What is involved in Teleconferencing or Conference Calling? Are they the same thing?

When people mentions Teleconferencing, Conference Calling, or Audio Conferencing, they are usually all referring to the same thing. In conference calling, different people often in different locations are connected to each other via the telephone so that they can share ideas, do presentations, brainstorm new ideas, talk business, or other audio uses. Teleconferences can be used to connect business, clients, and participants. In a conference call, each person participating in the call can talk and hear each other. In essence, in teleconferencing, people are holding a meeting through the telephone.

There are different options for conference calling. For reservation-less teleconferencing, your company or group with have constant access to an audio conferencing virtual meeting room, and can hold meetings without scheduling or reserving ahead of time. This is one of the more flexible and useful types of conference calling services for organizations who might be more dynamic in their day to day dealings. Other conference calling services are based upon a per use, per reservation, or per session use.

With audio conferencing, each participant typically calls into a bridge number and enters a PIN or identification number to be connected to the correct conference call. Another great option for conference calling and teleconferencing is operator assistance. With operated assisted audio conferencing, you have access to an operator who will answer and direct each person who calls in to the proper virtual meeting room. The operator is also able to, in some instances, to call up the participants in the call so that they do not even have to dial in.

What is involved in Video Conferencing?

Video conferencing is basically the same as a teleconferencing or audio conferencing with an added video component. This video component is enabled by a camera, web camera, and or video monitor display, in which the meeting participants can see each other or share physical things through the camera. This allows the participants to have a face to face meeting where they can see faces and facial expressions, making the call much more personal and real. Sometimes, the video component of the video conferencing meeting is transmitted separately from the telephone portion or broadcast via the internet.

What is involved in Web Conferencing?

In web conferencing, participants in the web meeting connect with each other using the internet. This allows the participants to leverage the power of online collaborative tools, sharing documents, sharing desktops, sharing applications, brainstorm, and make presentations. Web conferencing can also incorporate online chat and polling features. Another important and effective part of web conferencing is an online whiteboard where people can write or draw easily to be shared with other participants.

Although it does take some tech savvy sometimes to hold a web conference or participate in a web call especially when there is a need for troubleshooting, web conferencing is a powerfully effective tool for connecting and sharing of information and ideas. The technology knowledge and savvy does present as a sort of barrier to entry, though. There are also sometimes issues with some web conferencing software and services regarding both PC and Mac universal compatibility.

What is involved in Telepresence?

Telepresence is the newer type of video conferencing, using large video displays and in-room controls so that other participants from far away actually appear to be life-sized and in the same room as you. This provides for a very impactful and personal meeting. You can also integrate web collaborative tools for sharing ideas and documents more effectively.