Conferencing...: 2009

Video Conferencing For Small to Medium Size Business

Since beginning this series of articles on videophones, I have attempted to explain to you just how powerful a tool video conference calling can be for close friends and families. Those that own videophones enjoy a closer level of communication with one another. They are able to look into each other's eyes while talking and see each other's facial expressions. While all of this is true for people on a personal level, business owners, professionals and the people that work for them can also benefit greatly from having access to video phones. Contrary to what many small business owners might think, video conferencing is not just a tool for big business! Small and medium-sized businesses should add videophones to their basic list of business tools. They are a communications tool that is vital to every business owner that has a desire to operate their business without limits.

How does video conferencing benefit smaller businesses?

Every small business owner comes to a point when they want to grow their business, increase profits and expand their clientele. When that point comes, not only do they have to expand their thinking and the way that they do things, they also have to invest more heavily into the business in order to get more out of it. At the point where you want to expand the reach of your business beyond your local community, it will be vital that you make use of the best communications tools available to you. In addition to being up to date on today's mobile, PDA and Internet technologies, you must also stay up to date on video conferencing technology as well. The ACN Network has made owning what has always been considered expensive technology, very inexpensive. Videoconferencing equipment is affordable for even the smallest business owner to have.

When you are doing business with people remotely or from a distance, you need to find alternative ways to connect with them. Video conferencing provides deeper communication, trust and familiarity between you and your business associates. It is a much clearer way to communicate than using a regular phone without video features. This makes it great for business because it is a fact that the more connected people feel to you, the more willing they will be to spend money with your business.

In today's business world, face-to-face meetings are just a phone call away. In fact, there is no better way to run your international business than through videoconferencing. When you can't make a meeting in person, you can be there through an ACN videophone or through one of the videophones that are offered by other top companies such as [XXX Company] or [YYY]!

Future articles in this series will further explore how businesses can increase income through strategic use of video phones.

Venezia Rose is a professional copywriter whose professional career has spanned the IT & Programming, Business, Marketing, Psychology, Sports, Travel sectors. Venezia writes professionally and also as a passionate hobby.

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Audio Conferencing Phone - Gateways to Better Communications

It is obvious that audio conferencing is here to stay. For people who aren't familiar with them, audio conferencing is basically a term that describes a virtual conference where the participants are in different places while they are conducting a meeting or discussion.

Plenty of channels are used to conduct teleconferencing; telephones, televisions, and computers are just some of the equipments that can be used for this kind of communication. Out of the ones mentioned, an audio conferencing phone is probably the most widely used by companies today.

One type of phone system used for audio conferences is VoIP technology. VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. This is an Internet-based technology that uses digital signals to send over audio data through the Internet instead of a standard copper wire like the old telephone systems used. This type of phone system functions pretty much like regular phones.

The only difference is that instead of having an actual phone, it has a digital interface on the computer instead. Features that are available are also similar with regular phones depending on the type of software used, call waiting, caller ID, voice mail options will be available for the end user. As for the hardware that's used, a headset with a microphone is used by most participants in an audio conference.

Audio conferencing can be coupled with other types of teleconferencing options to get the most out of the service. One thing's for sure, choosing an audio conferencing phone system that is perfect for the company's needs is essential.

The company we would recommend is Copper conferencing and you also can learn more on Audio conference phone.

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5 Tips For Successful Web Conferencing

Web conferencing is an amazing advantage to businesses of all kinds and sizes in the 21st century. The Internet and continued software development have risen to the occasion of meeting increasing market demand for being able to run virtual offices and host or attend virtual meetings to cut down very seriously on overhead, travel expenses and time, and food expenses. Web conferencing has become an integral part of this new way of doing business as fuel prices continue to stay high and it becomes harder to get large start-up business loans.

If you are going to use web conferencing technology, you of course want to use it right. Using technology can be a miraculous help, but using it in the wrong way or incompetently can be a dreaded nightmare and harm your business.

*When you attend a web conference, be serious just as you would in a real-world setting. Don't think you can cut corners and goof off, or multitask. Turn off your cell phone. Shut down your e-mail. Do not playMMORPGs while pretending to attend. Dress appropriately and take good notes. No, you're not going to have to pass a test or anything meeting's end, but you will be quite embarrassed if the host asks questions then and you can't participate.

*If you are hosting the meeting, you are the benevolent dictator. This is not a democracy free-for-all. You are the boss and the leader of the meeting, and those who are attending must be expected to comply with that or else they get kicked out. According to web conferencing expert JenniferDeVoe, the chief executive of White Horse in Portland, Ore., "Successful Web meetings require a good facilitator to promote the inclusion of diverse parties and to keep agendas and meeting goals focused. Keep the agenda very tight and on target. The designated facilitator should play an active role in keeping the participants involved and engaged."

*When you're preparing to host a web conference, imagine that you are going to be onstage, and that you are playing before a liveaudience . This means, do not say, write, present, wear, or do anything in this meeting that you would not do in a real-life meeting. Oh--and that includes shutting the door to your office!

*Web conferencing is not telephone conferencing. And at the same time, as real-life-like as it is, it's still all being done via Internet. So, you have to be aware of these strictures. According to MattAbrahams, a former VP of education for Openwave , Inc., and someone highly experienced with web conferencing, "Both presenter and audience are better served by asking specific questions that are more likely to inspire a direct and useful response from the participants. For instance, does anyone have a question about the 'X' feature?" Most of these rules are learned with practice, which should be done internally rather than with customers or prospective customers"

So, follow these tips with your web conferencing. You'll make your virtual meetings very successful.

One of the most reliable web conferencing providers is GoToMeeting. For a detailed review as well as more information on online conferencing services, visit BestForWebinars.com

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Infoview Videophone For Video Conferencing

Infoview videophone combines a regular television and standard telephone line to create an affordable personal phone for both home and business use. Infoview videophone is easy-to-install and easy-to-use. It can connect with another infoview or any other H.324-compliant standalone or PC-based videophone to establish point to point visual communication.

Half the size of a VCR, infoview phone integrates a high-quality CCD camera and modem to simultaneously transmit and receive audio and video over a regular phone line. Infoview videophone does not require a personal computer, special phone lines, special arrangements, or extra fees. Advanced features include the ability to remotely zoom, pan or tilt and to automatically answer and activate a remote infoview videophone. Infoview videophone addresses the needs of videoconferencing, distance education, remote monitoring, telehealth, and telecommuting.

Features:

• stand-alone appliance -no PC required, just a standard telephone line & television at each end
• simple to set-up
• privacy mode -- see without being seen
• high-quality snapshots -- freeze frames to get clear still images
• auto-answer capability -- connect and see even when no one's there to pick up the phone
• adjustable quality settings -- make the images clearer or more fluid
• remotely controlled digital pan, tilt, and zoom
• software upgrade capability -- download the latest software through the phone line
• affordable
• built-in high-quality CCD camera to provide excellent image quality
• RCA video-in jack for an external camera allows flexibility for monitoring and other applications
• supports both NTSC and PAL formats for international use
• intuitive user-friendly on-screen graphical interface
• powersave mode automatically turns on and shuts down the unit
• compatible with 8x8's Via TV

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What is an Audio Conference Service and Where to Get It?

Communicating with clients and discussing business used to be difficult. Back in the day, when technology was still in its primitive stages, conferences were held face to face. Both client and company representatives were required to be in the same place at the same just so they can consummate a deal or discuss their options.

However, technology has changed the face of communication and now provides an easier way of discussing business without requiring both parties to be in the same room.

