Using Virtual Meeting Solutions for Business

The old adage that “time is money” continues to ring true in today’s businesses. The more a company is able to use time efficiently, the more likely it is to succeed. This leads to the question that comes with most audio and video conferencing: how can this use company time more efficiently? Using virtual meeting solutions for businesses can create efficiency that otherwise goes unreached.

More and more companies today are becoming less and less centralized. This dispersion has not eliminated the need all businesses have for face-to-face meetings. Many companies end up overcoming that problem by spending great sums of money flying people from across the country (or even all over the world) to enable face-to-face meetings. This can keep an employee from doing his or her normal work for multiple days, a problem that certainly costs a lot of time and money. It can allow teams to meet together while being as spread out as the business demands them to be.

How to Leverage Automated Conference Calls?

With so many ways out there to connect through audio and video conferencing, it can be difficult to know which way will best suit your needs. The technological world can make it seem like the more technology is being used, the better and more advance a call is. But the idea of using a newer or more sophisticated technology doesn’t necessarily equate to getting what you need out of that technology. In this blog, we want to specifically look at automated conference calls, a relatively simple technology given all the other options out there, and discuss some scenarios in which it might be the exact technology a user needs.

To briefly begin, an automated conference call is a virtual meeting room users call into using their phones. Whoever is hosting the call sets up a meeting time using any of a variety of companies. When they select the time the call will begin, they receive a number for the other parties to call to enter the meeting room. Most companies will give some sort of passcode to give the call some security. Others will ask you to list the numbers you want on the call so they can only allow those numbers to enter.

Operator Assisted Conferencing

In a world where more and more is automated, some people have been left longing for the touch of personal customer service. Many companies have moved away from giving personal attention, but this does not mean that its market has gone away by any means. This is the market that Operator Assisted Conferencing would appeal to most directly.

Operator Assisted Conferencing is a great way to step into the world of video and audio conferencing without stepping right into the heart of this massive and complex world all on your own. Companies that offer this conferencing service give the customer access to all of the benefits of conferencing while offering a personal operator who is there to ensure that the conference runs as smooth as possible. One great feature that many companies offer with these particular types of conferences is a pre-conference green room meeting. This is a time where the customer running the conference gets to talk only with the operator. The operator will use this time to make sure the customer has thought through every aspect of the call and prepare the system to be able to handle whatever needs the customer might have.

One Click Conference Calls

If there’s anything that Apple has taught us, it’s that if you make something as simple and as appealing to the user as possible, people will flock to it. This is the principle that One Click Conference Calls looks to capitalize one. While many services ask you to dive into the nuts and bolts of audio and video conferencing, One Click Conference Calls looks to make the experience as user friendly as possible by taking out the complication.

One Click Conference Calls get their name because starting or joining a conference call is as simple as one click. Once a user enters into the specific app, that user will be able to create a list of contacts. Starting a call that includes that contact is often as easy as clicking on the icon. Many companies offering this type of service will support multiple users at once on a call and will allow the call to go beyond a simple one on one. This is a great feature for companies that are looking to have quick conferences with just a few people. It can allow for quick, face-to-face conversation for questions that require more than an email but don’t require the whole team.

InterCall Unified Meeting 5 Collaboration Services

Many companies looking to use audio and video conferencing systems are always looking for ways to customize the way they use these systems. Coming to InterCall Unified Meeting 5 Collaboration Services can be a good way for companies to do just that.

One area in which InterCall Unified Meeting 5 allows the user to customize the call is through the addition of a branded conference room. This allows companies to give a more professional look when talking with prospective clients. Another area it allows some flexibility is the way in which a customer pays for it. While many companies offer only a flat monthly rate for their services, InterCall Unified Meeting 5 allows the customer to choose between a pay-as-you-go plan and a flat monthly rate. The pay-as-you-go plan can be a great option for companies that do not run many conferences but still need access to some system like this.

Mobile Audio Conference Call Solutions by PGi and Intercall

Today's business place is no longer a stationary location. Fewer and fewer people are actually leaving their office behind when they head home for the day. In a world where work needs to travel, the ability to meet with coworkers needs to travel with it. This is where various Mobile Audio Conference Call Solutions come in. Both PGi and Intercall offer ways to have audio conferences on the go.

The place to look first when it comes to Mobile Audio Conference Call Solutions is the mobile app a company offers. Both PGi and Intercall offer mobile apps for Apple, Android, and Blackberry devices allowing any smartphone user to join into mobile conference.

