Conference Call Tips

Do get comfortable with the fact you will be talking in front of a group and receiving no visual cues or feedback.

Do use the right phone in a quiet, undisturbed room.

Don’t use cell phones or phones that pick up background noise. Calling from an open plan office is the equivalent of having a conversation in a nightclub. If you really can’t find a quiet room, use the mute button until you are required to speak.

Do learn to use the mute button and other phone technology to avoid a Homer Simpson style “Doh” moment. Your intelligent contributions mean nothing if no one can hear them.

Do set up the meeting in advance and communicate the dial in number, passcodes and other information. “Spring forward, fall back” is something to keep in mind for your timezone crossing colleagues. Don’t work out time differences on your fingers – check on the internet or even phone a colleague in that country and ask what time it is!

Do start the meeting absolutely on time; don’t reward latecomers’ bad behaviour by waiting for them. Take a role call at the start of the meeting, highlighting the missing attendees. Go on, get tough, people will love you for it!

Do treat the conference call as if it were a meeting. You know the routine; prepare and circulate an agenda, take notes ya-de-ya-de-ya.

Do get each caller to say hello and introduce themselves. Even though you may never meet in person, it’s a good relationship builder and gets the shyest of people to at least say their name.

Don’t assume everyone recognises your voice. Unless you are dis-respecting the boss and want to stay incognito, say your name before you speak. This is particularly important for the poor soul taking meeting notes.

Do make use of guest speakers. Invite a special or important guest and get them to say a few words at the beginning of the meeting. No one will know they slipped out after five minutes and you’ll get the benefit of undivided attention and best behaviour.

Don’t allow the topic to wander. Be an iron fist in a velvet glove – polite but firm if people talk too long or over each other. If your callers are at home sitting in their pyjamas nursing a hot chocolate, be considerate that all they want is to go to bed.

Do ask for input by using a person’s name. People will pay more attention to avoid the embarrassment of needing the question repeated.

Don’t shuffle papers; scrape chairs, pencil tap, hum or other distracting, noisy activities. It…….drives…………people…………mad!

Do close the meeting formally, thanking everybody for their time. That little bit of recognition will make them feel good about talking to you again.

Conference Call Etiquette – the do’s and don’t’s of multi-way phone conversations

Conference calls - the curse of every hard working manager. Love or hate them, with today's geographically dispersed teams and travel restrictions, conference call etiquette is a key part of any manager's skill set.

Here are 3 of my favorite transgressions of conference call etiquette...

• a barking dog drowning out the key discussion point was bad enough, but then owner started shouting at his pet

• a thirsty caller uses the hold button whilst slipping out to get a drink, unaware that hold music starts playing to everyone on the call

• a talkative colleague uses the mute button to moan about the call, stopping anyone answering the question just asked by the remote senior manager

Obviously I would discourage all these career limiting behaviours, so what are the do’s and don’ts of effective conference call etiquette?

Article IV Consultation with Chile, Conference Call

MS. LOTZE: Thank you very much. Good morning and welcome to this press conference call on the Article IV Consultation with Chile. I'm Conny Lotze of the External Relations Department, and I am joined in this call by Martin Mühleisen, the Mission Chief for Chile and Mr. Markus Rodlauer, Deputy Director of the Western Hemisphere Department. This call is on the record.

You have already had access under embargo to the documents and opening remarks through our Media Briefing Center. Mr. Mühleisen will make some opening remarks, which you should also have in English and Spanish. But to save a little time, he will only make his remarks in English and then we will open the floor to questions. The question and answer period will be interpreted into English and Spanish, so we are happy to take your questions in either English or Spanish.

MR. MÜHLEISEN: Thank you. Good morning. Buenos días. The staff report that you have seen reflects our assessment of economic developments and policies in Chile and in particular our discussions with the authorities during our visit in late May.

The global economic environment has changed since then, but we do not see Chile's strong economic position as being greatly affected. The recovery from the unexpected slowdown in the third quarter of last year remains broad based. And we believe growth will reach close to 6 percent in 2007 and remain around the potential rate of 5 percent next year.

Nevertheless, the risks to the outlook are now more on the down side, given uncertainties about the global financial system, the U.S. outlook, and investors' risk appetite, including for emerging markets. Twelve-month inflation is now projected to rise through the end of this year, reflecting exogenous shocks, including a jump in global food prices, unusually cold weather conditions in Chile, and disruptions in energy supply.