Thanks to an audio conference service, contracts are signed and ideas and propositions are entertained even if both parties are on either side of the globe.

Audio conferencing is a practical service used by most companies to conduct seminars, business meetings or trainings. With this, the host; makes the call to the participants and allows them to join in on the discussion.

Audio conferencing makes it possible for people to exchange ideas or get updated with new reports regardless of whether they are in the same office building or off the coast of Hawaii on a business trip. Conferences like this can have either two or more than a dozen people participating at the same time.

There are many types of audio conference services available. Some types of service allow parties to just listen in on the conversation.

For example, a seminar where the host is the only one talking and discussing the plans while the participants can only listen and take down notes. On the other hand, other audio services allow the discussion to be more interactive.

Most even couple it with video conferencing, making it possible for participants to see each other as they brainstorm over plans.

The company we recommend is Copper Conferencing- and learn more on audio conference service

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Affordable Desktop Video Conferencing Benefits the Small Business and Consumer Markets

The history of video conferencing has gone from expensive video equipment and "in room" systems that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars back in the 70's and 80's to the recent advent of desktop video conferencing services that use the Internet, web cams and cost under $100. per month for unlimited usage. Finally, the price point has come down to where small businesses and consumers can utilize this technology and not be burdened by the huge costs.

The new technology works like this. Each participant has a desktop or laptop computer, equipped with Internet access and a web cam. A web cam can be purchased from any office supply store for as little as $35. The moderator would then subscribe to a desktop video conferencing service, where they would receive login and password information. A fifteen to twenty minute training session would bring all of the parties up to where they are ready to start their own conferences.

The leader or account holder can have up to one hundred parties on his conferences. Approximately eighteen videos can be displayed simultaneously on everyone's screens. There is a "real estate" issue in that the limited screen size only allows eighteen videos. In addition, the more videos being displayed bring a drag on bandwidth. The optimum size is about eight videos being viewed at the same time.

Now the moderator is ready to hold as many video conferences as he needs. He will have to schedule each of his conferences just like he would with an audio conference call. At the appropriate date and time of the meeting, everyone invited would log on to the URL and input their meeting identification code and password and possible other identifying information. Everyone will then be connected to each other over the Internet. Their videos will be displayed and the video conference can begin. The audio portion of the conference can either be carried over the Internet as VOIP or voice over Internet protocol or the moderator can use an audio conference line, which will provide top quality sound.

The beautiful aspect of the technology is that the service works extremely well. Everyone can see all of the parties on the conference and they can talk and gesture just like they would in a live face to face meeting. Small businesses and consumers alike will find this service exciting, functional, simple to use and certainly easy on the budget. Desktop video conferencing has certainly arrived and now is the time to take a test drive.

Mike Burns has been in the conferencing industry since 1971, having originally worked for Southwestern Bell and AT&T. In 1989, Mr. Burns founded Conference Pros International and in 2000, Mr Burns founded A+ Conferencing, a conferencing provider that sells audio, web and desktop video conferencing services exclusively through master agents and resellers. Mr Burns speaks and writes about the conferencing industry frequently.
888-239-3969. http://www.aplusconferencing.com

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How to Choose Among Audio Conferencing Services

Even in this modern age where text and email messaging has become the popular trend the best means of communication is still the spoken world. This is why audio conferencing services have become such useful tool for both office and personal needs. The technology of audio conferencing enables multiple people from all across the globe to communicate with one another in real-time.

For businesses, this means you can have business meetings among colleagues or between you and your clients without having to spend for travel fees in order to meet each other face-to-face. It also saves you from the hassle of keeping in touch through email correspondence. Audio conferencing can make business matters much more convenient.

For personal use, you and your family members can talk with each other just as if you were together in one place. It is normal for children to live away from their parents especially during the summertime and when they reach their college years. Audio conferencing is a great way for the whole family to keep in touch with one another even when you are apart.

There are numerous companies that offer these kinds of services. However, you should avoid hiring the services of those that offer free or really low service fees. This is because their services will most likely be of poor quality. You will end up getting headaches because you cannot hear who you are speaking with on the other line or because you keep disconnecting, among many other problems.

Thus, you should be willing to invest some money in order to get the best service possible. Other services you can get include the ability to record your calls or to have translating services included in the package. This is useful if you and your client speak in different languages.

See how useful this technology is? So what are you waiting for? Sign up for an audio conferencing service today!

Here is also a useful for resource for webcast software.

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Conference Call Transcriptions Can Be Laborious

Conference call transcriptions require a greater effort than other transcription processes. The audio recordings are not always of the highest standard, since participants use the telephone for conferencing and not all of the speaker would be using a fixed line telephone, some may be using the cell phone others a VOIP application such as the Skype.

It becomes a challenging task for a transcriber to document the recordings of a conference call, multiple speakers and difficult-to-comprehend accents can all add to the transcribers woes. Many transcription companies use an audio player that has a graphic equalizer and instead of the headphones use the speakers, it helps in deciphering the accents of different speakers in a conference call.

It would be in the best interest of the companies that initiate conference calls to ensure that only fixed line telephones are used. If it is a web conference then a high-speed internet will render quality recordings, making the tasks of the transcriber easy and making it possible for him/her to provide you with a 100% accurate transcript.

The conference call transcription requires specialist transcribers who are patient, skilled, and experienced.

Conference calls Transcription company should include other transcriptions such as:

* business meetings

* sales presentations

* project meetings and updates

* training classes

* regular team meetings

* communications with employees who work in different locations

Transcription of the call must be a brisk turn-around-time, should enable all investors get a copy of the quarterly earnings in quick succession time and provide accurate quality of the business transcripts

Conference Calls Transcription Company and Business Meetings Transcription services at Low cost, more details about conference call transcription call iSource toll free 1-877-323-4707 and get free trail offers.

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Video Conference Equipment - The Right Network Choice

Traditionally video conference equipment has utilised ISDN services which more often than not is a dedicated service provided by Telstra which has high rental and call costs.

The benefit of ISDN is its reliability of service, and if you intend to use your video conferencing for mission critical events than ISDN should definitely be considered as a primary or secondary network.

IP networks are now at the stage of being able to provide the bandwidth and low latency requirements that are needed for video conferencing. Because video conferencing is about the transmission of video and audio in real time, latency issues can adversely affect performance to the point that the call is unacceptable or can't be maintained.

When using IP networks for video conference equipment, it is recommended that you utilise a business grade service and that the service can support the required bandwidth including data overheads. This can cost even more than ISDN depending on the service and so a feasibility study should be conducted.

Utilising IP networks does have its shortfalls and one of those is the ability to connect to an external site. For example, if you were a law firm that used videoconferencing between your offices, you would find that your videoconferencing would work fine, especially if you are utilising an existing Enterprise grade Wide area Network between your offices. However if you were to call an external client who also has video conferencing equipment you might find that their internet service provider does not provide a very good pipe (Connection) to your provider and you may experience latency (length of time it takes for data to arrive) and bandwidth (The amount of data you can send) issues.

This is where an ISDN service works extremely well as it is what is called a switched network with a guaranteed level of service.

Rabone Systems has extensive experience with video conference equipment and can provide you with the correct answers so you can make the right decision.

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Tandberg Video Conferencing - Solutions At Your Fingertips

Tandberg video conferencing is easy to set up. There is certain hardware as well as software that is required for video conferencing and Tandberg video conferencing are just the people to provide you with all your video conferencing requirements. This equipment includes video input and output equipment such as web cameras and video displaying equipment such as monitors. LC Displays or general television sets equipped to be connected to the network in order to display the conferencing mages being transmitted. Audio devices, such as a microphone, are required for inputting the sound into the conferencing system and audio output devices such as speakers are needed to reproducing the audio. And finally, there needs to be a way of transmitting the data from one location to the other. This can be accomplished by the state-of-the-art Tandberg video conferencing system over the Internet, or even a LAN (Local Area Network). The more bandwidth one has on the network the better the transmission and reproduction.