An Overview of PGi iMeet

iMeet by PGi seeks to take the complexity out of video conference and make everything as streamlined and simple as possible. This cloud-based system gives the user the ability to access live audio and video conferencing in an intuitive, easy-to-use desktop and mobile application. The iMeet conference room allows each participant to be seen and provide instant feedback, making meetings much more personal and efficient. The standard iMeet live video meeting allows for up to 15 HD video feeds to run simultaneously, making it possible for the entire team to speak together.

For users who require a larger meeting room iMeet has an enterprise XL version that will allow for up to 65 users at a time, as well as, an iMeet Live version that would provide users with a video and web conferencing service for those who will be holding a live event type conference. These two options provide clients with the ability to hold larger team meetings, video conferencing events, all hands calls, and large shareholder meetings.

Experience an Impressive Responsive Web Design of Conferenceshopper.com

We are delighted to share a great news about launching of our new responsive website design.

Our responsive website offers easy reading, user friendly navigation, and quick scrolling feature to give you optimal viewing experience across smart phones, tablets, and desktops devices. Users can now easily access the site on the go and have a quick look on Audio and Web conferencing services as well as latest blogs posted on the site.

ConferenceShopper can help you host online business meetings, webinars and multi-point video conferencing in an easier and more effective way. For collaborative, daily audio and web conferences to large-scale, and high-profile online meetings contact us today. We offer the largest selection of worldwide solutions, through our strategic partnerships with InterCall, PGi and Cisco WebEx and more.

Stay Tuned for Responsive Web Design for ConferenceShopper.com

Get ready to have optimal viewing experience with our new Responsive Web Design. The website is on the verge of launching soon to provide user an easy interface, excellent reading experience, user friendly navigation, and scrolling features with accessing the web across a wide range of devices.

We are continuously on the way to improve the user experience on the site. And we do think this step towards the responsive web will prove our true commitment to offer you quality, simplistic, and dedicated communication services.

How to make Video Conferencing Work in Classrooms?

Imagine a child so eager to go to school just because he wants to learn. Let us face it, not every child wakes up in this mood. But what if going to school takes him to different places and lets him discover foreign lands and different animals? How about talking to a famous celebrity or politician? Is it not a wonderful, exciting learning experience? Nowadays, this is possible through video conferencing.

More and more learning institutions have been using audio and video transmission to communicate with students and fellow educators. Classroom video conferencing is becoming more and more popular especially for higher education students with limited time, money or with physical disability.
Distance learning is often confused with classroom video conferencing. However, they are not synonymous. Distance learning refers to the method of teaching between teachers and students in two different locations, while video conferencing is a tool used to bridge the gap caused by lack of physical interaction in the classroom. And how video conferencing really works in a classroom depends on how the teacher uses it.

How do you define value from a vendor from your conferencing provider?

What are the values that drive the success of your conferencing initiatives? Is it advice? Design? Is it the amount of functionality that you receive with the service?

We’ve seen a great deal of changes in the conferencing landscape over the past year. Users have increasingly begun to make calls on their cell phones rather than their desk phones. Changes like the aforementioned evolution of calling platforms have led us to ask ourselves internally; what drives the success of a clients collaboration efforts? At ConferenceShopper we believe that the success of our clients should be built on support, mobility, and collaboration.

What should you expect from your conferencing provider?

Today there is a multitude of different types of Web and Audio Conferencing services. When evaluating a new Collaboration service, what are some of the items that you should expect? Should it be mobile centric? Should it be able to seamlessly tie into your desktop, mobile, and tablet device? At ConferenceShopper we’ve had the privilege of watching the Conferencing world grow and evolve over the past years. In doing so, we believe conferencing should now be able to not only integrate with your mobile devices, but should natively provide a video, web, and audio service regardless of the device the product is being accessed on.

Audio Conferencing and the Advantage of Mobility Applications

Reservationless Audio Conferencing has continually evolved to meet the needs of its users. From hosting meetings over Analog lines to a more recent transition to VoIP (Voice over IP) based Cloud Conferencing services. Today users are beginning to access more meetings on the go, calling for a need to support iPhone and Android devices. In doing so, users can now connect to their web or audio conferencing services through a one-click app that can be accessed on the smart phone device.