Given the strong growth momentum, with excess capacity in the economy gradually vanishing and unemployment at historically low levels, the Banco Centrale has appropriately raised interest rates in recent months. This should insure that inflation expectations remain well-anchored around the 3 percent target and that food and energy price shocks do not spill over into other sectors.

Looking ahead, with risks to the outlook more on the downside, the future monetary policy path will need to depend on economic and financial development in the coming months. The strong improvement in the government's financial position in recent years has allowed a moderate reduction in the target for the structural surplus rule. We support this reduction and commend the government for keeping overall spending increases consistent with macroeconomic stability, as well as for the efforts to maintain the high quality of public spending in Chile. Keeping a small positive surplus target is appropriate, as it will allow the build up of some reserves to address future liabilities such as in the context of the planned reform of the pension system.

Let me perhaps elaborate on the impact of the recent global financial turbulence. This impact has been relatively mild in Chile, both compared with most other countries in the region and also with Chile's own past experience. In our view, this is really a strong testimony to the very robust macroeconomic framework that Chile has built over the past two decades, with strong cushions against adverse shocks--a sound fiscal position, low public debt, and independent central bank, high international reserves, and a flexible exchange rate.

The past few weeks have also served to underscore how resilient Chile's financial markets have become in the face of global turbulence. Threats have widened relatively little. The exchange rate has been fairly stable, and in line with fundamentals. And the interbank market has continued to function in a normal way. This resilience reflects a healthy banking system and strong corporate balance sheets, again the result of Chile's excellent economic policy framework. Therefore, assuming no further major unexpected shocks or a global downturn, we believe that growth and employment in Chile will remain relatively strong, benefiting also from Chile's diversified export structure and continued brisk commodity demand.

Let me close with a brief discussion of structural reform. Chile is already an example for structural policies in many areas, resulting in an enviable record of growth and considerable success in reducing poverty. Planned reforms of the pension and education systems will further strengthen the foundations for long-term growth while also addressing key social concerns.

Likewise, we welcome the creation of the President's Commission on Labor Market Issues and Social Equity, as we see scope for improving labor market flexibility and also reducing labor informality. Last but not least, we remain impressed by the speed with which the financial sector in Chile has developed. Past reforms have already created a vibrant market that is increasingly integrated with the rest of the world. Planned reforms, such as the liberalization of investment rules for pension funds, should further enhance the effectiveness of markets, raise returns to pensioners and savers, and provide improved access to financing for entrepreneurs, large and small.

I should probably also mention that what you're now seeing in terms of the documents, the staff report and accompanying selected issues paper have been provided to the Board for the discussion of the Article IV Consultation back in July. The outcome of that discussion was contained in the PIN, in the Public Information Notice, that has already been published on the IMF's Web site, but now we are releasing the report. And these reports are somewhat shorter than in recent years, because we have done what the Fund called a streamlined consultation, which means that we have used somewhat fewer resources than in the past because of the absence of any systemic issues in Chile and the continued excellent performance of the Chilean economy.

QUESTIONER: Thank you. The studies say that the financial institutions remain vulnerable to external shocks. In the actual outlook, do you know what is the real exposure of, for example, pension funds and other investment funds from Chile to the credit crisis?

MR. MÜHLEISEN: In our view, the Chilean pension funds and other financial institutions have low exposure to the type of risks that we have read about in recent weeks, including the subprime market in the U.S. Exposures are generally well managed, and, as you know, subject to limits on investments that limit these portfolios to high quality paper and a limited amount of investment abroad.

QUESTIONER: I wondered if you can confirm your CPI forecast please for us for both 2007 and 2008? And also, if I could ask you if you consider revising those forecasts in the light of rising inflation since the you made your visit in May?

MR. MÜHLEISEN: Yes, we will revise our forecast for inflation. We have fed in the price forecasts that are part of our world economic outlook, especially for food components and energy. And this will yield a year-end 2007 inflation forecast that is broadly in line with that of the central bank, contained in its monetary policy report, of around 5½ percent.

And then for next year, we envisage that the energy and food price shocks will partly unwind and that inflation will return to the 3-percent target of the central bank by the end of next year.

QUESTIONER [interpreted]: Regarding the effect on the exchange rate of the international crisis, what are the possibilities of having the Chilean export sector resisting this shock?

MR. MÜHLEISEN: Well, we came to the judgment in our report that the exchange rate is valued broadly in line with fundamentals, and that assessment hasn't changed during the recent period of market turmoil. I already mentioned that Chile was only mildly affected.

