Non-Toll Free Conference Call Service (Using a Regular Toll Number)
Non-toll free conference calling services are, by far, the most popular in the United States. Estimates on usage indicate that they are used ten times more than 800 conference calling.
Non-toll free access numbers are just regular 10 digit phone numbers that include the area code. It is considered a long distance call. On the other hand, toll free numbers begin with 800, 866, or 877. A new 855 numbering system will be released shortly. So, if you are dialing into a conference call and it is a long distance number, that is considered a toll call.
There are a number of reasons why there is such a wide disparity of usage between 800 and regular toll conferencing, but the difference centers primarily on pricing. Simply, having conference call users dial a non-toll, or long distance, access number is much less expensive than providing a toll free number.
In fact, there are plans where you can get unlimited conference usage for a monthly fixed or flat rate, regardless of how many minutes you use. The upside is that if you are a heavy user, you can save a small fortune using the flat rate conferencing service. The downside is that if you don’t use the service, you are still required to pay the monthly rate.
You can also get conference services that are calculated on a per minute rate, providing either an 800 or non-toll free access number. you per minute on a pay-as-you-go plan — you only pay for what you use, when you use it.
It should be noted that another reason why non-toll free conference calls are so popular is because most callers don’t have to worry about the cost of a long distance call since most of the phone users in the United States get free long distance, either automatically on their cell phone or bundled with their local telephone service for their landlines. Why spend extra on an 800 number, when it’s free to call long distance anyway?
Most business leaders would it agree that if the purpose of the conference call is for customer service, or sales calls to prospects, it is very important to offer the convenience of a toll free number. However, if an organization is looking to cut costs and needs conferencing for internal use among employees and associates, then a non-toll free conference number is preferable.
The use of a regular long distance conference access numbers will continue to overshadow the market into the foreseeable future. In fact, the use might increase as more and more people and organizations get free long distance and long distance rates continue to decline. It is a very effective and viable way for you to enjoy all the benefits of collaborative conferencing, while at the same time minimizing travel, meeting and telecommunication costs.
Video Conference Trends
Videoconference trends have been changing as fast as technologies related to it do. The economic landscape and general changes in the way business is conducted is forcing businesses to embrace a more “mobile” lifestyle, of which videoconferencing is a big part.
Video Conference Usage
The number of business using videoconferencing technologies increased starting 2001, as reported by leading teleconferencing service providers Deutsche Telekom, Worldcom, and BT. Their studies show that conglomerates and multinationals are replacing in-person meetings either audio, web or video conferencing. The trend is good news to providers, big and small. They have since seen phenomenal growth year after year.
The Move to Videoconferencing
Even businesses that only used videoconferencing as temporary solutions before are now moving to more regular subscriptions. More and more employees and executives express their preference for conferencing technology to cut down on travel costs and time. If an executive had to travel every month from Denver to New York for a meeting, for example, about 134 man-hours are wasted. Let that same executive do videoconferencing instead and the company saves about not only time, but also about $9,600 – the cost of travel and accommodations.
Businesses are quickly realizing that because of the cost- effectiveness of videoconferencing, travel is not anymore the first nor the only choice. The technology is now associated to the “work smart” standard.
Positive Results
The outcomes of videoconferencing are optimistic and profound. Studies conducted on organizations that embrace videoconferencing prove that the benefits of the technology are threefold. Individuals remain productive, are able to establish and maintain relationships, and are generally happier and have more time to relax because of the conveniences afforded by the technology. Efficiency is at an all-time high because professionals are not anymore limited by time nor geographical location.
Videoconferencing is changing the way business is conducted, and providers are more than happy to adapt to the trend. Many of them are now introducing next-generation videoconferencing on an individual or bundled basis at very reasonable prices.
West Hams Sam Allardyce – Press Conference
“Without sounding too arrogant I think that in my experience and expertise as a manager, particularly in the Premier league over the last ten years is trying to bring the club together to get a team spirit and to get a togetherness that’s going to achieve the ultimate, which is to get promotion back into the Premier League at the first time of asking”
This is the first thing I heard Sam Allardyce say in the “snippet” of his press conference I was shown. This to me is a man we should all stand behind. This is a man who knows how to make any team perform as showed in one of my previous blogs, Sam Allardyce is a man who deserves respect from his players and in his eyes, if you don’t want to play for the club, threes the door, which I agree with, if a player is unhappy he will not play to the best of his ability. He will simple give up in the hope the club will sell him, which will ultimately lose the club money as they will have to sell on the back of a “poor run of form” or as I like to call it, “can’t be bothered”.
