Conferencing Overview

Audio Conferencing allows people at separate locations to be connected simultaneously through conventional telephone technology.  Each person dials the same phone number at a specified time, enters a specific access code and is place into a virtual "room" with everyone else who dialed the same number and entered the same access code.

Host: The person who is assigned the dial-in number and access code is referred to as the "host" of the call.  The host usually sends out the invitation for the call, giving the date and time and providing the dial-in number and access code. The host enters the access code followed by the STAR key (*) instead of the pound key.  This gives the host extra controls that allow them to see how many people are on the line, to mute all the lines (lecture mode) or turn on or off the entry and exit chimes.

Uses of Audio Conferencing - Audio conferencing is widely used in ministry, education, business and commerce to include participants in meetings when they are physically unable to attend. Its applications include:

• Staff meetings
• Training
• Board meetings  
• Prayer meetings
• Events 
• Interviews
• Consultation
• Crisis Management
• Seminars
• Distance Learning  

Conferencing Bridge – A conferencing bridge is a specialized piece of telecommunications hardware that enables numerous amounts of people in various locations to use their telephones to dial in and participate in a virtual meeting.

Free or 800?:  Conference calls can be free by using a TOLL number (for example, area code 712) where each caller bears any long distance cost for the call and the host  pays nothing for the service or the service can be offered through a TOLLFREE (800) line where the host pays the cost for the callers connecting to the conferencing bridge.

Greater Calling offers both FREE and 800 Services.  You decide which is right for your non-profit, church, ministry or business.