While we have seen some appreciation against the U.S. dollar, the multilateral exchange rate for Chile has hardly moved. And in that context, we have no reason to doubt the outcome of the research that we have conducted in our background paper, namely that the exchange rate has not affected exports to any significant degree.

QUESTIONER: Thank you. Do you agree with other studies released by other institutions as, for example, the Cato Institute, that say that Chile needs to implement new reforms, for example, in the tax system?

MR. MÜHLEISEN: I think in general the Chilean tax system is characterized by a relatively low level of revenues relative to GDP compared to other countries. It is a relatively efficient tax system because it relies to a large extent on the value added tax. And while there's always room to fine-tune, I think broadly the Chilean tax system has been very successful.

In last year's report, we had some discussion about the gap between a marginal tax rate for corporate and individuals, and that may be a focus for tax reform going forward. But again, overall, the low level of taxation in Chile is something that has been very efficient from an economic perspective.

QUESTIONER [interpreted]: It's a follow-up question. What are the main challenges you think the Chilean economy faces given all the good things you have been saying about Chilean economy management?

MR. MÜHLEISEN: In our report, we mention that Chile has rightly set its sights towards catching up in terms of income and living standards with industrialized countries. And in that context, the greatest priority is to increase the human capital, employability and education levels of Chilean workers, which will help further diversify Chile's production structure away from commodity and close-to-commodity products toward a more diversified economic base.

In that sense, we agree with the government priorities about setting out further reforms in this area, while at the same time ensuring that social needs of the population are addressed and that a large share of the Chilean population enjoys the benefits of stronger growth going forward. And we welcome the progress achieved in reducing absolute poverty in Chile and support the government's effort in eliminating the remaining pockets in the years going forward.

The planned pension reform will go a long way, in our view, especially towards addressing old-age poverty and, in addition to that, we also think that reforms in the financial sector will be very important to integrate Chile further into a global capital market, and to increase the returns to Chilean savers and lower the financing costs for Chilean entrepreneurs.

QUESTIONER: Thank you. Are you already working with Chilean authorities to implement a contingent claims analysis to evaluate bank risk?

MR. MÜHLEISEN: Yes. If you look in the financial stability report of the central bank earlier this year, you will find a chapter on this topic that has been co-authored by IMF staff.

And we also carry in our background paper an application of the contingent claims analysis to the Chilean financial sector. That paper is only available as a summary so far, but we hope to publish it soon in the coming months as a working paper on the IMF Web site.

The summary is contained in the background paper, and we found that the Chilean financial sector is in a very good position and it seems very robust to external shocks.

QUESTIONER [interpreted]: Regarding the interest rate, we would like to know if you believe that the monetary policy of the Chilean government is--regarding an increase in the interest rate will be consistent--what consequences will it have vis-à-vis the differences with the United States and if you believe that this interest rate is consistent with the inflation prospects?

MR. MÜHLEISEN: Well, monetary policy in Chile is set according to Chilean economic conditions. And in that respect, we noted in the report that, back in May, there was a case for raising interest rates, which the Bank has done over the following couple of monetary policy meetings.

Now in recent weeks, the situation has in so far changed as the downside risks to growth have increased with the global financial turbulence and the slowdown in the United States. And while we do not think that the slowdown in the U.S. will have a major impact on the Chilean economy, the distribution of risk is now different, and the central bank has changed the bias in their last meeting to neutral.

With this strong growth momentum in the economy, it was important to anchor inflation expectations at the bank's 3-percent target. This has been achieved, and, with that, the outlook for monetary policy will depend on development in economic and financial markets over the next coming weeks and months.

MS. LOTZE: Thank you very much. We will close the press conference call at this point.

Article 9 conference calls for spread of pacifism in Asia

CHIBA — The spirit of the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution should not only be protected but also extended to other Asian countries, panelists at a symposium said Monday.

On the second day of the three-day Global Article 9 Conference to Abolish War held at the Makuhari Messe convention hall in Chiba, a number of symposiums, meetings and performances were held to voice support for Article 9.

At a symposium titled "Realizing the Spirit of Article 9 in Asia: On the basis of historical recognition and the realignment of the U.S. forces," panelists agreed that the pacifist Constitution has aided and will continue to contribute to the prosperity of Japan and the surrounding region.

