What is a Free Conference Call?

Free conference calls connect businesses, organizations, and personal groups alike. Some of these services allow moderator functions, such as muting callers, question-and-answer mode, and secure conference PIN codes for moderators and conference participants. Free teleconferences take place all around the world and can have hundreds of callers. Some free conference calls use traditional telephone lines and equipment, while others add in Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) technology to lower company costs and expand accessibility to international users.

Many teleconference services also require callers to dial a conference code and PIN, thus increasing the security of the conference call. It is harder for outsiders to eavesdrop on private calls if they do not know the conference code or PIN to enter.

Uses for teleconference services vary and are quite numerous. For example, people join together in distance support groups. Team leaders for fund drives motivate their members to keep working hard. Instructors hold teleclasses, teleseminars, and self-help sessions. Boards of directors hold staff meetings with attendees all across the country. Business professionals strategize about their next marketing campaign. The list could go on.

In the age of globalization, conference call services have become even more vital. People may work for the same company but live in separate countries. One free conference call could connect hundreds of them together.

In a free call that uses traditional telephone lines, many people dial one designated telephone number, and the free service connects all of them together.

VOIP technology may also be used to connect the many telephones. VOIP technology uses the Internet to route voice calls, and VOIP gateways connect computer users with the regular telephone network. For example, a conference participant might use their traditional landline or mobile phone provider to dial the conference telephone number, and have their call answered by a conference service running on a computer with a broadband Internet connection.

There are many free call services available on the Internet. Some of these services have standard telephone numbers, while others use only the Internet. To use an Internet-only free conference call service, callers may require special software or hardware. For example, they might call the service using the Internet when they download a program (called a soft phone) or program a hardware-based VOIP telephone to connect to the service.

James King has been working in the business services industry for over 15 years. He enjoys writing about business, technology and especially conference call facilities.