It is crucial for your organization that you select the best conference call services. A telephone call is a conference call where we can converse with numerous people at once. Additionally, conference calls may be set up so the party being called can join in or set up during the conversation so that the person being phoned may only listen and not speak. ATC is another name for it (audio teleconference).
Conference calling makes it easier for teams to work together and helps clients feel more connected to the business. The best conference call services streamline the procedure and provide instruments for teamwork and business promotion.
What is a Video Conferencing Software Platform?
A web-based application known as a video conferencing software platform enables users to hold real-time, online meetings with audio and video capabilities. With this kind of software, organizations may host webinars, training sessions, and virtual meetings for staff members, clients, and partners worldwide.
Software platforms for video conferencing often provide a range of features, including HD video quality, screen sharing, and recording capabilities. Some systems offer capabilities for education and healthcare, like online classrooms and tools for remote learning.
They offer a quick and affordable approach to linking people and encourage cooperation in businesses of all sizes.
General Features of Conference Call Solutions:
- Including more people.
- Using a PIN to secure the meeting.
- A recorded message is played back.
- Assigning the moderator role.
- Participants are muted.
- Etc.
Pros and Cons of Conference Call Services:
Pros:
The following are some advantages that video conferencing software can provide for businesses.
- Increased employee productivity:
Thanks to video conferencing technology, employees can work remotely from their homes, coffee shops, libraries, or any other place except the office. Due to this flexibility, different time constraints—such as commute hours or distances to and from meeting rooms—are removed. Anywhere in the world, employees can participate in video conferences. Additionally, employees with impairments, employees in other states or time zones, and prospective new hires from other regions are all given more accessible access to these sessions.
Platforms for video conferences can enhance inter-team collaboration by allowing users to share files, chat, and use video calling to address issues in real time. Employees can quickly complete tasks and address concerns because they don’t need to wait for in-person meetings.
- Translation services for multilingual meetings:
In some commercial meetings, people from different countries must connect electronically and communicate. People who speak different languages may participate in some of these sessions, which presents difficulties when conversations start. If current staff aren’t bilingual, organizations may need to hire translators, which adds cost and complexity or risk misinterpreting some of the translation.
There are many ways for businesses to support multilingual meetings. Anyone chatting over text can get text translations with Microsoft Teams and Skype. There may need to be more in virtual face-to-face encounters. For those meetings, organizations can use Microsoft Teams and Azure Speech Translation services, whether audio or video. This tool transcribes spoken words and translates them in real-time for participants to view or hear. This supports more than 30 languages and allows for multilingual communication in meetings.
- One-stop shop and the gateway to other apps:
The advantage of having access to apps within a video conferencing platform may be difficult for organizations to understand, but Microsoft Teams provides this access. Users can connect to products like a CRM system, Microsoft SharePoint, or Microsoft Planner without leaving the Teams app because the UC platform supports connecting to other tools from within it.
Users who want to minimize app hopping and have simple access to apps and services within the video conferencing tool may find this strategy appealing.
- Services for meeting transcription:
Action items and following actions are typically produced during virtual meetings, whether they involve product presentations for sales, analyses of recent financial performance, contract discussions, or evaluations of employees. Action items could be creating a quote to deliver to the client or having an employee modify a contract. Typically, handwritten or digital notes serve as the takeaways. However, employees may need help recording this information in frequent virtual meetings caused of working from home, especially if meetings involve many participants.
Many video conferencing services, such as GoToMeeting, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams, provide meeting transcribing features to avoid these problems. These functions convert spoken words into text and deliver the text to meeting participants. By adding a third party to record the information, this functionality can replace the necessity for an administrative assistant or an attendee to take notes.
Cons:
- Problems with network connectivity:
Network connectivity is often reliable in office environments, and backup plans are available in case the Wi-Fi network is unavailable. Rarely do home networks offer backup solutions? Additionally, because these networks were designed to serve different functions than office networks, including video conferencing, they might run out of bandwidth if, for instance, several people are participating in video conferences at once. Home networks can also bring on dropped calls and sluggish audio or video.
- Complying with laws and regulations:
Organizations are concerned about compliance because they believe that recording some meetings without the consent of all attendees may be against the law due to the various state regulations. Microsoft Teams and Zoom both include audible notifications to let participants know the meeting is being recorded to alleviate this issue. This feature can be customized.
Additionally, organizations have to deal with the problem of archiving and keeping recorded content. For instance, healthcare organizations must keep patient data on file for seven to twelve years, depending on the circumstance. Additionally, HIPAA requirements require healthcare organizations to store that data in a compliant form.
- Lack of personal interactions:
Meetings held through video conferencing can seem impersonal. Even with video enabled, workers merely converse via screens. Employees may find it challenging to get to know their coworkers, managers, or clients and form personal connections if there aren’t face-to-face interactions.
