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Free conference calling services can be a cost-effective option for non-profit organizations and businesses. Participants dial into a conference bridge and enter a prearranged passcode to join a secure conference call. While there are no charges from the teleconferencing provider, each participant will incur the cost of making a long-distance call. Free conference calling services have some drawbacks, including limited availability of lines and lack of operator assistance.
Most organizations that use audio conferencing services choose to engage the services of a reputable teleconferencing provider. Typically, there is a fixed per minute rate per conference connection that is billed to the caller. However, there is another option that can be very useful for non-profit organizations and businesses that are unable to budget a lot of money for teleconferencing services. That option is a free conference calling service. With a free conference call, there are no charges billed to the customer for the conference, so there is no bill to pay. Here’s some insight into how free conferencing works and when the service may be a viable option.
At the time selected by the originator, the participants and the host dial into the conference bridge and enter a prearranged passcode when prompted by an automated message. Everyone who enters the passcode is routed into a secure conference call, where all parties are free to verbally interact with each other. There are no greetings or interventions from the operator. The free conference call process is fully automated.
The first thing to understand about free conference calling is that it’s not totally free. Each participant will incur the cost of making a long distance call to connect with the conference bridge. The charges will not appear on a bill issued by the toll-free conference calling provider, but as a charge for the minutes generated on each participant’s individual phone bill, with the cost depending on the type of long distance plan they have in place. The free conferencing term is based on the fact that the teleconferencing provider does not charge setup fees or charges for the use of their lines. The process is closely related to a toll conference call, effectively a series of long distance calls that end in a common conference.
Toll-free conference calling providers can offer this type of service for two reasons. First, their source of revenue is the amount of traffic that is generated on trunks or lines terminating at conference bridges. Every minute someone uses one of their lines for a meeting, they earn. Secondly, free teleconferencing services require very little material and personnel. This means a very low cost of operation which can easily be covered by consistent use of their facilities.
Of course, there are ways to make free conference calling totally free. One method is to use a mobile phone to join the meeting. If you do not normally use the bank of mobile phone minutes during the billing period, the cost to join the free conference call is effectively free. Also, if your long-distance plan for your landline service has a flat monthly rate for unlimited long distance, you won’t have to pay anything extra to join a free conference call.
Free conference call services have some drawbacks. For example, lines are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you have a large number of participants who need to gather for a conference call, there is no guarantee that there will be enough lines during normal business hours. Also, it is usually not possible to get assistance from an operator if you experience background noise or other disturbances during your free conference call. However, for an organization that only needs a half-dozen lines during an off-peak period, a free teleconferencing service can work very well while keeping the budget intact.
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