Even the general population has ways to take advantage of Tandberg video conferencing facility. There are quality services available in the form of downloadable programs similar to Googletalk, Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, among others. This software is usually free of charge, and if you have a webcam, a microphone, and broadband Internet access, you can be connected with friends and family through the Internet without having to worry about the huge telephone bills. Tandberg video conferencing is an ideal way for grandparents to witness the activities of their grandchildren as well as for long distance friends to keep in touch over this much awaited technology.

Tandberg video conferencing has put this wonderful technology to another good use. They have successfully set up the Tandberg video conferencing system in universities and colleges for educational purposes. Alumni can use the Tandberg video conferencing facility to participate in distance learning programs from across the world without having to leave the comfort of their homes. Tandberg video conferencing offers no limits to the possibilities of expanding your educational and cultural assets, no matter where you live. And yet another positive use for Tandberg video conferencing software is in the field of medicine. Doctors and nurses consult patients and colleagues in real time and send and receive medical documents and images in the bat of an eyelid across the globe. Tandberg video conferencing systems allow experts to diagnose ailments from anywhere in the world right from their offices.

Tandberg video conferencing software is not only used for business meetings anymore. The advancements of the Internet has provided a means of allowing the average person to take advantage of this technology. Uses of Tandberg video conferencing systems continue to develop day and night in the domains of business, medicine, education, and personal computing, Tandberg video conferencing software is a highly convenient and an easy means of virtual communication. Communication all over the world has never been the same since Tandberg video conferencing systems made their presence known in the field of video conferencing.

Shakir A. is writer an independent writer on Internet marketing, Online Video Advertising, Video Conferencing and it's happenings in Internet industry. More Details for Video Conferencing at http://www.tandberg.com

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Choosing Between Web and Audio Conferencing For Large Audiences

Outside of sitting around a conference table with a whiteboard, there are three alternative ways to conduct Conference meetings: Web Conferences, Webcasts and Audio Conferencing. During the past ten years there has been a significant movement towards Web Conferencing in particular. A change in the economic landscape, along with numerous new product offerings such as Webinars and Podcasts, has produced a reduction in face-to-face meetings worldwide. As a result, companies have been benefiting through a reduction in travel expenses and a more convenient method of communicating with clients, stockholders and employees.

As products mature, prices tend to decline. This holds true for the Web Conference industry. Along with advancements in ease of use and the addition of new tools, we have seen an increase in affordability. Today, it is possible to conduct online video/audio interactive meetings to train staff, launch new products and/or announce software enhancements, for an all-in fee of $49.00/month. The combination of visual and audio conferencing is powerful for small groups and is revolutionizing the effectiveness of group interaction. Web Conferencing however, can have limited functionality and the number of manageable participants is relatively small. Webcast technology has also come of age to provide live or on-demand presentations that are streamed via the Web with audio or audio/video combination. In contrast to Web Conferencing tools, Webcast's are typically professionally produced programs of broadcast quality. They are streamed live and have almost any combination of interactive features from chat, to surveys and Q&A tools. Web conferencing and Webcast tools are great as long as the participants are computer savvy and/or are motivated to join online for a presentation. In other words, sometimes, a Web based conference does not meet the needs of your intended target audience. For example,

Elderly clients may use email on a regular basis but are not likely to jump through perceived hoops to join a Web conference
People who use computers at work tend to not use them for business needs during their free time and may resist joining a Web conference
Many people simply lack the technical skills and may find the computer just too tedious.
Many who commit to join Web meetings drop out at the last minute.
While a visual presentation might be nice to have, it is not always necessary to get the point across.
Most web service providers lack scalability which limits attendance size.

Audio Conferencing (teleconferencing) continues to be a viable low cost alternative to Web conferences, however, most audio conference service providers have limitations on the number of attendees and it can be difficult to carry on a conversation with a large audience (attendees can speak out at will and confuse the organizer's direction). Background noise can also be a problem. Additionally, if the service provider does allow large audiences, the per user/per minute charge can impact the overall cost effectiveness of the Audio Conference ($0.79/minute/user adds up fast)

A new 21st century technological solution for reaching very large audiences such as 20,000 Bank customers, or 40,000 insurance agents, recently emerged and has been proven amazingly effective in the political arena. Over 200 Politicians used this flexible technology extensively during the 2008 U.S. Presidential campaign.

This technology can be best described as a "talk radio show over the phone". By combining the power of a desktop computer, the Internet and telephone, it is possible to carry on a controlled interactive dialogue (just like the big time talk radio show hosts). Imagine communicating your message regarding the safety and soundness of your company to hundreds of thousands of people at one time and you know exactly who they are, how long they listened in and their opinion of your message."

In contrast to Web Conferencing and Webcast tools, this technology brings your audience to you. To join a meeting, the participant simply answers his/her telephone. No computer, password, or dial in number is required. The participants can ask questions (through a screener), be connected to the speaker live, participate in polls and transfer out to live operators. The band width of this technology is so enormous you can bring thousands of people into your forum, such as shareholders, customers or employees with a few key strokes. And, guess what? There are:

No upfront costs
No maintenance costs
No added IT costs

No minimum usage requirements

And, best of all the price is a fraction of that of a Webcast. If you have an interest in gaining more information, please visit our Website: www.GlobalBizSo.com or call Lucy 303-520-4513

Lucy Dean, Principal at Global Business Solutions, LLC in Colorado has twenty-five + years Banking experience specializing in Global Cash Management and has been an independent Consultant for the last 10 years helping banks and corporations improve product management techniques and sales and marketing strategies.
She specializes in:
- Sales Force Automation Administration and Design
- Trade Finance and Cash Management
- Marketing and Promotional Development
- Process and Operations Workflow Improvement and Revenue Enhancement
- Financial Institution Consulting
Website: http://www.globalbizso.com

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All You Need to Know About Free Conference Call Services

If you are willing to be able to talk with other people inexpensively, free conference call service will be the excellent choice for you. This is the most beneficial tool that you can use to maintain your relationship with your family or your friends all over the country or even all around the world. Additionally, you can also use this type of service to make a virtual reunion with your friends or families.

In today's day and age, free phone conference calls are well liked as they are generally used by many people as well as companies. Certainly, there are many people that are now able to spread out and still communicate each other. With this type of services, you can communicate any time you want as long as and as often as you want.

Where to Get Free Conference Call Services

A quick internet search should offer you with a list of this services. Be sure you check to see if this type of services apply for international calls as well as domestic, if this uses to your case. Just imagine if you have friends in China, Korea, Japan, Ireland and England, and even a few here in the states.

Through Your Computer

You can also obtain services that allow you to make free conference calls through your computer. There is also wonderful thing that that you can do with your computer for this type of service. Surely, you can also make use of a web cam to talk while seeing the person you're talking to at the same time.

With free conference call service, you will be able to talk as long as you want or call as often as you need without worrying about the cost that you need to pay for.

If you liked this article and would like to know more about conference calling. Visit our site on Conference Calling Now.

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Information About Video Conferencing - What You Need To Know

Video conferencing is the technique of meeting in a group over a network employing video and audio transmission technology and equipment. Armed with information about video conferencing businessmen, technologists, scientists and government heads started to explore ways to bring the world closer together and enable meetings of many people located in different parts of the globe. Video conferencing is the process of being able to see and interact with a group of people located at any point of the world at the same time.