Gus Miclat, executive director of the Philippine-based advocacy and solidarity group Initiatives for International Dialogue, said Japan's wartime imperialism and propaganda held back the nation's development.

It was only after Japan espoused pacifism following the end of World War II that the country prospered and became the world's second-largest economy, he said.

Article 9 "may have been the secret engine" for Japan's prosperity, as it has spread a sense of security in the Asian region and "allowed Japan to develop and prosper in peace," Miclat said.

He added that Article 9 is "a historical breakthrough . . . incarnating the necessity of the human race and revolving (around) human harmony and peace. . . . In fact, Article 9 should be replicated all over the world."

Another panelist, Ban Zhong Yi, a film director and journalist from China, also voiced the importance of Article 9, saying that it needs to be protected with support among Japanese as well as neighboring Asian countries.

He said he would like to spread the spirit of Article 9 to China.

"However, before I do that, I think what needs to be done is to make a supportive environment, which is to make a steady ground where they can share the same ideas," he said.

Conference Call

Many businesses have long used the services of a conference call company to spread their message to the investment community, where investment professionals could hear many firms in several days. To accomodate those who couldn't travel, the conference call allowed hundreds of analysts to hear a presentation and ask questions in real time.

But access was usually restricted and often involved long-distance toll charges. Occasionally a friendly broker would loan you his access codes, some of which found their way to the Internet. As a result, conferences could be swamped.

The Internet now provides a much more practical venue for the conference call. With its low cost and ability to accomodate many listeners it is now practical to open a conference call to almost anyone (at least to listen). And an increasing number of firms now do.

For example, a recent article in the Wall Street Journal related how companies do this as an efficient way to control the irresponsible babble on the Internet. People posting idle chatter now attract accurate responces from others who have heard the actual story on a conference call. As a result, the irresponsible postings are controlled.

Companies like the ability to make one public statement, and then be free from goverment limitations on how investment information must be released. And individual investors like it too, as access to this information gets them access to information that once only slowly reached the average investor.

Using the Internet has many advantages besides the instantaneous international release that results. It is possible to save the audio files so that the conference call can be accessed later at a more convenient time. Plus it's possible to edit out meaningless portions of each conference. Naturally, there are some limitations.

If everyone could ask a question, real brawls could result as the conferences became uncontrolled. So most Internet systems limit who can ask a question. An outstanding advantage for the average investor is to witness directly a firm's management in action. While the information might be the same, an investor gains confidence in management that presents a virtuoso performane over one that is defensive, hesitant, and obfuscative. The details aside, the speed of responce and other items that don't get incorporated in an analyst's report can add a lot to one's understanding.

Previously, a small investor's only such access might have been at a company's annual meeting. Several firms have opened to provide investment-related conference-call services in one form or another over the Internet. Some require membership and user fees, but the trend seems to be toward company funding of the low cost service, and free or very low cost access by the public.

Expect that more and more firms will use the services of a conference call company to dissiminate their information to a wider section of the population including investors and employees. You should encourage firms that you are interested in to do so. This form of communication is yet another form of ultimate corporate democracy.

Web Conferencing Packages

When it's imperative that your meeting runs as smoothly as a well-choreographed symphony, Great America Networks Conferencing, LLC, Web Conferencing Tools, integrates a collection of feature-rich Web data collaboration options into your conferences. Use alone or in tandem with any of our audio conferencing options for
that professional tone and rhythm your conference needs to inspire. You can even record your Web Conference for replaying later.

King Pharmaceuticals Provides Updated Replay Information for Conference Call Regarding Proposed Acquisition of Alpharma

Friday, August 22, 2008 4:47 PM

Symbols: KG

King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE:KG) today held a conference call at 10:00 AM ET to discuss its proposal to acquire Alpharma Inc. (NYSE:ALO) for $33.00 per share in cash.

Playback of the conference call and the webcast will be available for replay through the close of business on August 29, 2008. The replay can be accessed by dialing 888-346-3949 or 404-260-5385 (toll/international), conference number: 20080818183818, PIN: 182778123. Accompanying slides and the conference call webcast will also be available at http://www.Kingpharm.com/web_casts.asp.

