| Conference calling has become ubiquitous in business | | | | many different variety of bridges in the marketplace |
| today. Businesses are using more and more | | | | and the technology has been evolving very quickly. |
| conference calling every day and the conference calls | | | | Some of the more common bridges are Avaya, |
| are lasting longer. The usage on conference calls has | | | | Polycom, Compunetix, Forum, Wyde Voice and |
| doubled over the last few years and forecasts call for | | | | ThinkEngine Networks. There are also some older |
| another doubling in the next three years. The use of | | | | used systems in the marketplace that you can |
| conference service providers has also grown rapidly | | | | research, including Spectel, Octave, Latitude and |
| and therefore conferencing expenses have become a | | | | Voyant. |
| major expense item in the typical business budget. As | | | | If your Cap X budget is limited because of the current |
| businesses use more teleconferencing, they should | | | | financial downturn, you should consider leasing a |
| consider the alternative of owning their own | | | | conference bridge. Leasing allows you to procure your |
| conference bridge, which would cut their conferencing | | | | own bridge with very little down and then pay the |
| expenses tremendously. | | | | lease payments out of the expense side of your |
| A conference bridge is a telephone system that allows | | | | ledger. Maintenance can also be included in your lease |
| conferencing to take place. It is connected to | | | | payments so that this will not be an extra expense. |
| telephone lines and also has an administrative | | | | Who will maintain your conference bridge? Typically, |
| software package that allows the operator to | | | | your telephone repair person can maintain your bridge. |
| program accounts or conferences into the system. | | | | Once the bridge is installed, it should work flawlessly |
| Conference service providers use them to provide | | | | and remain up over 99% of the time. If you do have a |
| service to you and when you buy your own | | | | problem, it usually can be remedied with a reboot. With |
| conference bridge, you would in essence become | | | | the new technologies, your bridge can be monitored |
| your own service provider. | | | | remotely over the Internet by a bridge maintenance |
| When should you buy your own conference bridge? A | | | | company. New upgrades in software can also be |
| good estimate is that if you are spending $2500. or | | | | downloaded to the bridge over the Internet. |
| more per month on conferencing services, then you | | | | In conclusion, if you are spending over $2500. per |
| should consider buying a bridge. You should be able to | | | | month in conference services, you should consider |
| save about 50% on your conference expenses when | | | | buying or leasing your own conference bridge. You will |
| you own your own bridge. Note, there are some | | | | cut down your conferencing expenses by 50% and |
| telephone line charges that you will have to pay for, | | | | you will have a proprietary system that is secure and |
| but your per minute costs will drop dramatically. | | | | save. |
| What type of bridge should you purchase? There are | | | | |