Increased information about video conferencing has enabled even small businesses and organizations to communicate virtually face to face and not being in the same room at the same time. Businesses find this the most convenient way to interact with partners across the globe. Medical service providers such as surgeons have been known to use their information about video conferencing to provide invaluable advise to doctors treating patients half way across the globe. Doctors can view the patients and advise their colleagues about the treatment that must be administered to the patient. Surgeons have been known to conduct operations in distant countries through video conferencing; they observe the operation being conducted by a surgeon and advise him through the conferencing. This would not have been possible in the early 1990’s as the video quality was very low and the connectivity of the video conferencing was not too good either.

Today the general man-in-the-street can use video conferencing software like any professional. Desktop video conferencing has brought the world closer and bridged the divide of the oceans for many a family. Information about video conferencing has given expansion opportunities for education and communication like no one ever expected. Someone somewhere has availed of the benefits that information about video conferencing has provided to the world. This is a technology that has achieved a lot in a few years and still has a very long way to go. Video conferencing enables scientists on the earth to communicate with astronauts in space, Generals to observe the activities on the frontlines, Doctors to monitor the progress of patients from distant lands, scientists to take part in crucial experiments from different countries at the same time and the old grand parents to have a look at the newborn grandchild just a few minutes after birth.

The information about video conferencing that you need is available all over the Internet. You need to know what video conferencing is, what you can use it for, what is the technology available to you and what is the equipment you need to set up video conferencing. In the past there was just the ISDN line linking the Internet across the world. Then there was the limited video compressing technology that could enable video transmission across the Internet. Businesses and organizations were unable to put video conferencing to its greatest use as they were bound to the limited technology at the time. The more their information about video conferencing technology advanced the better equipped they became to put it to wider use.

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Making the Best Out of Audio Conferencing Services to Boost Business

As the demand for time and cost efficient means of conducting business processes is increasing, technological advancements have been made to support the same. With passing days, many shifts and readjustments have been made in several arenas of business. For instance, the way meetings are held have evolved drastically in the wake of making them more effective and at the same time cost efficient.

The sight of a populated conference room with distinguished men and women spending hours together in discussing a well planned and scheduled meeting agenda is a thing of the past. Somewhere in the late nineties, audio conferencing companies emerged offering affordable audio conferencing services to the world. Small and medium sized companies immediately took advantage of this and started organizing meetings through teleconferences. They found that meetings had become crisp, efficient and cost effective. This method of organizing meeting was soon adopted by many businesses and within a matter of months conference meetings through telephone became a large success.

When the trend of offshore outsourcing began, audio conferencing had much to offer. All the travel expenses that were to be made by following traditional meeting methods were completely eliminated. As the demand for these services grew, the sound quality was improved and enhanced features like web conferencing was introduced.

In order to ensure technology is implemented properly, certain things should be taken note of. Choose a service that suits your business requirements best. The sound quality and the user friendliness are two features which you must check in any audio conferencing service. The features of the devices vary. The most expensive is not always the best choice. Your business may not utilize all the features that are available in a high end model. Go in for something that is good enough to accomplish your audio conference goals. It is also possible to archive meetings.

In today's day and age, a save on time is the biggest perk your business could get. It is important that every business understands and adopts the facility of audio conferencing to cope with the demanding business needs.

I am an employee of a reputed software firm. I love the use of audio conferencing in meetings and having seen the benefits of audio conferencing services, I decided to write an article about it.

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Make Meetings Cost Effective With Video Conferencing Services

Gone are the days when meetings meant a room full of men and women seating on a conference table to discuss a business agenda for hours. With globalization and new technological advancements, meetings too have become tech savvy. In an era of multinational companies and offshore business outsourcing, meetings involve people from various nations and traveling for the cause of a meeting is simply impractical. Corporate meetings extensively use of audio and video conferencing services, video conferencing being the most effective.

A video conference meeting barely has any disadvantages, but sure has a lot of advantages. It is simply a virtual meet among employees and employers who work across different geographical boundaries. By making use of video and audio aids, members involved in the video conference can see and talk to each other just as they would in a formal conference setting.

This method is definitely a save on cost. Travel costs, cost of arranging an event and hosting costs are all cut out. All it takes is a webcam, a computer, an internet broadband connection, microphone and a projector. Video conference meetings are suited for elaborate as well as short spanned ones. Since it hardly bears any additional cost, it is highly cost effective.

Of late, video conference rooms are designed and equipped to accommodate formal meetings. They can either be a part of your office infrastructure or can be rented too. Businesses across the world are now using these rooms for a variety of purposes. They use the facility to hold training programs for employees conduct product demonstrations for clients and even conduct interviews across different countries. Sure it saves a lot of bucks.

Be it a small business or a multinational corporation, video conferencing is the order of the day. It saves cost, time and also keeps you on par with businesses who are using a service like this.

Video conferencing service and audio conferencing services enable any organization to tap into cost effective internet channel to carry their day to day activities.

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Audio, Video and Web Conferencing

In terms of internet technology there has been a dramatic growth through the penetration of higher bandwidth through cable modem and DSL's. Online communication using audio and video is a very viable option for businesses whether they are small scale or large scale. If we take some previous records into count in early 2000 the web conferencing business was just worth half a billion dollar industry and ever since it has been rising consistently with a 30% growth. Today it stands at an enormous figure because of the cost cuts and savings a business can have.

How does audio, video and web conferencing save money for business?

Business travel means expenditure in the form of air tickets and hotel accommodations and the other benefits which tag along. It could be anywhere in the world and the cost to support one business executive could run high enough. However the whole concept of business travel is for giving that personal touch for customers. Today web conferencing is able to give the personal touch without the business executives having to travel miles across.

Benefits of web conferencing:

Other than time and cost cutting there are several other benefits that web conferencing brings along.

Employees can handle their time more efficiently and productively. Internal and external communication for them improves because they do not need the turn around time to "get back" on queries as they are right in their office

Provides the option of expanding the business to anywhere in the world and not yet spend exorbitant amounts f money in setting up costs.

Online training to HR recruiting and marketing can be facilitated through web conferencing.

Web conferencing is a great business tool to have. Even though it can never replace the conventional face to face meetings it is still an effective way to bridge those gaps. Businesses that pursue web conferencing need to consider the fundamentals of web conferencing. Many leading providers today offer the state of the art facilities and in order to choose a quality product that is flawless, it should be an easy to use service that a busy and harried business executive can use. The learning curve should be minimal and there should 24/7 customer support service to support the conferencing facilities.

Author is consultant for audio conferencing service and video conferencing service offering companies.

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Improvements in Web Conferencing Reduce the Costs For All Businesses

If you're the one responsible for organising your company's conferences, you'll know that cost is a big factor in deciding which option to go for. In a perfect world, everyone will attend your conference in one place and at one time. Unfortunately, it can be frighteningly expensive to fly delegates in, put them up in hotels and pay for the other expenses associated with getting people to attend a conference.

You may have noticed the average cost of business-class tickets increasing of late, and one of the big reasons is thanks to advanced web technology. I'm talking about web conferencing, or video conferencing, which allows delegates to conference virtually thus saving the need to travel to a physical event. As cost becomes an ever greater factor in deciding which conference option to choose, many companies are now turning to web conferencing as a viable alternative.