About King Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

King, headquartered in Bristol, Tennessee, is a vertically integrated branded pharmaceutical company. King, an S&P 500 Index company, seeks to capitalize on opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry through the development, including through in-licensing arrangements and acquisitions, of novel branded prescription pharmaceutical products and technologies that complement the Company’s focus in specialty-driven markets, particularly neuroscience, hospital and acute care. King strives to be a leader and partner of choice in bringing innovative, clinically-differentiated medicines and technologies to market.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”). King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“King”) disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward- looking statements, and claims the protection of the Safe Harbor for forward- looking statements contained in the Act. All statements contained in this document that are not clearly historical in nature or that necessarily depend on future events are forward- looking, and the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “plan,” and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various factors such as King’s ability to achieve the synergies and value creation contemplated by the proposed transaction; King’s ability to promptly and effectively integrate the businesses of Alpharma Inc.

What They Don't Tell You About Conference Calls

The multitude of users of conference calling services makes it apparent that it is one of the favored means of communication in the business world to date. Companies consider it more cost-efficient, less taxing on the company.s time and personnel, and more effective in fostering business relations in the international scene.

Like all good things, however, conference calling has several limitations. While the numerous positive aspects of conference calling are highly publicized, the limitations are hardly visible.

The most obvious limitation of conference calling is the speed with which it is developed in some countries and the delay in others. Conference calling now largely involves video and data as well as audio conferencing and makes use of highly advanced equipment to deliver these new and improved services to subscribers. The problem with this lies in the availability of these equipments for the world.s majority. Attendance and participation in conferences may now be limited by the fact that potential delegates in areas where the necessary equipment and technological advancement has not yet arrived may not be able to participate at all.

Another limitation is the lack of any set standard for conference calling protocols. Certain measures for order and smooth progress have been set for face-to-face conferences and meetings. For conference calls, no such measures exist. The normal etiquette and standard of behavior necessary is necessary even in these types of conferences to make sure that it would not totally remove the aspect of interpersonal relations in business dealings.

Last, but definitely no less important, is the instances of low security and lack of proper billing standard provided to the clients availing of conference calling services. These conferences are recorded, and the clients should have control over the contents of their conferences. Likewise, they should be properly informed of the breakdown of the costs they have to pay for these services.

From this it is apparent that there is a negative side to conference calling. It is up to a potential user, therefore, to weigh the pros and cons of using conference calls before availing of a particular service.

Experience the Power of Online Collaboration using Free Web Conferencing Software

It is impossible to overstate the impact that the internet has had on modern business paradigms. Geographical considerations are removed from the buyer and seller relationship, and commerce is more efficient than ever before. The internet has allowed distributed workspaces and vastly reduced the wasted money and time of corporate travel by allowing meeting participants to share information in real time from their computers. Perhaps the most innovative way in which the internet has brought organizations closer together is through the use of web conferencing software.

Web conferencing software allows meeting participants to not only communicate by voice, but also allows them to share presentations, scribble on a shared whiteboard, video chat, and in general interact in a much more sophisticated manner than can achieved in any other way short of meeting face to face. While the concept of remote conferencing is not new, the big difference between today and a few years ago is price. Virtual conferencing was once the domain of only the largest and most well funded companies; however, with the advent of the internet, it is possible to get inexpensive web conferencing software (even free web conferencing software from some companies that offer trial versions).

One of the major players in the free web conference world is the online web conferencing provider Webex (http://www.webex.com). Webex is perhaps the most popular free web conferencing software in use by businesses today. The free web conferencing software offered by Webex is a fourteen day unlimited free trial of their full version. This is a great piece of free web conferencing software for those who are still evaluating their web conferencing needs. Webex software provides security in the form of meeting passwords and allows users to participate in text chat while viewing the presentation on their computer screen as well as participating in the voice portion via a telephone conference number.

One great feature of the Webex free web conferencing software is that all of the custom software components are housed on the Webex server. Participants, therefore, do not need to install specialized software on their machines. The Webex free web conferencing software uses the participants\’ standard internet browser to display meeting content. Any standards compliant browser is all that is required to access meetings that use the Webex free web conferencing software. Meeting presenters can use Webex free web conferencing software to share applications such as Microsoft Word or PowerPoint, and can update the presentation on the fly to respond to questions from the audience or to highlight key points. Interactivity is supported by allowing the meeting organizer to specify users who can take temporary control of the presentation so that they can add their own thoughts and inputs.

Those who are interested in finding free web conferencing software would be remiss if they did not consider Microsoft NetMeeting. NetMeeting is a utility that runs on Microsoft Windows (it is included with the distributions of some versions of Windows) and allows participants to use voice, video, and data communications. Microsoft NetMeeting is not as fully featured as Webex and other free web conferencing software that are scaled down versions of pay products. However, Microsoft NetMeeting is fully free and not a crippled version (i.e. the version you download is the full thing, not a trial version).