Almost 30% of all conference calls are now being conducted on a mobile device. In conducting conference calls on the go, users expect the same feel they receive on a desktop version of the same program. For example, with PGI's iMeet product, it is seamlessly designed to match desktop and mobile web conferencing abilities. Users are able to Video Conference, share files, invite guests, and collaborate with others just as they can on a desktop version of the same product.

Top 8 Reasons of Why you should Make the Switch to Web Conferencing

All the businesses from small, start-up to Fortune 500 companies are beginning to realize the countless benefits of employing web conferencing services.

If you are still deciding whether or not your business should employ web conferencing services, take a look at these top 8 reasons of why you should make the switch:

• With web conferencing service you have the ability to invite thousands of participants depending upon which provider and/or service you select
• It eliminates any geographic limitations and allows you to meet with partners, clients, and employees in remote areas
• Travel time and costs are also eliminated – that means no expensive flight costs, hotel rooms, parking etc.
• It offers comprehensive and user-friendly features, like document and desktop sharing, whiteboards, and polling lets participants collaborate in real-time and keeps users actively engaged in conferencing
• It assists you to create stronger relationships with participants by setting up regular scheduled or web meetings
• Invite participants via email means you can steer clear of the hassle of calling each attendee
• Today’s web conferencing technology lets you conduct your web conference without the trouble and stress of installing additional software
• This technology gives your business a competitive edge in a marketplace that is meeting less frequently face-to-face and more frequently via mobile devices

Modern conferencing technology provides comprehensive features and quality that gives in-person meetings a run for their money. But the real question is that HAVE YOU EMPLOYED IT IN YOUR BUSINESS YET?

The Updated Conference Phone

Today’s technological landscape is constantly evolving. Products that were once considered essential in the office place are now seen as obsolescent and outdated, and are being replaced with newer, fresher equipment.

One example of this would be the traditional conference phone. While traditional conference phones are still used by a large number of businesses to meet their audio conferencing needs, the surge of smartphone and tablet users as well as the increasing number of mobile workers has lead to a new era in the way that conferencing services are delivered.

PGi recently conducted a study of C-Suite executives, vice presidents, directors, managers, associates and entry-level workers at companies spanning multiple industries and ranging from less than 10 to over 10,000 employees. In that study, 80% of surveyed workers say their organization offers telecommuting options, and 70% of workers say they telecommute.

In order to keep up with the changing times, conferencing providers have adapted their services to the changing needs of their customers and have made both audio conferencing and web conferencing available on tablets and smartphones. Now, instead of huddling around a conference phone in an office boardroom, company employees are gathering around tablets in any number of places for conference calls. In an effort to make their service more user-friendly, PGi’s GlobalMeet® mobile application offers one-touch entry to your web conference or audio conference, removing the labor and stress from the conferencing user experience.

Not only have conferencing services been made available on these devices with the emergence of mobile apps, but there have also been dramatic improvements to both the technology and infrastructure, which has resulted in enhanced quality, and more consistent connections. And with this advancement, substituting old-school technologies, like conferencing phones, with newer items like tablets will become more practical and profitable.

Reservation-Less Audio Conferencing

Wouldn’t it be great if you could have instant access to a conference call without making a reservation or involving an operator?

Reservation-less audio conferencing is a new innovative way for companies to conduct important business meetings at the drop of a hat. Instead of having to go through an operator to set up the call, professionals would instead just have to pick up the phone, dial their dedicated conferencing line, enter a code, enter a pin number and then be automatically connected to up to hundreds of their employees.

This conferencing solution allows professionals to receive:

• Consistency- Receive stable dial-in information for all calls
• Convenience – No use of operators, reservations or time limits
• Easy Use – Control of all the functions from the keypad of the touch tone phone
• Customization – Customizing of the teleconference call to the specific needs of the moderator of the call
• Connecting People – Bring together participants for various meetings at any time, customers or employees

In the business world it is important to be able to connect to not only employees but also clients whenever it is needed. It is with these modernizations of the IT world that are making it capable for businesses large and small to become more productive and efficient in the way that they communicate. Even the smallest gain in efficiency and effectiveness could have an influence on a business. That is why audio conference can be considered an important way of communication. With businesses having employees and different work groups scattered across the country or the world, this service allows businesses to save time, money on in-person business meetings and also allows all involved to be in the meeting but yet still remote.

Reservation-less teleconferencing allows professionals to receive a simple and convenient solution to creating better connections between everyone involved. Projects, deadlines, important decisions, and contracts are things that professionals and their teams need to be able to discuss and come together for at a moments notice. It is the most resourceful way for that to happen.