A conference call is basically a telephone call conversation between 3 or more different parties. A conference call hosting service is the company that provides the necessary hardware and connections in order to hold a conference call. To do this the conference call hosting provider has a central server called a connection bridge. This connection bridge is able to answer several phone calls at the same time and in some cases is even able to allow for simultaneous conversation. The number of people involved and also the type of software being utilized by the conference call hosting provider largely determine this ability.

Some companies due to a high number of conference calls will sometimes install their own connection bridge. Doing this can significantly reduce conference calling costs. The same software that allows for conference calling is also responsible for a lot of the service options given to callers. Some popular options are call recording and even attendee polling. Much advancement has been made in conference calling and service providers are able to offer greater flexibility and more security. Security is a major concern for companies. In the past conference hosting wasn’t able to offer the type of security that has been made possible through today’s software. The benefits of using a conference call hosting provider is that a company is able to dispense information to a large number of callers at the same time.

Hosting companies in most cases charge a slightly lower fee then others because they leave out things like operator support. Something that should be of a concern for all companies is that of the security options offered by the conference call hosting company. It is important when choosing a conference call system to decide what is important to your company. Ease of use, a whole suite of moderator options and security each garner serious thought before deciding upon a company. Check websites and ask questions. In this way you can make a conference call hosting choice that provides lasting benefits.