The advances in video conferencing mean that multiple delegates can now watch real-time streaming of a video event. This has brought the corporate community much closer as a result. As well, the pricing of this technology has proven to be much more affordable for small to midsize businesses looking to cut costs on conventions, meetings and everything associated with long
distance travel.

With the expanding scope of web conferencing technology, audio and video can now be delivered via a broadband or high-speed connection to anyone, anywhere in the world just by having a web browser. As a result, meetings can be held and recorded so that remote staff in different time zones, who might not be able to attend the conference, can replay it at a more convenient time. Delegates are now able to use a whole host of new tools in a conference, such as present materials or collaborate on documents. This process has allowed people to work across borders far more quickly and easily than before.

In Australia alone, video conferencing software such as WebEx is used by over 11,000 businesses. The reduced travel this has allowed will have reduced the amount of carbon emitted by thousands of tonnes. Some of the more common users of WebEx software are in the finance and IT sections, and they use it for marketing and training purposes.

Kinobo is an online retailer of computer electronics and software. We supply customers with webcams, microphones, headsets and other video conferencing equipment. We also offer a free trial of Microsoft Live Meeting web based video conferencing.

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PC Video Conferencing - Using The Computer As A Conferencing Tool

One of the best and the latest technologies in the area of video conferencing is PC video conferencing. This is the most cost effective method of video conferencing as all one needs is a web cam and a microphone along with an internet connection. Unlike other systems where an entire unit has to be set up such as video output devices and cameras the PC video conferencing, also known as desktop video conferencing, brings video conferencing right into your homes. IT experts have been working round the clock to develop the best PC video conferencing software all over the globe. Everyone seems to claim that they have the most advanced PC video conferencing software ever developed. However, you can be the best judge of their claims.

PC video conferencing software was Lunched a few years ago and is better known as P2P video-conferencing technology that integrates text chat, screen and document sharing and full session recording while remaining extremely easy and simple to use even for the people who are first timers to PC video conferencing. This Windows based software can be adapted to other operating systems such as Linux and Macs. Though PC video conferencing software is developed for few large and very prestigious corporations it is available for the large consumer market as well.

It is falsely believed by the man in the street that if PC video conferencing software doesn't strike home fast and get a footing in the domestic market or gets new some funding from the government you won't be able to buy PC video conferencing software for your own private use. But here is where they are all wrong. PC video conferencing software is available free for download on many sites on the Internet. PC video conferencing software is becoming so common that even the students in school are using it every day from out of cyber cafés and even their own personal PC’s at home.

PC video conferencing software is a browser-based video conferencing application that requires a simple installation via an Internet Explorer active-X plug-in or a FireFox extension. If you don't have the PC video conferencing software installed on your PC you can do so by going to the more popular sites such as Yahoo and Google or Skype and download their free versions of the PC video conferencing software. The downloading and installation is fully automated and you just have to sit back and watch the computer do it’s work. Once you have installed the software and are connected to the Internet you can take part in any PC video conferencing program on the Internet, of course you have to have access to the conference with a username or password.

Once launched the PC video conferencing software is very compact and simple to use. The few and simple controls PC video conferencing requires you to know are all easily accessible from the screen of the video window and they allow the user to freeze the video, mute the microphone or to access a simple menu containing access to the other key features of PC video conferencing.

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Internet Video Conferencing Software - Advantages of Using Video Conference Software

While the number of video conferencing software that can be found online is huge, finding the best versions available isn't that easy. There are a number of options that you should take into consideration when you're looking for such a software.

If the number of persons you need to do a video conference with is small, than a normal software for Internet video conferencing will be enough. There are a number of options out there, with prices that vary quite a bit.

If you have a home business, you have video conferencing software that will fit your needs. The same goes if your business doesn't have that many employees or clients to conference with. All you need in this case is software and a webcam.

Your webcam is connected to your computer, which lets the others using the software see you, while you see them through their own webcam. Most of these video conferencing software such as MS communicator will have audio capability, but some of them will let you type the words instead, with the other person seeing what you write in real time.

If you have a home business, video conferencing software is perfect to solve all your needs, to save money and make the needed contacts with other people. There are software versions both for Windows and Mac, so you can talk to as many people as possible.

Do I have to pay for software?

Even if you don't have that much money to spend on software, you can probably find a free software for conferencing. In many cases, companies that produce video conferencing software will offer free versions for download, hoping that you will like it and decide to pay the price for the full version.

So, you can use these free versions to test different versions of software, get a feel of what they have to offer and later even decide to pay for one of them. Other companies that are new in the market will want as many new clients as possible, so they might be inclined to negotiate prices or even give away their services without asking for money in return.

But, if you want the absolute best video conferencing software, finding it for free isn't an option. You will need to pay for it, but the price can be huge, up to thousands of dollars.

If you want the absolute best video software that can be found, you might end up paying up to $10,000 for it.

Discover where to get the best internet web conferencing software. Learn more about the latest web based conferencing news at my site.

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Origins of Video Conferencing

Has anyone thought on how Video conferencing came about to be what it is in the present time? Video conference started on the idea based upon the Television transmission. This is usually a one way output for the observer and no input from the viewers.

Then came the Video Teleconferencing technique which is based upon input and output from the users. The input and output is the sending and receiving of audio and video signals. The equipments used at the start of this method were: video cameras and screens; microphones with input and output facilities; speakers; and special transmission equipment for receiving and sending out signals at the location for the conference to take place.

When a conference would hold, all the members taking part would have to be present as a group in a room at the same time at each location. The signals sent and received were slow with low video conferencing definition.

This soon led to the introduction of wireless communication. The technology used for a Video Conferencing has now expanded gradually over time to make this a cost effective mode of communication.

With the introduction of the Internet, some companies are now offering ISDN and IP to make transmission fast and with high video conferencing definition. Without special equipments needed for conferencing, communication can not be carried out. So it is also necessary to find those companies that offer these special equipments. Video conferencing can now be carried out at one's desktop with the introduction of the latest technology.

One has to wonder, how much further technology can go; it seems endless.

Video conference has helped several companies enhance their communication. Try quality video conferencing service here.

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What to Look For in a Video Conferencing Facility

Any room in the office can become a video conferencing facility. This is because you only need the right hardware and software so people will be able to talk with other parties.

In terms of hardware, the video conferencing facility must have a camera. It should be able to record real time video at the same time produce real time output so you can immediately respond to questions and give comments.

You will also need a microphone so you can speak into this device and your message comes out through their speakers.

Voice and sound can only be compressed if you have a processor. There are many of them around so you just have to pick the right one that is compatible with the video conferencing software that you plan to install in your facility.

You will also need gateway which happens to be the network device that connects your network to the web. Some of those available have a firewall so again, it is up to you if you want get a system that has this feature.

If you don't want to buy the hardware mentioned separately, you can invest in an integrated video conferencing unit that already has the entire package.

Ideally, you should use the H323 version in the video conferencing facility. This is because of its compatibility with other systems.

For those who don't want to spend on a video conferencing facility, they can go to venues that offer this service. You have to make a reservation in advance so no one will take the slot that you wish to use.

Since most meetings do not take too long, many of these places charge by the hour. If you have to cancel or reschedule the meeting, you should call them at least 24 hours before so you will not be billed for the time that you reserved.

Places that have these video conferencing facilities include hotels, colleges and other training centers. You can look in the directory or online so you get to see how it looks like before using it as this place might just be your regular the next time you need to have another meeting.

The biggest benefit of having your own or going to a video conferencing facility is not having to spend on airfare and travel expenses just to attend a business meeting. This is as technology allows you to meet "virtually" with just about anybody wherever they are in the country or in the world.

