There are two basic ways to connect to a conference call, through a toll or toll free phone number. Which one is best for you?
Originally, the way you were connected to a conference call was to have the conference call operator call out to you and connect you to the conference call. You didn’t have to worry about access numbers or codes, you simply waited for the call from the operator to come to you and connect you to the conference call. These types of calls still exist, but they are generally expensive since an operator is involved in the process. They are also not very convenient or even realistic in today’s environment when you could just as easily be joining the conference call from your cell phone while travelling. So, when the reservationless type conference call was invented where you dial an access number and put in a passcode to connect to the conference call there were two main ways to connect, a toll free access number or a toll access number. Ten years ago the cost of telecommunications was much higher and the cost of toll free access was much higher. So, having an alternative made a lot of sense to some people. Let’s examine both w2ays to connect to a conference call and see if having the local or toll connection still makes sense.
Toll or Local Access – A toll or local access number for a conference call is simply a number that is local to where the conference call equipment is located. Since the conference call service company does not have to pay any long distance charges to get you connected to the equipment they can offer a lower rate to you. Another advantage of this type of conference call access number is the fact that you access this number from anywhere in the world. The disadvantage of this type of conference call access number is that you and your participants have to pay a toll charge to call this number. Let’s say the conference call equipment is in Boston, MA and you are calling from California. You will pay your long distance phone company a per minute charge to be connected tot he conference call quipment and the toll access charge to the conference call service company. If you do not want you customer, prospect or employee to incur any charges for attending your conference call then you should not use this type of number.
Toll Free Access – A toll free access number for a conference call is an 800, 866 or 877 number that you would dial to connect to the conference call. The conference call service company is typically going to charge a little more for this type of access because they are paying the long distance charges to connect you to the conference call. The advantage on this type of number is that you or your participants do not have to pay any access charges to your long distance company to access the conference call. This type of call is good if you do not want your participants to incur any hcarges to attend your conference call.
As prices for long distance have declined over the years there has become a smaller difference between the cost of local versus toll free access. Today some companies, like Zip Conferencing, have rates so low that there is no difference between the cost of local and toll free access to the conference call. And with rates less than 5 cents per minute it is hard to justify the reason to go with a local number since all of your participants will have to pay to get to your conference call. The most convenient and now the lowest cost method to access a conference call these days is using a toll free access number. www.zipconferencing.com
