls: Our professional conference operators call out to each of your parties and place them into a conference bridge. You give us a list of the names and phone numbers ahead of time, and let us know when you want our operators to dial out to each of them. Usually, you will receive the first call so you are in the conference first. Then, a call will be placed to the opposing lawyer(s), and then, finally, the judge if one is involved. Your conference is secured and you can talk as along as you want. This preferred service is very helpful since all of your parties only have to answer the phone.

2) Toll-free dial-in conference calls: Simply, we give you a toll-free conference access number and set of two passcodes. You use the host passcode to enter the conference and your guests use the guest (or conferee) passcodes. Prior to the conference you alert your guests of the time they should call-in, along with the providing them the toll-free access number and the guest passcode. (When you call the toll-free number, you will be prompted to enter your respective passcode, followed by the # sign.) While you may not have the convenience of having an operator call you, there are several advantages. First, you can use the service anytime 24/7 without reservations. And second, you can get separate passcodes for each of your partners or associates so everyone has their own personal conference codes which makes it easier to sort expenses. It also enables you to have simultaneous conference calls at the same time without any conflicts.

3) Video conferencing for law offices: We provide both per-minute and flat-rate plans depending on your law firm’s needs. While 95% of the legal and deposition conference calls are simply conducted over the phone, there are many law firms that have adopted video conferencing as part of their protocols. In the past, some of these facilities have cost tens of thousands of dollars to install. Unfortunately, the centers were hardly used and the equipment quickly became obsolete. However, with the advances technology, the costs have been slashed dramatically.

With the advent of desktop conferencing, and with video cameras now built into laptops, the cost of conducting a video conference is next to nothing. If you don’t have a webcam, you can purchase one now for as little as $35. Services such as Skype and Zoom can be used for free to conduct video conferences anywhere at anytime.

Be Very Careful — Security is Important

However, the free services are easily hacked and can turn into a nightmare. That’s why the vast majority of law firms pay to retain the services of a professional conference company that has much higher encryption protocols and standards.

Whether you take advantage of either the phone or video options, there is no cost to set-up your account and we charge your credit card after your calls. Also, there are no long term contracts or agreements and you can terminate your service at anytime without penalty.

Adopting the latest conference technology for your law firm will help in many ways — cutting costs, saving time, along with improving your negotiating processes. Give us a call at 877-254-2424 and we can work with you to come up with the conferencing solution that works best for your law firm needs and objectives. We serve hundreds of law firms across the United States and look forward to adding you to our growing list of satisfied clients.

Each Participating Law Firm Can be Billed Separately

Another big advantage to using a professional legal conference service is that each party can be billed separately, thus saving one law firm the trouble of allocating expenses among a couple or several different firms. Quite simply, everyone gets their own separate bill — it’s called “individualized billing.” The procedure it very simple: The opposing law firms each set up a conference account. Once the account is opened, the coordinating law firm informs the service of the time the call will take place. We will then dial-out and call each participant, or the participants can call into a toll free number themselves. Either way, the conference service will have an operator organizing the call to make sure all the parties are present. Each law firm is billed separately for its portion of the cost for the deposition conference call. So it is no longer necessary for one law firm to send another law firm an invoice. Each law firm is billed, and each law firm pays its own share of the conference expense directly to the conference service.

Good for Court Reporters / Stenographers

Calls can be digitally recorded and downloaded — so lawyers and stenographers can work in real time or have backup to prepare transcripts. As an aside, court reporters can also resell or become agents and increase revenues for their firms by adding a value added service such as law firm conferencing to their menu of available services. They can simple outsource the service as well, without the need of hiring additional staff or worrying about equipment costs.

Help from Professional Operators on Your Calls

But the biggest advantage to outsourcing law firm conferences is the having being managed by a professional operator. Operator conference calls constitute the highest level of service available and involve full time operators who call each participating party and put them into a conference call. Quite simply, a list of the participant names and phone numbers is emailed to the phone conference call company, along with the schedule and time of the conference, and whatever billing codes the law firm assigns the case. At the designated time, operators will call out to each participant and begin the conference call. This is very convenient and there is no requirement for you to call into the conference yourself. If requested, an operator will be on the call to handle any technical issues that may arise.

Teleconferencing is proving to be a boom in expediting legal processes that used to tie up manpower and office staff. In other words, more cases can be handled in less time. There are many applications and reasons why law firms are adopting this technology. But primarily, attorneys are finding that depositions, or conferences with judges, are ideal purposes for using audio conferencing.

