How Teleconferencing Works

Basic Functionality

Teleconferencing allows individuals to address a group of other persons over a phone system rather than meeting in person. Each party to the conference can call into a central phone number and speak with everyone else on the call. Groups of individuals in a room can also take advantage of this technology by using a speaker phone and calling into the central teleconference number. A single teleconference can include fewer than 10 people at once, or as many as several thousand.

Features

Teleconference programs can give the administrator of the call a variety of options on how to host his teleconference. The host can print up a report of all the phone numbers and individuals registered to that conference number. He can also select a setting so that everyone on phone lines other than his own are muted during part of the conference. Teleconferencing systems can also include the option to print out a transcript of the call or to record it for people who missed the call. A live operator can take requests from participants to ask questions, or certain computer software can also give the callers an option to submit questions.

Teleconference Uses

Companies frequently use teleconferencing to host earnings calls after a quarter or financial year has ended. This allows them to share additional financial information on top of what is on their earnings reports. Companies can use teleconferencing to have numerous locations in their company be involved in the same meeting. Teleconferencing is also useful for managers who manage employees remotely and need to explain directions for a project to their employees simultaneously.