While complex audio-video conferencing installations may be expensive, there are audio-video conferencing software applications that can be downloaded from the Internet at no cost. This is particularly beneficial for smaller companies or other organizations that wish to take advantage of the benefits of audio-video conferencing.

Have you ever struggled with trying to set up a conference call with several of your team members but with conflicting time zones? If you actually gather everyone together for the conference call your business is paying a fortune in International rates. Consider it this way, how many of you have seen the Play Station setups that have the kids talking with other members of a game all over the world. There is no charge for several individuals to all gather on their headsets and strategize on how to make the next move. Will the technology used by the gaming industry also work for business conference calls? The answer is yes - VoIP conference software is exactly what the business industry can use to connect with other employees and enjoy substantial savings. Consider these providers:

To make it simple, it's just a meeting - just long distance. Your colleagues may be from the US, Australia and other countries but still you can conduct meeting via web conferencing. It especially useful when one or more of your colleagues are on business trip for example and an emergency meeting is needed. Web conferencing is done through the use of a web conference software, a software program that makes it possible for you to conduct or attend a meeting without your colleagues being physically present.

Regardless of what's happening with new technologies in the conference call sector, because of its reliability and the almost universal installation of telephones in most parts of the developed world, the industry workhorse remains "vanilla" conference calls, where different people on different phones in different rooms hold a group discussion.

Setting up an international conference call should be met with careful review as there are many factors that will influence the success of your call. Calling across international time zones and borders can be tricky and we suggest you are prepared well in advance. Consider some of the following international conference calling suggestions below to maximize a smooth productive call that will obtain the results you hope for.

Upon activation of your account, you will receive a toll-free dial-in number* and a unique conference entry code. Give the conference entry code to your meeting attendees, and reserve the Leader PIN for yourself as it will give you extra controls over your meeting (see Command Keys below).

ConferenceCall.com uses "full digital duplex" technology. This platform allows you the ability to speak simultaneously with another caller, without any clipping or degradation of the sound. This technology is specifically designed so that it does NOT filter out any of the sounds coming into the conference, to give you the clearest possible presentation. This means, however, that any static or disruptive noise that can be picked up through your phone line will effect the conference.

Playbacks of Pre-Recorded Meetings allow for audiences to hear a conference call you've recorded through an 800 Listen-Only conference. This is a great idea for product announcements, etc., where everyone may not be able to dial in at the time of the live call.

Many of us are great speakers and motivators in person-we can make eye contact with our audience and see the effect we are having in their reactions. It can be much more difficult to feel confident about presentations made by teleconference, because you cannot sense the reactions of your audience so easily.

Speakerphones pick up lots of background noise, and sometimes cause "clipping" because of the limitations of the equipment. If you are using a speakerphone, try to find one that is "full digital duplex"--this will allow all parties to speak at the same time with no clipping. And if no one in your room needs to speak, use the "Mute" button on the phone to prevent background noise from disrupting conference calls. When someone needs to speak, simply release the "Mute".