- Organizing newly created data:
As businesses gather and organize the information users may access, newly created content from recorded meetings poses new problems. Videos can be used for various purposes, including team meetings, project evaluations, and training materials. No of the type of content, content managers must plan and specify data governance to guarantee that the data is safe and straightforward to access when staff members need it.
How Do Conference Call Services Work?
Let’s use Google Hangouts as an example to demonstrate how to begin using a conference call service:
Step 1: Select a reasonable pricing strategy.
The majority of platforms set a cap on the number of users.
The free Google Hangouts plan allows for 10 participants per meeting.
The paid subscriptions, however, can accommodate up to 25 users.
Based on your needs, pick any of the plans.
Step 2: Set up your speakers and microphone. Place a camera on your laptop or computer for video conferences.
Step 3: Sign into your Gmail account to begin using Hangouts immediately.
It might be necessary to install a plugin to support the software if you’re using an outdated browser like Internet Explorer.
Step 4: Choose someone or a group you will call.
The video call and audio call icons will show in the top left corner when you click on the name or group.
Select one of the choices by clicking.
The discussion box will then automatically include a link to a video call.
Step 5: Distribute the link to the members of your team.
After being forwarded to the conference call page, they can click the “Join now” button to participate in the meeting.
You can easily share the meeting URL with others using Google Hangouts or other platforms.
Even direct calls can be made using Google Hangouts.
Step 6: Between calls, Google Hangouts also enables you to add more participants.
Click the “Add people” button at the top of the screen after clicking on it.
The call window can easily be made full-screen or half-screen by adjusting your settings.
There are no time restrictions, and all calls are free.
The Ten Best conference call services in 2023:
Here are my recommendations for this year’s top video conference call services:
1. Webex:
Webex is a cloud-based video conferencing software for organizations of all sizes that provides high-quality voice and video. Additionally, Webex offers several capabilities, including screen sharing, document sharing, and presentation sharing, that enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of video conferencing.
Additionally, Webex has integrations with several well-liked productivity programs, including Google G Suite and Microsoft Office 365. Therefore, organizations may utilize Webex to collaborate on projects in real-time, regardless of location.
The best part is that Webex gives businesses a free trial to test the platform. Webex is, in the end, a fantastic option for companies searching for a dependable and feature-rich video conferencing system.
Features of Webex:
- Display sharing
- different gallery layouts
- MP4 cloud recording
- Separate meetings
- fictitious backgrounds
- Encryption from end to end
2. RingCentral:
You may host online conferences and meetings using RingCentral, a cloud-based platform for communication and collaboration.
They permit video conferencing and voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) services as one of the top suppliers.
You can join an online meeting without downloading any software by clicking the link from any browser. In the free edition, you may invite up to 100 people, and a conference call may last up to 40 minutes.
You can also make HD video calls or use it as a chat app. Additionally, you can access many functions from a single dashboard thanks to connectivity with multiple third-party apps like Office 365 and Google Workspace.
Pros:
- voice and HD video
- 1,000 audio call participants maximum
- Simple conference access from any device
Cons:
- There are no conference calls at the lowest rung.
- On the pricey side.
- Fewer tools for collaboration
3. Google Hangouts:
You can make audio and video calls using the cross-platform chat and conference calling tool Google Hangouts. Both a desktop computer and a smartphone can be used to open the software and begin calling.
It provides apps for various hardware and software platforms, including Android, iPhone, Chrome extensions, and others.
Direct access to your contacts is made available by Google Hangouts’ seamless synchronization with your Gmail account and phone number. In addition to conference calls, it supports screen sharing and lets you organize video conferences with up to 25 participants.
Features:
- Both HD video and voice calls.
- Screen autofocus.
- Closed captions in real-time.
- The ability to run small-scale webinars.
- Use Google calendar integration to set up meetings.
- You can share images, videos, emoticons, or animated GIFs during a call.
4. GoToMeeting:
GoToMeeting is a for-profit conference call service that provides all-in-one hardware and software kits for small business conferencing solutions. All the supplies you require to set up your intelligent conference room from anywhere will be sent to you by GoToMeeting.
It’s a versatile tool that may be used for things like sales presentations, online meetings, and teleconferences. You can choose between a professional-standard edition with extra features and the free, basic version.
With the help of GoToMeeting, you can plan, host, and record online meetings and webinars. Additional features include:
- Screen sharing.
- High-definition video conferencing.
- Toll-free numbers for participants phoning in from a distance.
Pros:
- HD movie
- A mobile app with lots of features
- Record to local or cloud-based devices
Cons:
- It can move slowly in huge groups.
- A few modifications to integrate the brand
- No possibility of audio conferencing
Features:
- Full-HD video conferences
- Display sharing
- telephone conference lines
- No time or participant restrictions
- private conference rooms
- 24/7 client assistance
- QuickBooks integration
- Integration with Slack
5. Microsoft Teams:
A platform for communication and teamwork called Microsoft Teams includes chat, video calling, file sharing, and other features. Teams provide an extensive feature set that can be tailored to meet the requirements of every company.