As a result, other sectors have begun using this technology as well such as the justice department, schools and hospitals since this medium can have 5 to more than 50 people in attendance during a hearing, a meeting or in an online training session.

A video conferencing facility has the capabilities of reaching a worldwide audience thanks to its ability to go through IP networks, ISDN (Integrated System Digital Network) phone lines, firewalls, routers and Codecs (Coder/Decoder). You can invest in one or reserve a slot in a place that offers this so you can schedule a meeting.

Does this mean people do not have to travel anymore to meet each other? The answer is no but it will reduce the number of times you have to go there personally when issues have to be settled.

Lucas Mattioneli
http://www.webconferencingreviews.com

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Web Based Video Conferencing - Pros and Cons

If you know how video phones work, then you should also be familiar with web based video conferencing. You call someone from anywhere in the world and you can see each other on the TV screen. In fact, video conferencing is built to work best when used for big conferences, not for normal clients.

A lot of companies decided to use video conferencing as a tool for everyday use. There are always disadvantages and advantages when it comes to video conferences, and you should take them all into consideration.

Advantages

1. Get a hold of anyone you need at any point during the day or night. You don't need to travel long distances, so the time differences aren't as important now as they used to be.

2. If all you need is a short talk, then a phone call is sufficient, but if you want a full fledged conference with people from different locations, then you need a web based video conference. For example, you can make a conference where businessman from Tokyo, New York and Amsterdam all participate at the same time, hearing and seeing each other perfectly.

3. You can use any type of visual program like PowerPoint to share information with the other people in the room, and everyone will have the feeling that they're together, sharing information and ideas freely.
4. Using the whiteboards that come with the software, they can all collaborate on new ideas in the same space. This way, they can create plans or do new slogans and designs.

5. In some cases, you can even grant access to a computer to everyone, and they can see what happens on it. The more advanced the service, the more actions can be done, such as changing documents and typing from other PC's connected to the web conference. If your company needs people to collaborate on projects, then this can help greatly.

Disadvantages

1. The largest problem that people might have with is the price of web conferencing. Still, there are some cheaper options out there, if you can give up some of the advanced features.

If you do need the advanced features, you will save money in time, by paying more now, instead of paying for travelling costs and hotels for people flying in. As fuel becomes more expensive, the price of web conferencing becomes more affordable when you take into consideration the money you save.

2. Some things that people use to communicate, such as eye contact aren't as well translated when it's not done face to face. This happens for example when you attend a conference in the same room with someone else. You can judge him more easily than you would if you would see him on TV.

You need to know what you need and what disadvantages and advantages web conferencing has, before you make a decision about it.

Discover the best web based video conferencing services online. Learn more the cost of web based conferencing.

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An Overview of Videoconferencing Services

Videoconferencing services became mainstream in 2007 when private videoconferencing was made public by Cisco. The history of videoconferencing may not be very long, but it is important to understand how this very useful business tool came to be the popular medium for business conferences around the world.

Today videoconferencing is easy to use and widely available. It is hard to believe that it began as a tool for select businesses. It is helping to save money and create an easier way to communicate within a business and even to outsiders, like investors, partners and customers.

The push towards videoconferencing is not just led by businesses. Carriers see that people love the convenience of technology in all areas of their life, such as with Skype and HDTV. The potential of this new medium is very appealing to carriers as a new market for expansion and potential for a large profit.

There are now three basic types of videoconferencing services. You could consider them levels of videoconferencing. They are desktop, room-based and immersive. Each has different features and, of course, the cost increases as you go up a level due to the increased benefits and features at the higher levels.

Desktop videoconferencing service work by allowing participants to see and hear the conference live on their personal computer. The video is not of the highest quality and the sound can often be intermittent, but it is very affordable. For a small business or for internal meetings this may be the way to go for affordability.

Room-based videoconferencing services involve an online conference room or chat room. All participants have videoconferencing gear that allows them to connect to the IP data network of the conference. These rooms must be reserved, but the quality is much better and more reliable than with desktop services. This is the mid-level of videoconferencing services and the most popular business choice.

Immersive videoconferencing is the top of the line experience. It provides the best in video and audio quality. This type of conferencing makes it feel like everyone is in the same room. Of course, to accomplish this can be pricey since there is a need for high quality equipment and technology. However, for important meetings and events this is the best choice for the best experience.

With three levels from which to choose you can easily find the right services to meet your needs. You should always consider the quality because that is the big thing that sets these service levels apart. However, if money is a concern then you may need to choose based upon that. The good news, though, is that things are improving rapidly so quality is getting better while costs are going down.

Videoconferencing services are pretty new and as such they are still being developed and altered to meet the needs of the business sector. Over time they are evolving so that higher quality and lower cost are starting to come together and making it more affordable for businesses to have the best possible experience with videoconferencing.

If you are looking for a reliable and affordable videoconferencing service we recommend GoToMeeting.com. For a detailed review as well as more information on how to plan a webinar, visit BestForWebinars.com

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How To Hold An Audio Conference

Audio conferencing is a calling feature that can be used when there are more than 2 participants or callers. Most audio conferences need the assistance of a conferencing services provider, which offers a wide range of basic and enhanced conferencing services. In order to get the assistance of a conferencing services provider, it is essential to open a conferencing account. Hence, the first major step when holding an audio conference is to create a conferencing account. Since there is tough competition in the business world, with most businesses going global, audio conferences prove to be extremely useful. Through this technology, people can communicate with their clients who are situated in any part of the world.

An audio conference can be easily held on any of the PBX or multi-line telephones if they have a conference function on them. An audio conferencing system enables different parties to come together for a discussion anytime and anywhere, irrespective of their geographical location. Audio conferences are mainly held for group meetings and live presentations through various audio channels. Due to the increasing popularity of audio conferencing, there are innumerable service providers in the market offering a variety of facilities and options. Thus, the most important criteria is to find the right service provider, which provides a proper voice quality. Voice quality is a prime concern in an audio conference, as any kind of noise or disturbance can affect the important conversation in a bad way, which could indirectly hamper the business. It is not always necessary to use an audio conferencing service with technologically advanced hardware and software, as utilizing unfamiliar products will often result in a lot of technical defects during an important meeting or conversation.

Audio conferences prove to be very useful in raising the standards of the organization of the employees. To hold an audio conference is more often than not an easy procedure and at the same time is an appropriate alternative to travel, especially when a meeting does not require face-to-face interaction or any kind of document sharing.

Audio Conferences provides detailed information on Audio Conferences, Audio Conference Calls, Audio Conference Companies, Audio Conference Services and more. Audio Conferences is affiliated with Online Audio Conferencing.

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Audio Conferencing Equipment You Require to Host a Conference

Hosting an audio conference is very simple. If you have any experience of chatting you must be already aware of it. All you need for conducting or hosting an audio conference is a computer, internet connection, speakers, mikes. If you also want to add video to the conference, you need a web cam. Of course all the parties who are intended to join your conference must have all this audio conferencing equipment with them at their places.

A conference is started between two points with the help of software. These days almost all of the computers have the required software installed already on their machines. No matter what operating system you use, MS-Windows or Linux as far as your browser is equipped with java you can start a web conference. But to interact more effectively you may need a good speed internet connection. A speed of 100+ kbps is enough for smooth conference between 10-20 people. But if you want several hundred people to join your meeting then you may require high speed broadband internet of at least 2MB to host such huge conference.

You can also download several free open source audio conferencing solutions available on the web. The benefit of such open source programs is you can customize them to suit to your specific requirements. You can design your own interface for such software and supply to all your clients, this will add to your company's reputation and you can have a high impact on peoples' perspective about your company.