Sam talks about how he is going to “instill a little bit of discipline, a little bit of magic, a little bit of creativity and a bond amongst the team players and the staff”. These are four things West Ham hasn’t seen for a while. Discipline at the club lately has been at a complete loss! With players being able to run the show and do whatever they feel like doing with little repercussions. Magic… Just the words make me think of the days of Paolo Di Canio. He was magic and also creative. I’m hoping Sam can bring in a few players with the same vision, determination and passion that the great Paolo had, this will massively bolster the team as a whole. The bond between players and staff is one of the most important things I feel is required at any football club, it seems lately West Ham staff and players would much rather “meet by the bins in the local park” for a punch up before they would sit down and have a conversation about things. If the coaches do not want to be coaching certain players then they will not coach as well as they can, or should be. And the players will not perform in training, which will ultimately show on match days. If Sam Allardyce manages to sort out that problem in the club then he deserves a massive pat on the back.
Sam also mentions he is going to speak to the players on an individual basis and as a group and “set out some goals”. Goals, something West Ham could do more with ay, Sam seems to have a plan in his head as to what he wants to do with this club and if there is one man who can make people sit down and listen, and pay attention to him, its Big Sam. Hopefully he will show the players that he means business and he expects them to work for their money. Some players at West Ham seem to think they can be in the first team, week in, week out, perform at a pitiful standard, collect their money and do it all again the week after. I’m hoping big Sam will be the man to put the end to this, I am praying he incorporates Sir Alex Fergusons hairdryer treatment, as I’m sure, I’d listen if Sam was screaming in my face, and I’d defiantly take notice of what he was saying.
When asked if he had to sell any players on Sam didn’t want to beat around the bush and names three players that the media are speculating on, then being Robert Green, Carlton Cole and Scott Parker. He said West Ham have not received any “concrete bids” for those players. Whether this means they have received offers far too low to actually buy the players, enquiries or that they have had nothing at all was not answered, one thing that I was sure of after answering that question is that Sam will not avoid answering questions from the media and he is willing to have his say and be honest about it.
Big Sam seemed confused when he was asked if Thomas Hitzlsperger would be allowed to leave as he said he was already gone. West Ham have not officially released anything so it seems like Thomas has taken the cowards way out after saying he feels he owes the club a season. I do not feel any great loss in losing Hitz’ as I didn’t really rate him as a player, yes he had fantastic vision and could put a pull on your foot from 50 yards away but he also enjoyed smashing the ball as hard as he could, regardless of the players around him and where he was situated on the pitch. His shot/goal ratio over his career is probably pretty poor but, as it always is, he is remembered for the remarkable goals he scores, not the fact it has taken him 5-6 attempts to score that goal, thus giving away 4-5 goal kicks and ending that many scoring opportunities. Kevin Nolan will probably take the role in which Thomas was playing and I don’t feel like we’ve lost out on anything there as Nolan is a fantastic player with a lot of class and passion.
Sam closed the interview by saying that West Ham have not been playing the “West Ham way” in recent years, if they had they would not have been relegated. Fair point as West Ham have not played the way the fans love to see for a fair few years now and we are looking for someone to sort that out and make sure we can play that way again.
Sam also said that people have a perception that he plays the long ball game and that that is only a perception. In my opinion, I don’t care, if West Ham are 1-0 down, or 1-1 and there’s 10 minutes left on the clock. Punt the ball up to the big man and get the goal.
All this being said and done I believe West Ham have a manager in which they can be very proud and I can do nothing buy praise David Gold and David Sullivan for this signing, this, I believe, is the most important signing we will make for a fair few years to come. The David’s have done fantastically well to get a Premiership manager into a Championship team and I can see no other outcome other than promotion.
Lets all get behind the owners, the manager and the team. Come On You Irons!