Users can, for instance, set up channels for various projects or subjects, and they can @mentioned team members to draw their attention. Several other technologies, including OneDrive, SharePoint, and Outlook, are also integrated with the platform.
Users now have simple access to all the required resources and information in one location. The best part is that both personal and commercial customers can utilize Microsoft Teams for free. Microsoft Teams is a vital tool worth looking at if you want a better way to remain in touch with family, friends, or coworkers or if you need one for your business.
Features:
- Virtual Conference
- File exchange
- Live Captioning
- Call-in conversation
- Polls
- Display sharing
- Security and Privacy
6. FreeConferenceCall.com:
Because it offers a feature-rich service without charging a dime, FreeConferenceCall.com is our pick for the finest free conference calling service. The reservations service provides many features businesses require in a conference call service, such as web management, call recording, and calendar integrations. It supports up to 1,000 callers at once.
Even though you can always choose to utilize the service for nothing, FreeConferenceCall.com advises those who can make a monthly payment to do so. According to the website, you can pay $4, the advised amount, $6, the average amount, or $15, the going cost. You can also donate whatever size you like. The service will continue to be provided for free if you are unable or unwilling to pay.
Pros:
- No cost to use
- 1,000 maximum participants
- International conference calling without cost
Cons:
- limited internet storage space
- limited opportunities for customizing
- The software needs a polished appearance.
7. Dialpad:
An online video and audio conferencing tool called Dialpad was created in San Francisco, California. You may book conference calls with it without installing anything (only with the paid plan).
It includes a mobile app that enables you to hold remote meetings whenever and wherever.
The conference call service also permits call recording and screen sharing for in-person cooperation. One of its key characteristics is voice intelligence powered by AI. It records data, automates tasks based on your conversation, and transcripts meetings. It also generates a Post-Call Summary that details the entire discussion.
The program also aids in keeping you from forgetting or skipping any upcoming conference calls. UberConference calls you before each meeting and lets you phone attendees, in the middle of the conversation so they can join.
Features:
- Conference calls with no tolls.
- Services for HD video conferencing.
- Make your “call hold” music your own.
- Integration with Slack, HubSpot, and Google Calendar.
- Obtain statistics and information about your communications.
- Calling abroad is free from more than 50 nations.
8. Zoom:
The ability to video conference with coworkers, clients, and loved ones is more crucial than ever in today’s hyper-connected society. There are numerous platforms, each with unique features. One of the most popular options, Zoom, is well-liked.
It is suitable for personal and professional use because of its features and ease of use. Users of Zoom, for instance, can record meetings, share screens, and set up breakout rooms for more intimate talks.
The platform is very safe, and end-to-end encryption secures the confidentiality of your communications. Zoom is an excellent choice for your video conferencing needs, whether you desire to communicate with family or close the next significant transaction.
Pros:
- A free program is offered
- Call recording locally and online
- Whiteboards Zoom for teamwork
Cons:
- use of HD video technology must be requested
- The free version’s movie length cap is 40 minutes.
- The free version’s limited customer service.
9. Google Meet:
Real-time video conferencing is possible with Google Meet, thanks to its platform. Its features make it an excellent option for organizations, like hosting up to 100 users, screen sharing, and Google Calendar integration.
With a simple design that makes it simple, Anyone with a Google account can use it for free to utilize its biggest feature. It’s not surprising that Google Meet has grown to be a popular option for organizations of all sizes, given its rich feature set and simplicity of usage.
10. Join.me:
The goal of Join.me is to develop an easy-to-use platform for team communication. Simple is the keyword here. Join.me is an easy-to-use conference call service that eliminates all the unnecessary features that often complicate managing meetings.
Both voice and video conferencing services are available on Join.me. Participants in video conferences can join without installing any software or apps, making it simple for participants outside your company who may not use the app frequently to participate. Participants in audio conferences must phone a toll-free or local number and enter a password.
Local conference numbers in the US and more than 50 other countries, audio controls for meeting hosts, and the choice of joining by phone or internet are just a few examples of advanced audio features.
Each participant can connect using their preferred method using bridge audio conferencing, and everyone joins on the same line.
Which conference call service suits your needs the best?
You can make as many of these inquiries before making a conference call service purchase. Even if you need help finding a service that meets all your requirements, give the things that matter to you the highest priority.
Whether you choose RingCentral or not, our best advice is to be honest about what your company needs. Many excellent free services are available; however, they frequently cater to independent contractors, home users, or the occasional caller.
Consider reasonably priced choices that can do a lot of things well if you need something more powerful or if your team is expanding. A conference calling service combining several features will cost less overall.
