In the last two decades, the conference call landscape has undergone considerable change. It was formerly the case that only larger sized corporations had access to multi party phone conferencing. Such systems were usually rather expensive and often had live operator assistance on every call.
Incumbent telecom companies priced conference calling services at exorbitant rates (e.g. over twenty cents per user minute) and most companies were willing to pay these charges to ensure reliable and quality service. More recently the conference calling market has been characterized by a flurry of competitive forces. Several factors have been responsible including telecom deregulation, dramatic improvements in internet technology and demand for better services.
The competitive landscape now consists of dozens of providers in addition to the usual suspects Organizations and individuals that want to use teleconferencing now have a far wider menu of alternatives. Within that spectrum of choices are
free conference calling services such as Rondee that meld free conference calling with web based scheduling and other productivity tools. These services do not charge users because they utilize a toll dial-in as opposed to a traditional toll-free number. Therefore, such free
conference call services are not free in the same sense that air is free. They do require minutes of phone usage.
However, such services are increasingly being thought of by users as basically free because many phone plans now offer flat rate unlimited dialing; and typically cellular plans no longer have additional charges for long distance phone calls. As a result of these trends, teleconferencing has become available to a far broader market of users as the following examples illustrate.
Non profits have become strong users of teleconferencing services. The ever escalating cost of travel combined with limited budgets of most non-profits, makes conferencing a smart tactic for reducing cost and increasing productivity. Typically, non-profits rely on formal and informal methods of networking. When these networks extend beyond geographical boundaries, conferencing becomes the only practical method of quality communication. A number of non-profits including those that focus on literacy, hunger, and environmental issues, have effectively used conference calling to mobilize participation and coordinate plans.
Labor unions have effectively used traditional conferencing systems and, increasingly, free conference calling services to allow disparately located members to discuss strategies and arrange meetings. Unions have historically been cost conscious due to the fact that their budgets are limited to the extent of member contributions. Therefore, as is typically the case with non-profits, unions constantly search for methods of making every dollar stretch further. In times of labor strikes or other situations of urgency, conferencing becomes a viable method of allowing the national leadership to communicate with local leaders.
Student groups have found significant benefit in utilizing teleconferencing systems to increase collaboration across universities, cities and states. Most campuses feature dozens, sometimes hundreds of active student groups. In some cases, these clubs are chapters of regional, state-wide or even national umbrella entities. Due to the budgetary realities of student life, it would be impractical for the individual members of these disparate groups to meet in person. Teleconferencing thereby becomes the ideal way for members to stay in touch and discuss topics of shared interest.
In sum, teleconferencing is no longer the exclusive domain of business. Other potential users have long felt the need but it has only been with the launch of new business models that the availability of these offerings has become quite ubiquitous.
Article Source:http://www.articleboy.com
Scott Bailey lectures on and comments frequently about tech issues. He consults to a number of organizations that use communication technologies involving conference calling, as part of a goal to increase alignment. His clients include free conference calling companies such as Rondee.
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