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Teleconferencing: Featured Article
Communication makes the world go around.It is essential in our everyday interactions with all the people we find around ourselves.It is almost impossible to get anything done without using some type of communication.Business communication is extremely important for the business world and many of the transactions that take place could not occur without all the modern communication methods we use today.One of the methods of communication that is now very common and highly available is called teleconferencing.It is one of the most effective and useful ways to communicate with several people about the same thing at the same time.Here are some things you need to know about teleconferencing.
Teleconferencing is basically the live exchange of mass information between people and machines that are remotely connected to each other through some sort of telecommunications system.The most common type of teleconferencing is done through phone lines.The telecommunications system that is used is very important because it a dictates what can be done.Some other forms of telecommunication are telegraph, teletype, radio, and television.Teleconferences can also often involve one or more of the most common types of information transmitted which include audio, video, and data information.Some people also refer to teleconferences as teleseminars.There are of course different variations on the theme and people are constantly coming up with new ways to communicate with others all around the world.
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If you've ever made a three way phone call you have probably also participated in a teleconference.A conference is a gathering of more than one person face to face to communicate about something and to make certain points.Conferences almost always involve collaboration, brainstorming, problem solving, argument, or informational interactions of any sort.Teleconferencing makes the interaction remote rather than face to face but is basically the same idea as a conference.They almost always have the same sort of objectives and involve at least two people and possible many, many more.
Helpful Resources: 1. How it Works 2. Business Teleconferencing Services 3. Definition of Teleconferencing 5. Why Teleconferencing Is Not Worth the Trouble 6. Podcast on Teleconferencing 8. Meeting Behavior 9. Teleconferencing Benefits 10. Teleconferencing Service Providers |
Face to face interactions do have some advantages but some of them are being used effectively through technology too.One on one interactions provide a certain effect that even the most advanced video conferences have not really been able to match.You feel something when you are interacting with a person face to face.You can see if they are honest, you can decide if you like them or not, you can even sometimes feel if they are up to something or are trying to con you out of something important.These types of things are much more difficult to do when you are only experiencing part of the full spectrum of sensory interactions when you use some form of teleconferencing.
Face to face conferences are generally more expensive and more involved than teleconferences can be.This is generally because additional time and expense is needed to get all the people who will be involved in the conference to the location where it will be taking place.It also requires that different forms of communication be used especially when the group involved in the conference is particularly large.It is also often necessary to rent or lease a location to hold the conference and this can also be very costly.The expenses in time and money are even more dramatic in the business world because so much of what large corporations do is now international and involves many different people in certain processes.Technology has made it possible to communicate with people on the other side of the world without leaving your desk at work or at home.
Internet teleconference is also becoming more and more common because of the now widespread use of the internet to communicate.The internet provides access to almost every type of information possible with only the click of a mouse or now, the touch a button on a phone or portable computer.Internet telephony allows you to do teleconferencing over the internet or through a wide area network (WAN) that has been set up to conduct such events.One of the most important technologies involved in using these services online is what is known as voice over internet protocol, more commonly known as VoIP.Some of the most common and popular programs that use internet teleconferencing are messenger systems like Yahoo or MSN messenger, skype, Google talk, just to name a few.
Teleconferencing has become very important in the business world.All kinds of businesses, from large multinational corporations to small companies with only a few employees, make regular and effective use of teleconferencing.Teleconferencing allows you to stay connected with people that you may not otherwise be able to communicate with except under extreme circumstances.They can be used by corporations to make reports to thousands of shareholders at one time about advances or profit figures or could be used by you and the three people next to you in your cubicle to discuss new business ideas.The applications of teleconferencing for business are almost endless.
One of the advantages of teleconferencing as opposed to other forms of mass communication is that is uses technology that people are relatively familiar with and won't need much experience or training to do well.Teleconferences use land line phones, which are almost obsolete for personal use but still highly important for businesses.The audio quality of a teleconference is also better than some other forms of communication that are only digital or transmitted over the air.It is also quite easy to set up and the interactivity level for small groups is very good.As mentioned earlier, one of the main advantages of using teleconferencing is that it dramatically reduces the cost of having large meetings.Some of the things that the company doesn't need to spend money on are plane tickets, meals, car rentals, hotels, taxis, and many other things.Even if a teleconferencing service is somewhat expensive, it is likely no where near the cost of an airline ticket for several people.The cost of travel is also increasing at more than the rate of inflation because of fuel costs that are passed on by the airlines to the end consumers.Some estimate that using a teleconferencing service can save a company up to 30% annually on travel related expenses.
Saving money is one of the most important advantages of teleconferencing but there are also other that may go along with it.Guest speakers who wouldn't normally be able to attend a meeting or who would be very expensive to have attend, can log into a teleconference call and participate or even be the main attraction.There is less time they have to invest by traveling to where the conference will take place and will also have to dedicate less time to the conference than would be expected in person.Teleconferencing is also an effective way to follow up on pervious meetings rather than having another one just to see if everyone followed through on what they had planned.It can also save time because there is less socializing (or at least less supposed obligation to be social) and more time spent focusing on the issue at hand than on the latest riding lawnmower in the group.
Teleconferencing does have some disadvantages as well though.It can only make it possible to let people communicate and never makes the topics discussed simpler or easier to approach.It cannot change the way that people communicate or the group dynamics that are so essential to meetings and conferences in general.There will likely always be someone who interrupts regularly or cuts other people off only to complicate the issue at hand.There may also be people who are more hesitant to participate and share their ideas.Using teleconferencing technology is not likely to change the way people behave in any dramatic or drastic way.It is sometimes easier to communicate through teleconferencing, but it may also be easier to miscommunicate something too.It may be easier to misunderstand someone who is normally slightly sarcastic or who has a joking personality when all you get of them is their voice and not any of the mannerisms that go along with it.Careful planning should be used to say what you want to say.This is another reason it is important to think before you speak.
No matter what your reasons are for using a teleconference there are many different services that can be used.Some people choose to use their own systems and just do conference calls.Others use more sophisticated or advances online systems.Do some research so you can choose what is best for your situation.One very useful link for accessing teleconferences is called an Instant Teleseminar and you can use one of the simplest and most powerful systems available to dramatically increase website traffic and profits.Another great resource is totally free teleconferencing service(you only have to pay what your normal phone service charges would be) you can access at any time you want to use it.All you need to sign up is your email address and name.
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