Microsoft NetMeeting and the trial version of the Webex free web conferencing software are great choices for those who are looking to take advantage of the power of web conferencing without having to spend top dollar for the latest and most advanced products. NetMeeting is a great entry level free web conferencing software package and the Webex free web conferencing software package is a scaled down version of their full offering.

Group call

Group-calling, similar to conference calling, is a means of communication where the calling party wishes to involve multiple parties. In comparison to conference calling, all parties involved in a call always have the opportunity to participate actively. Alternatively, group calling also functions as a means of leaving voice message to defined groups. The calling initiator calls a number that identifies the caller and inquires the caller as to which of the caller’s defined groups the voice message should be sent to. Many US-based group calls now take place using free conference calling services.

Group calling offers, as an implication of its functionality, alternative opportunities and new settings for group communication. The concept of group-calling, moves conference calling to a more social and flexible means of interaction.

Events

When preparing for an event, such as a party, reunion, or meeting, all of those involved are called at any one time to spread the necessary information or come to an agreement and make decisions together.

Educational purposes

A significant amount of coursework is completed in groups. A common problem is having the time and place to assemble the entire group for the purpose of working together. With the concept of group calling, group members need not be together at all times for group work. Agreements upon complicated decisions related to the direction of the assignment are made in a group-call, with all active group members taking part in the conversation actively.

Social groups, Clubs and Teams

Communication in groups is often utilized for the purpose of spreading an important message or agreeing upon decisions that need to be made together. The group-calling concept is applied to groups with the need to involve all or most members at a specific point in time.

Prayer groups and Support groups

Group calling is an alternative to getting together in cases where the need for communication is sudden or more frequent. This calling method is commonly used for groups that wish to communicate together spontaneously, or on a daily basis without having to meet personally, as it is a quick and mobile alternative.

Small businesses

Similar to conference calling, group calling is used in business situations where decisions must be made and the necessary people are not all in one place due to either geographical dispersion or flexible work hours.

Teleconference

Teleconference is the live exchange and mass articulation of information among persons and machines remote from one another but linked by a telecommunications system, usually over the phone line. It differs from videophone in intending to serve groups rather than individuals.

The telecommunications system may support the teleconference by providing one or more of the following audio, video, and/or data services by one or more means, such as telephone, telegraph, teletype, radio, and television.

Teleconferences are also referred to as teleseminars.

Alternative terms for teleconferencing include audio conferencing, telephone conferencing and phone conferencing.

Free Conference Calling

Several vendors in the US now offer free conference calling services. Such services generally require users to dial a long-distance phone number to be connected to their conference.

Free Conferencing is different from traditional conference calling where the organizer of the conference call pays either a flat rate fee or per minute charge or a mixture of both. Free Conferencing has no organizer fees and allows for multiple people to meet at the price of their long distance connections.

Prepaid Conference Calls

Prepaid conference call services allow businesses and individuals to purchase conferencing services online, and conduct conference calls on a pay-as-you-go basis. Typically, a conference call PIN and it's associated calling instructions are displayed immediately online after being purchased and/or sent via email. Generally, prepaid conference call services are used with a landline telephone, mobile phone, or computer, and there is no need to buy additional expensive telecommunications hardware or add/switch long distance service. Some services allow you to start or join a conference call from virtually any country worldwide--with appropriate telephone access.

Large telecommunications providers such as AT&T, Embarq (formerly Sprint), Verizon and other large to medium conferencing service providers maintain a dominant position in the conferencing niche; servicing many of the World's biggest brands. However, the Internet and improved global VoIP networks have helped to significantly reduce the barrier of entry into this niche.

Flat Rate Conferencing

Flat rate services are now being offered which enable conference call users to have unlimited access to a conference bridge at a fixed monthly cost. Because telecommunication carriers offer free long distance bundled with local service, this alternative is gaining widespread popularity for budget conscious businesses and non-profits.

In the UK, there are conference services offered on a pay as you go basis where the cost of the phone calls (using 0844, 0870 or 0871 numbers) from each of the participants covers the cost of the conference service. With this service type there is no monthly charge and usually no contracts to sign.

Party line

Conference calls can also be used for entertainment or social purposes, such as the party line or a group call. People call in to a specified telephone number, and are connected to conversations with other callers. This serves as a way to talk to and perhaps, subsequently, meet new people. However, conference calls are most commonly used by businesses.