Outsourcing Legal Conferencing Services vs. In-house

Law firms also have the choice of getting their own conference hardware and software which can be quite expensive to set up and maintain. However, the vast majority find that is much less trouble to just outsource the conferencing service. There are no up front costs, no set up fees, no equipment to buy or maintain, no long term contracts, and you are only charged for what you use — avoiding all overhead costs.

There are many advantages to outsourcing conferencing services. First, there are no contracts that commit you to a level of future usage or monthly service charges or termination clauses. Second, you pay-as-you-go. You are only charged for the services you use, when you use them.

Better yet, you can get invoices that can be coded to specific cases so accounting can have a much each job of allocating expenses. Law firm administrators who used to be forced to divide the costs of legal conference calls among the various participants and opposing law firms, are relieved to find out that those days are long gone. Law firm conference services can bill each party separately, thus saving additional aggravation and streamlining back office operations.

As stated, billing is pay-as-you-go, so you are never charged for more service than what you need or use. If there are some days, weeks or months, the service isn’t used, there are no costs levied and no monthly minimum usage. All in all, the adoption of teleconferencing to better manage depositions and increase law firm productivity is soaring in popularity.

Law firms have used conference calls for decades, but more recently, have embraced the technology to include depositions and other legal proceedings that have traditionally been conducted face-to-face. Judges are also beginning to encourage the use of conferencing to save time and money.

Give us a call today at 877-254-2424 and we’ll be happy to help you get set up quickly and easily for your next legal conference call.

Older Posts

Author Archives: Lee Simonson

Mar 21

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Experts find video conferences are exhausting and emotionally draining

“A lot of people just don’t like a camera in their face and are tired of trying to look good.”

Old-fashioned telephone conference calling winning new fans

New Peer Reviewed Study Shows How Video Conferencing Causes Angst

1) Exposure is “intense” and “unnatural.”

2) It’s like constantly looking into a mirror — it’s stressful.

3) Video conferencing makes you feel confined and stuck in one position.

4) It’s harder to send and receive non-verbal gestures.

A Goldmine for Makeup Companies!

The Solution: A Phone Conference!

When Verbal Communication is Enough

Jul 20

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Check in with your team.

Collaborate with members of different organizations.

Different plans for different usage.

Contact us for more information.

Jul 20

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Despite fancy video conferencing, many people prefer a basic “old fashioned” phone conference

Phone conferencing is reliable and convenient

We have different plans to suit every conferencing need

Jul 20

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Virtual meetings

Why 4-person conference calls?

Do you make a lot of calls, or only a few?

What is the best option for a 4-person conference call?

Jul 20

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The changing business landscape.

Uses for a 5-person conference call.

The easiest method of 5-way communication.

Solutions for continuous communication with your team and clients.

Easy teleconferencing options.

Jun 20

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Benefits of 24Conference and professional conference service providers

Choosing Conference Call Plan

Pay-As-You-Go Conference Call

Pay-As-You-Go Conferencing Benefits

Flat Rate Conferencing with Unlimited Usage

Conference Calling with Local Numbers

Operator Managed Conference Call

What do Operators do?

Video Conference: How to Video Conference with Your Webcam

The More You Know, the More You’ll Like 24Conference

May 20

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Here is a quick summary of the benefits of this teleconference service:

Another Option: Have an Operator Manage Your Call

Tips on How to Improve the Quality of Your Teleconference

Summary of Teleconference Services

May 20

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Advantages of our Quick Start, Instant Activation, Conference Call Service

How our Quick Start Conference Service Works

Extremely Affordable Conference Calling

No Contract, No Obligation Phone Conferencing

It May be Quick, But It’s Reliable and High Quality Too

Ready to Meet Your Specific Conferencing Needs

Highest Level of Professional Conferencing and Customer Service

May 20

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Why 24Conference is a Stand-Out Provider

Choosing a Conference Call Plan

Unlimited Usage with Flat-Fixed Monthly Rate

Pay-As-You-Go Conference Call

Conference Calling with Local Number

Operator Managed Conference Call

May 20

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The three most popular formats for phone conferencing for law offices are:

Be Very Careful — Security is Important

Each Participating Law Firm Can be Billed Separately

Good for Court Reporters / Stenographers

Help from Professional Operators on Your Calls