Conference calls are a fantastic way to conduct business without the need for excessive travelling or incurring related expenses.  It is a simple fact that they can save you a lot of time and money with reduced travel. This is especially true when considering international conference calls – those with conferees in a variety of different countries. You immediately save the cost of spending hours on planes, meeting rooms, hotel bills, meals and more. You also save the time of your employees and customers and prospects and any others attending the call.

The reasons for conferencing are as many as the reasons companies, non-profit groups, or large associations have meetings. 

The competition has been fierce amongst the companies providing conference calling in the USA.  Now that competition is increasing in the worldwide marketplace as more and more companies are entering the field globally.

Two leaders in the industry are both accommodative and affordable.  These selected by Namada dot com are A+ Conferencing ( US provider ) and The Conference Group (Global provider)  While both connect internationally, the edge here goes to The Conference Group as they now offer toll free access from nearly 40 countries.  This makes it very easy for your participants to reach the conference without need to dial internationally and without need for the conference operator to initiate more costly connections.

Although today’s world has not literally been reduced in size, thanks to ease of informational exchange first with global television by satellite and now the internet it seems much smaller. These communication technologies continue to bridge the peoples of the world along with lowered international calling rates and ease of use.  
In order to survive, business has had to change its perspective to remain competitive.

Therefore, it is important that individuals, governments and businesses enhance their lines of communication. For businesses, this can be accomplished through many tools and the use of modern technology.  One technology is the utilization of international conference calling.

What Is International Conference Calling

Conference calling is a form of communication that allows a number of individuals or groups to verbally communicate one with the other at the same time. This communication is facilitated by using cutting-edge phone technology coupled with improved telephone enhancements. Examples of this phone technology include the use of fiber-optic cabling, digital routing, and premium switching equipment, the use of noise reduction telephone enhancements and utilization of a large bandwidth.

Often with today’s providers of the conference calling plan the audio portion of the conference call is crystal clear. This presumes use of proven fiber-optic lines and not VoIP quite yet. This clarity is paramount in conducting business with other staff members or communicating with potential or current customers.

International Conference Calling is simply the extension of these proven abilities to include anyone with a telephone and quality connection to their home phone service.  So now it is easy to connect as many as several hundred people on all continents to a single switch in the US and have all heard as clearly as the meeting room.  The only considerations are time of day and availability of participants.

The Process of International Conference Calling

The process of initiating an international conference call is relatively simple. First of all, when a company enters into a service agreement (usually non-binding) with a conference call provider toll-free numbers are made available to the company. When a conference call is scheduled a notification is sent out inviting participants to be a part of that conference call.  This notification can be sent via e-mail along with the conference call toll-free number as well as the PIN number and instructions on how to access the conference call.

Generally, once the caller dials in they are prompted to enter the access number and follow that entry by pressing the pound sign. Once this process has been accomplished the caller is then connected into the conference. In addition, an incoming attendee is announced as prescribed by the customer. There can be either simple beeps to indicate a new participant or a formal announcement by the moderator or other that gives the person’s name and/or other pertinent information.


The Costs Of International Conference Calling

The cost of international conference calling is based on two calculations. The first calculation takes the number of minutes of the conference call duration times the cost per minute from the country where the attendee is connecting from. Each of the attendees on the conference call is charged using this particular formula and the cost will vary from person to person because of the different originating countries from which the call is made.

In addition to this charge the cost per participant in the conference call is charged a bridge rate. This bridge rate is calculated by the minute and is disclosed by the international conference call provider.

Here is a relatively simple example of pricing.  The rates used are current for July 2009.

Assume you have (5) total participants including the host.
Three participants are located in Australia and two located in the USA. (5 Total on the conference) for 30 minutes!

1. The conferencing bridge rate of 7.9¢ per minute applies to 'all' conferees and includes Toll Free access for all participants that are located in the U.S.
2. The Long Distance Toll Free portion FROM Australia is 7¢ per minute using our in-country Australia freephone number.
The total charges would then be calculated as follows:
(5) Total conferees @ $0.079/min (7.9¢) (30) number of minutes used:  $11.85
Plus Australia Toll Free access = (3) conferees @ $0.07/min (30) number of minutes used:$6.30
= Your total conference call cost:  $18.15

As an option, the 'dial-out' rates are typically at a lower cost. View worldwide dial-out rates here.

Many customers choose a combination of the two connection options.  For example -  dial-out to some participants and have some participants use the provided in-country toll free numbers.

We cannot compare for you the total cost of a meeting for this example either in Australia, the USA or somewhere between.   But it should be very clear that the cost for flying to a meeting place anywhere, stays in hotels, cost of meals and on ground travel cost would be very significant.  And we are not even considering the time away from home for persons attending and loss of efficiency back home while they are away.

Further, should there be need for a repeat meeting, illness of a major participant or other unforeseen hampering to the meeting the savings and convenience for conference calling is multiplied!

Conference calling, especially international conference calling, is extremely cost effective. Its growth as web conferencing techniques are improved and increased familiarity with conferencing by participants will only enhance this global growth.