Business Conference Call

Business

Businesses use conference calls daily to meet with remote parties, both internally and outside of their company. Common applications are client meetings or sales presentations, project meetings and updates, regular team meetings, training classes and communication to employees who work in different locations. Conference calling is viewed as a primary means of cutting travel costs and allowing workers to be more productive by not having to go out-of-office for meetings.

Conference calls are used by nearly all United States public corporations to report their quarterly results. These calls usually allow for questions from stock analysts and are called earnings calls. A standard conference call begins with a disclaimer stating that anything said in the duration of the call may be a forward looking statement, and that results may vary significantly. The CEO, CFO, or Investor Relations officer then will read the company's quarterly report. Lastly, the call is opened for questions from analysts.

Conference calls are increasingly used in conjunction with web conferences, where presentations or documents are shared via the internet.

Conference calls are also beginning to cross over into the world of podcasting and social networking, which in turn fosters new kinds of interaction patterns. Live streaming or broadcasting of conference calls allows a larger audience access to the call without dialing in to a bridge. In addition, organizers of conference calls can publish a dial-in number alongside the audio stream, creating potential for audience members to dial in if and when they wish to interact.

Come Ready For Your Conference Call

Apart from technicalities, a conference call is very much like other official meetings. Whether you are sitting face to face with your employees or your clients or on a conference call with them, the etiquette required in meetings will be necessary.

When conducting professional meetings in your office or in your conference hall, sitting face to face with the participants, you prepare meticulously for the discussion. Well, conference call meetings should get the same treatment. A conference call is usually set up between two or more people, who are placed in areas that are remote.

With business offices spread across the world, conference calls have facilitated the way in which companies hold meetings with their employees and customers, without requiring their physical presence at the meeting hall. This in turn has resulted in huge savings for enterprises, as there is no travel to the destination of the meeting, and no hotel accommodation charges, amongst others.

Conference calls used in professional meetings are very different from personal telephone calls, or one to one conversations with colleagues. It is to be remembered that conference calls are considered to be meetings that are as formal as the meetings that you conduct in the conference room.

It is a business tool that possesses some of its own etiquette, which must be followed at every step of your participation. While you attend conference calls, you need to be as courteous and professional throughout the call as you would be in face to face meetings.

Your attitude in attending conference calls is a direct reflection of your professionalism, and of your ability to make presentations to others. Every time you have to be conferencing, you should be well prepared for the discussion, and should be ready with all relevant documents that you will require before you join the conference. As you prepare yourself, it is wise to test the conference system, and make sure that your microphone and other equipment are working and that the volume has been set right.

Make sure that you do not multi-task while there is a conference call in progress. You should pay attention to the debates going on without diverting your mind to something else that is not related to the meeting. You can always take notes on paper or on your laptop, ensuring that not too much noise emerges from the keyboard. In conference calls, ideas are shared, and if you do not actively participate in the discussion, you will not be remembered as being a participant at that meeting.

Conference call services may be outsourced and there are many such providers. The technology typically uses conference phones or VOIP systems. If you are hiring these services for your conference calls, you would have to designate the date and time of the meeting that you would want to hold.

You will be assigned with a group dial-in number, and also with a password through which you can access the conference network at the date and time that has been set for you. When you outsource, you do away with the drama of having to get your people to set up the con call for you.

Conference Call Tips and Tricks

This is the digital era. And we are seeing the rise of audio conferencing being used in business houses to communicate with people from around the world. If you are attending your first conference call you may have a false idea of the real process. It is just a virtual meeting. Remember that this is just another version of your regular business meeting.

A personal conference call from the comfort of your home may grant you some leeway in your appearance and dress, but that is all.

If you want to have a successful conference call, you need to understand what it is all about. You have to understand the differences and similarities that it has with a normal conference or meeting.

Make sure that you go to the conference call absolutely prepared. Do not take the call lightly. You need to have reviewed all of the related materials and have an established understanding of the issues before you go into the meeting. One of the best ways to ruin a teleconference is to have an uninformed audience barely comprehending the speakers. If you are attending a conference call, you will have to be prepared with some other things as well.

You should have your dial-in code in an accessible location to avoid the last minute panic to find your number. Your conference call equipment should also be checked to ensure that everything is how you want it. The microphone should be set at an audible volume that isn't too loud and any loud noisemakers around your desk or on your person should be turned off or put away.