You can also use VoIP phone to speak and conduct audio conferencing. Many companies are offering web conferencing services at very reasonable costs. Some of the companies like Skype and Vodafone are found to the most cost effective and reliable services for this kind of calling. They provide you necessary Audio Conferencing Equipment and you need to simply dial the number just like your regular phone.

If you want to know some best resources for Web based conferencing, make sure you visit this website http://www.audioconferencingsolutions.info

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Take Your Home Business Into The Fast Lane With Audio And Web Conferencing

Just because you are a work-at-home mom, does not mean you should ignore audio and web conferencing. For all you know, it'll give your business a boost, as well as extra opportunities. Why don't you try it?

Starting a home business

When friends and relatives keep praising your hand-crafted jewelry and placing orders from you, you might have a potential business in your hands. If you finally take the leap, start small.

The safest route to a small business is starting at home where you won't need to pay rent. It is also safe to start small so you'll only make small mistakes.

Continue with your routine, but look up local regulations regarding home businesses and prepare the requirements should you open up your garage to display your collection. That way, you won't be worrying about the IRS.

People think that their business must have the look and feel of the big time when they're just starting out. Even at this point you won't need audio and web conferencing yet. When you've established yourself safely and profitably, that's the time to think big.

Hiring the right people

When business steps up with more orders coming in, start hiring help on a temporary basis with a view of hiring them on a permanent basis. Look for workers who have the enthusiasm for the job. They're most likely to represent your business well.

Upbeat employees communicate a positive aura to customers who like the idea of a cheerful business. Your customers will likely recommend your business to their friends.

To keep your small workforce working competently, train them on specific jobs. When they are already confident of their specific chores, continue to supervise. In the first place, your business started with your touch, so why let that go?

Moving up

Most small businesses are funded by credit card loans or business loans. When this is true in your case, better separate your home expenses from your business funds. This way you can keep track of your business and home expenses separately.

When things have gone up and you have more people than you originally started out with, you'll need to meet them as a group. If this will get in the way of their field activities, think of going into audio and web conferencing. Audio and web conferencing is not limited for inside business concerns but is also a faster and cheaper way to get in touch with clients and suppliers from other states.

If you are thinking of upgrading your telephone system by integrating the VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol, you have to shop for VoIP accessories and software to go along with it, as well as the service provider in the area.

For big businesses, audio and web conferencing has cut down travel costs. People no longer have to go to other parts of the globe for a conference to show their presentations. The Internet will keep people and businesses in touch with audio and web conferencing anytime, anywhere.

Federal Candidate Promotes Video Conferencing

Conferencing and collaboration technologies – audio, web and video – save time and money, and help organizations reduce their carbon footprints. We all know that. However during the campaign prior to yesterday's national election in Canada, it has become an issue.

"We in Richmond should be working with YVR to develop a sustainability strategy, leading to an 85% reduction in overall emissions by 2040. All aviation fuel should carry both a regular fuel tax and the carbon tax, with higher taxes paid for high altitude and night flights – because their nitrous oxide emissions have greater negative impacts. Our government should be installing video-conferencing facilities in every community larger then 1,000 people by 2015, where meetings and conferences will be free of GST. As an elected MP or city councillor, I will commit to reduce travel costs (economical and environmental) by encouraging constituents to meet by video-link when unable to meet me in person." So said Michael Wolfe, the Green Party MP candidate in Richmond, BC during a candidates' forum on CKNW radio last week.

Not only is this candidate a proponent for the green aspects of Audio Conferencing versus air travel, but he also advocated national tax incentives to encourage businesses to increase their use of videoconferencing. Although his party did not prevail in the election, Mr. Wolfe's comments – with which, by the way, the other candidates in the forum agreed – there is no doubt that this type of thinking and action will prevail in the not too distant future.

Early adopters can rightfully take pride in their organizations' commitment not only to the real dollar savings in increased use of conferencing technology versus travel, but also to their significant contributions to a greener corporate world.

Reservationless Conference Call Services FAQ

If you are in business and are looking into conference calling, I bet you have a lot of questions. Sometimes it can be very confusing. There are so many different options to choose from. Finding the package that is right for your business can be a difficult decision. Below are some questions concerning reservationless conference call services that might be of help to you.

1. What equipment do I need to make a conference call? With reservationless conference calls the only equipment you need is your phone.

2. How much does it cost? It depends on which vendor you choose. Prices can range from $0.10 to $0.29. You also need to check how many participants they allow. There may be extra fees for more participants.

3. How do I make a conference call? Since you do not need any outside assistance to make your call, you simply dial in to your reservation number and enter an access code. You let the other participants know the date and time of the call and you give them the dial up number and a participant code number. You can have a conference call, anytime, day or night. You have 24 hour access.

4. How can I obtain help during a call if I need to? You can access help through your phone by pressing zero. Most vendors will have someone available to help you, if need be. You also have access to a user guide that can walk you through the procedure or you can call their support center.

5. What type of security is offered? Many companies have sensitive issues that they talk about during their conferences. With reservationless conference calling, only you and those participating have access to the number and codes. You are using your own phones so you can feel safe. Information is not travelling across the internet. There are options, if employees have left and you don't want them to have access any more. You can be issued new numbers.

6. How do I keep track of my usage? Daily reports can be sent to you showing how much time you spent during your conference call. This report can include information such as how many people participated and how many minutes were used. This information can be sent to you via email, shortly after your conference call ends.

As you can see there are many questions you need to ask before you sign up for conference call services. We have touched upon a few. There are many resources out there to help you decide. Take your time and make the right decision that is best for your company. By Conferencecallserviceinc dot com, Louis Zhang

For more information about reservationless conference calls and which conference call service providers is right for you visit Conferencecallserviceinc dot com.

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The History of Video Conferencing - Moving Ahead at the Speed of Video

No new technology develops smoothly, and video conferencing had more than its share of bumps along the way before becoming the widely used communications staple it is today. The history of video conferencing in its earliest form goes back to the 1960’s, when AT&T introduced the Picturephone at the World’s Fair in New York. While viewed as a fascinating curiosity, it never became popular and was too expensive to be practical for most consumers when it was offered for $160 a month in 1970.

Commercial use of real video conferencing was first realized with Ericsson’s demonstration of the first trans-Atlantic LME video telephone call. Soon other companies began refining video conferencing technologies, including such advancements as network video protocol (NVP) in 1976 and packet video protocol (PVP) in 1981. None of these were put into commercial use, however, and stayed in the laboratory or private company use.

In 1976, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone established video conferencing (VC) between Tokyo and Osaka for company use. IBM Japan followed suit in 1982 by establishing VC running at 48000bps to link up with already established internal IBM video conferencing links in the United States so that they could have weekly meetings.

The 1980’s introduce commercial video conferencing

In 1982, Compression Labs introduces their VC system to the world for $250,000 with lines for $1,000 an hour. The system was huge and used enormous resources capable of tripping 15 amp circuit breakers. It was, however, the only working VC system available until PictureTel’s VC hit the market in 1986 with their substantially cheaper $80,000 system with $100 per hour lines.

In the time in between these two commercially offered systems, there were other video conferencing systems developed that were never offered commercially. The history of video conferencing isn’t complete without mentioning these systems that were either prototypes or systems developed specifically for in-house use by a variety of corporations or organizations, including the military. Around 1984, Datapoint was using the Datapoint MINX system on their Texas campus, and had provided the system to the military.

