| A conference call is a telephone call event in which | | | | the conference call bridge, the participant is prompted |
| three or more people are conversing simultaneously. | | | | to enter a passcode for security reasons. |
| Due to the technological limits of three-way calls, poor | | | | From the Technology Perspective: |
| sound quality of speakerphones and the extremely | | | | Many conference call companies now use Voice over |
| high cost of arranging in-person meetings, the | | | | IP (VOIP) technology for its conference call services. |
| conference call industry has become a big business | | | | VOIP works very similarly to traditional analog |
| and continues to grow at a steady pace. So how | | | | telephone conference call services, but the main |
| exactly does conference call technology work? | | | | difference between analog and VOIP technology is |
| From the Participants Perspective: | | | | how the data moves from one point to another. |
| Once invited to the conference call (usually by email | | | | Analog conference calls use circuit-switching |
| invitation) each participant dials the same number | | | | technology where all the participants' connections stay |
| provided by the conference calling host to connect to | | | | open and constant as long as the call continues, even |
| their companies' conference. Once dialed in, the | | | | though only one person is speaking at a time. In |
| participant is connected through a conference bridge | | | | contrast, VOIP networks use packet switching where |
| which is a server that has the capability of handling | | | | a brief connection opens just long enough to send the |
| multiple calls simultaneously. Available features such as | | | | packet (which is a small chunk of data) from one |
| call recording and attendee polling are available | | | | system to another. Unlike analog systems which send |
| depending on the type and sophistication of software | | | | data traveling from switch to switch, VOIP network |
| the conferencing company is using. Many conference | | | | data travels across the internet via the most efficient |
| call companies offer an impressive array of | | | | path. This digital technology ensures that the customer |
| conference call features which can be accessed at | | | | will receive the clearest, most reliable conference call |
| any time during the conference. Once connected to | | | | service available in the industry. |