If you want your conference call to run off smoothly, prepare a plan for the same. Each discussion should be allotted a specific time. You should take a few minutes and understand just how the meeting is going to break down so that you can adopt your questions and speeches to meet the agenda.

The conference call itself mainly just requires basic etiquette that you would show at any other meeting. It is a serious business meeting. Don't think that you can multitask or do what you want during the boring parts. This is not just a regular phone call.

Background noise is often very clear during a conference call and eating a bag of potato chips during your boss's speech is probably not a good idea. Remember to speak clearly since your audience will rely solely on audio cues for information since your facial expression will not be seen by anyone outside of the room. The point to remember is that these are your business associates and you need to prove yourself.

If you are the host, then you will have to take care of certain things. The host should log on early to greet members as they sign in and introduce them to each other. Remember to introduce new speakers and clearly give a little background information on anyone involved so that listeners have a good understanding of all the information.

It is the job of the host to guide the discussion. The host should be alert enough to ensure that everyone remains focused on the purpose of the call.

If you follow all of these basic tips you should find yourself on the path to a good conference call. All you have to do is be friendly and focused and the call will go off well.

Conference Call Services For Your Organization

A conference call is a phone call that involves more than two participating parties at the same time. It can be done over traditional telephones, speakerphones, and even utilizing VoIP technology. Conference calling is utilized by nearly every United States corporation. Conference calling is convenient for getting groups of people together from different locations in order to have scheduled meetings, spur-of-the-moment conferences, and to keep the lines of communications open. Choosing the right conference call services provider is important for an organization in order to be able to make and conduct conference calls without delay or hassle.

Conference calls are most frequently used for business, but they can also be used for entertainment purposes. These are known as party lines. Conference calls can be set up so that a calling party calls the other members of the call and adds them to the call, or the participants can dial in to the conference call themselves. This can be done by using a special type of telephone that can answer multiple calls, or by calling a special phone number that has been set up for the purpose of conference calls. And now, VoIP technology can be used. This is especially cost efficient, as well as convenient, if the organization already utilizes VoIP for telephone services.

When looking for a conference call services provider, it is important that you shop around for one that can offer you the capacity to handle the multiple call participants at the same time, as well as provide clear and uninterrupted reception for your calls. You also want to consider the features that a provider offers, such as no extra fees for international calls, no requirement of advance notice of calls to the provider, and plenty of hardware capability to handle your conference calling needs, no matter what time of day or night. You also want to be able to customize your service to fit your particular organization's needs, and many conference call services providers will give you many options and levels of service.

For an organization that makes and conducts conference calls on a regular basis, it makes sense to work with a conference call services provider. It is important to review the options and costs that each provider offers, as well as be aware of the limitations, such as restricted calling ranges, and extra fees. The last thing you want to deal with is poor service, poor reception, and high costs. Conference call services have come a long way, thanks to burgeoning technology. In many cases, an organization can set up conference call services with a reputable provider that can have the service up and running in less than a day, and provide affordable services with easy billing capabilities.

By taking part in conference calling, an organization has the ability to communicate with colleagues spread across the country or the world, as well as do business with other organizations in a timely fashion. When you need to use your conference calling technology, you want reliable service with clear reception and the capacity to accommodate several participants at the same time. Not all conference call services providers can do this. That is why it is important to do your homework, and find a highly regarded conference call services provider that can offer you the service, the calling capabilities, and the reasonable costs that your organization needs to efficiently operate your business.

Conference call

A conference call is a telephone call in which the calling party wishes to have more than one called party listen in to the audio portion of the call. The conference calls may be designed to allow the called party to participate during the call, or the call may be set up so that the called party merely listens into the call and cannot speak. It is often referred to as an ATC (Audio Tele-Conference).

Conference calls can be designed so that the calling party calls the other participants and adds them to the call. In most cases, the participants are able call into the conference call themselves, by dialing into a special telephone number that connects to a "conference bridge" (a specialized type of equipment that links telephone lines).

Usually, most companies use a specialized service provider who maintains the conference bridge, or who provides the phone numbers and PIN codes that participants dial to access the meeting or conference call.

Three-way calling is available (usually at an extra charge) for most customers on their home or office phone line. To three way call, the first person one wishes to talk to is dialed. Then the Hook flash button is pressed and the other person's phone number is dialed. While it is ringing, flash is pressed again. This will put the three people together. This option allows callers to add a second outgoing call to an already connected call.