subject: Conference Calling Cost Savings - What Conference Call Plan Makes Sense For Your Companys Require [print this page] When it comes to a conference call, cost savings are possible if you choose a conference calling plan that makes sense for your companys intended use. Just as paying for 500 minutes of international calls per month doesnt make sense for the person who calls internationally once or twice per year, the same is true of the conference calling plan you choose for your business. Before you select a conference calling service, carefully consider how you will be using the service. By understanding your usage, youll be able to select the conference calling plan that offers the features that you want at a cost that makes sense.
Toll Conference Calling
One way to ensure conference call cost savings is to distribute the cost of the call amongst participants. Instead of hosting a toll free conference call, consider a call that charges a toll to each participant. With this option, each participant pays his or her own toll charges. Because each caller must pay by the minute, youll want to make sure that this is the right move for your business. For example, if you are holding a conference call with your most valued partners or customers, these people may not feel so valued when they receive the bill for the call. On the other hand, if a conference call involves callers who are trying to earn your business, having each prospective vendor pay a small toll for the opportunity to learn more about the bidding process or project requirements may be perfectly acceptable.
Toll Free Conference Call
Cost savings with toll free calls are also possible. With a toll free plan, the host of the call typically pays for the entire cost of the call on a per minute, per caller basis. For domestic conference calls, youll pay a per minute rate for each caller. For example, if you have ten callers and the call lasts ten minutes, youll pay for 100 minutes, not ten. If the service provider charges you seven cents per minute, your bill would be $70 for the call. If you plan on using toll free conference calls, consider prepaying for toll free conference calling minutes. By buying minutes in quantity, youll get significantly lower toll free rates in return. With this strategy, you can get 1,000 minutes for less than $40. Even if you only use 100 minutes, youll have paid less than the $70 call in the example above.
International Conference Call
Like toll free calls, the host of an international conference call typically pays for call, this time by providing toll free numbers that are local to the callers specific countries. Rates can vary dramatically between countries. For example, you may be paying nine cents per minute for the caller from Canada and over fifty cents per minute for the caller from Colombia. You can reduce these rates by using a dial out service for the pricier regions. In order to get these conference call cost savings, youll need to determine the rates for each callers country and then take advantage of lower per minute rates by dialing these callers directly. Many conference calling providers allow you to pre-program dial out in advance.
Unlimited Conference Calling
Depending on conference call frequency and the number of callers, dramatic conference call cost savings are possible with an unlimited conference calling plan. Like unlimited mobile phone plans, these plans allow you to make as many conference calls as you want for a flat monthly fee. With an unlimited plan, you dont have to worry about exceeding your budget if your calls last longer than expected.
Pay-as-you-go Conference Calling Plans
However, if you dont often use conference calls, cost savings through unlimited plans evaporate. Pay-as-you-go plans are an excellent option for companies that need to make occasional conference calls. With these plans, you truly pay as you go. If you dont use the service, you dont pay.
No matter how your company uses conference calling, cost savings can be found if you do your homework and team up with a good provider.
