An alternative to business travel is the video conference call. They are flexible and less expensive than business travel and help to lower costs and meet budget. Advanced technology has also introduced multi-user conference calls to the range of conference call services.
The quality of the equipment is important in order for any conference to be able to convey information to the participants. Equipment such as camera, PC system, audio controls and software are all essential to conduct a video conference call. The monitors are connected to the PC system.
Both Windows and Macintosh operating systems include videoconferencing programs. Windows users can make use of NetMeeting to make video conferencing calls while Macintosh users have iChat AV. There are also several free software packages that are compatible with Windows and Macintosh and are available for download on the Internet.
There are conference call utilities which combine audio, visual and network systems into one device, thus making the conference call process more efficient. Usually individuals purchase portable devices while the larger, less portable systems are required for bigger companies. Some of the larger companies may decide to designate an individual room solely for video conferencing.
There are conference call services available to meet the different needs of every consumer in the market, from the simple web-cams available for a hundred dollars that suit the needs of the average consumer, to the expensive high-end systems for large companies that cost fifteen thousand dollars or more.
Some more options to consider are the dedicated desktop-based hardware that single users usually purchase and costs anywhere from six hundred to three thousand dollars or just a software-based headset for a hundred dollars. Individuals choose headsets for personal calls and because they are effective at reducing echoes.
Small conferences may be linked with a PC-based system and the price can be from six to fourteen thousand dollars. An IP or ISDN connectivity is quite expensive and the range is anywhere from three to twelve thousand dollars although they are considered to be very simple to set up.
For meetings involving large groups of people, the equipment required for conference calls is expensive and may cost upwards of ten thousand dollars. Such conferences, which include video conferencing seminars or classes, typically require expensive multi-directional microphones. Often, directional microphones are placed at key locations in the room along with high-resolution cameras. Reliable microphone systems can cost as much as eight thousand dollars while each camera can cost up to two hundred dollars.
Purchasing conference call equipment and software is a major investment so check for reliability, ease of use, connectivity and compatibility. Ensure that updates and maintenance services can be easily obtained at any time.