In the late 1980’s, Mitsubishi began selling a still-picture phone that was basically a flop in the market place. They dropped the line two years after introducing it. In 1991, the first PC based video conferencing system was introduced by IBM – PicTel. It was a black and white system using what was at the time an incredibly inexpensive $30 per hour for the lines, while the system itself was $20,000. In June of the same year, DARTnet had successfully connected a transcontinental IP network of over a dozen research sites in the United States and Great Britain using T1 trunks. Today, DARTnet has evolved into the CAIRN system, which connects dozens of institutions.

CU-SeeMe revolutionizes video conferencing

One of the most famous systems in the history of video conferencing was the CU-SeeMe developed for the MacIntosh system in 1992. Although the first version didn’t have audio, it was the best video system developed to that point. By 1993, the MAC program had multipoint capability, and in 1994, CU-SeeMe MAC was true video conferencing with audio. Recognizing the limitations of MAC compatibility in a Windows world, developers worked diligently to roll out the April 1994 CU-SeeME for Windows (no audio), followed closely by the audio version, CU-SeeMe v0.66b1 for Windows in August of 1995.

In 1992, AT&T rolled out their own $1,500 video phone for the home market. It was a borderline success. That same year, the world’s first MBone audio/video broadcast took place and in July INRIA’s video conferencing system was introduced. This is the year that saw the first real explosion in video conferencing for businesses around the globe and eventually led to the standards developed by the ITU.

International Telecommunications Union develops coding standards

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) began developing standards for video conferencing coding in 1996, when they established Standard H.263 to reduce bandwidth for transmission for low bit rate communication. Other standards were developed, including H.323 for packet-based multi-media communications. These are a variety of other telecommunications standards were revised and updated in 1998. In 1999, Standard MPEG-4 was developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group as an ISO standard for multimedia content.

In 1993, VocalChat Novell IPX networks introduced their video conferencing system, but it was doomed from the start and didn’t last. Microsoft finally came on board the video conferencing bandwagon with NetMeeting, a descendent of PictureTel’s Liveshare Plus, in August of 1996 (although it didn’t have video in this release). By December of the same year, Microsoft NetMeeting v2.0b2 with video had been released. That same month, VocalTec’s Internet Phone v4.0 for Windows was introduced.

VRVS links global research centers

The Virtual Room Videoconferencing System (VRVS) project at Caltech-CERN kicked off in July of 1997. They developed the VRVS specifically to provide video conferencing to researchers on the Large Hadron Collider Project and scientists in the High Energy and Nuclear Physics Community in the U.S. and Europe. It has been so successful that seed money has been allotted for phase two, CalREN-2, to improve and expand on the already in-place VRVS system in order to expand it to encompass geneticists, doctors, and a host of other scientists in the video conferencing network around the world.

Cornell University’s development team released CU-SeeMe v1.0 in 1998. This color video version was compatible with both Windows and MacIntosh, and huge step forward in pc video conferencing. By May of that year, the team has moved on to other projects.

In February of 1999, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) was launched by MMUSIC. The platform showed some advantages over H.323 that user appreciated and soon made it almost as popular. 1999 was a very busy year, with NetMeeting v3.0b coming out, followed quickly by version three of the ITU standard H.323. Then came the release of iVisit v2.3b5 for both Windows and Mac, followed by Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP), version 1. In December, Microsoft released a service pack for NetMeeting v3.01 (4.4.3388) and an ISO standard MPEG-4 version two was released. Finally, PSInet was the first company to launch H.323 automated multipoint services. Like we said, 1999 was a very busy year.

SIP entered version 1.30 in November of 2000, the same year that standard H.323 hit version 4, and Samsung released their MPEG-4 streaming 3G video cell phone, the first of its kind. It was a hit, particularly in Japan. Rather predictably, Microsoft NetMeeting had to release another service pack for version 3.01.

In 2001, Windows XP messenger announced that it would now support Session Initiation Protocol. This was the same year the world’s first transatlantic tele-surgery took place utilizing video conferencing. In this instance, video conferencing was instrumental in allowing a surgeon in the U.S. to use a robot overseas to perform gall bladder surgery on a patient. It was one of the most compelling non-business uses in the history of video conferencing, and brought the technology to the attention of the medical profession and the general public.

In October of 2001, television reporters began using a portable satellite and a videophone to broadcast live from Afghanistan during the war. It was the first use of video conferencing technology to converse live with video with someone in a war zone, again bringing video conferencing to the forefront of people’s imaginations.

Founded in December of 2001, the Joint Video Team completed basic research leading to ITU-T H.264 by December of 2002. This protocol standardized video compression technology for both MPEG-4 and ITU-T over a broad range of application areas, making it more versatile than its predecessors. In March of 2003, the new technology was ready for launch to the industry.

New uses for video conferencing technologies

2003 also saw the rise in use of video conferencing for off-campus classrooms. Interactive classrooms became more popular as the quality of streaming video increased and the delay decreased. Companies such as VBrick provided various MPEG-4 systems to colleges across the country. Desktop video conferencing is also on the rise and gaining popularity.

Companies newer to the market are now refining the details of performance in addition to the nuts and bolts of transmission. In April of 2004, Applied Global Technologies developed a voice-activated camera for use in video conferencing that tracks the voice of various speakers in order to focus on whoever is speaking during a conference call. In March 2004, Linux announced the release of GnomeMeeting, an H.323 compliant, free video conferencing platform that is NetMeeting compatible.

With the constant advances in video conferencing systems, it seems obvious that the technology will continue to evolve and become an integral part of business and personal life. As new advances are made and systems become more reasonably priced, keep in mind that choices are still determined by network type, system requirements and what your particular conferencing needs are.

Web Conferencing - Communicating With Family Far Away

If you are like most people nowadays, odds are you have a loved one who is living quite a distance away. Of course getting to those far away people is now easier than it was in the old days, but that doesn't quite mean that it is any less expensive. Depending on how large your immediate family is, it could cost a pretty penny simply to fly to your loved ones destination, let alone the cost of a hotel if that is where you will have to spend your nights. If you have children whose grandparents are too far away to drive to, your children will most likely not get to see their grandparents often enough. Technology has come up with a way to get those grandparents right into your own living room in a split second. This is done through a web conferencing solution.

If you are living in Washington State and want your children to be able to see their grandparents living in Illinois, all you have to do is buy each of you a web camera. The video is transmitted over the internet and before you know it you are looking directly into the faces of your parents who are half way across the country! A web camera is an especially wonderful gift if you do have relatives that you would like to see more often. With a web camera, grandparents are able to watch their grandchildren grow up even though they are thousands of miles away. Grandparents can be there to see their first wobbly steps or even to watch them open the Christmas gifts that they have sent. With cheap web conferencing the set of grandparents who live farther away will be able to partake in the children's daily lives easier than ever.

Not only will a web camera make the grandparents happy, it will also prove to benefit the grandchildren. The more the grandchildren get to physically see as well as communicate with their grandparents, the better their relationship will be. Odds are good that when you do go to visit there won't be any of those awkward moments because your kids are unsure of whom those people are. They will be more likely to be free with their conversations just where they left off from the web camera. So even if all you can afford is the cheapest web conferencing, the benefits for everyone all around will be worth it in the end.

So if you have family that is reachable only by airplane, be sure to check out Phase 2 International today. Phase 2 International can help you to find a web conferencing solution. If cheap web conferencing is what you are looking for, Phase 2 International can also help you with that. Phase 2 International also provides information on the cheapest web conferencing. Web conferencing is a great way to keep in touch with loved ones who live far away. Phase 2 International can help you will all of the questions you may possibly have.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alice_Lane

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