8/29/2006 3:10:24 PM
FreeNet Audio Conferencing On Demand
By Freenet Staff writer. Many instances in business events require On Demand services. Specifically, it is true when we need to communicate. The most universal method of getting your message heard to a group is through audio conferencing. On demand FreeNet conferencing redefines today’s communications and has buoyant growth as traffic volume for it increases every day. On demand FreeNet teleconferencing offers reliability, free calling, and simplicity. On-demand services are there whenever you need them. They don’t require reservations, and they can be set up within minutes. The leader pass code enables the moderator to enter into the conference and the participant pass code allows outside parties to join. In order to maintain security, participants will be put on hold until the moderator has signed on. FreeNet On demand, real-time teleconferencing services are available 24/7/365, so if a spur of the moment conference call needs to take place, you can quickly set it up. The most effective on-demand teleconferencing services allow you to talk to whom you want for as long as you want. This means that 100 people in different international locations can have a CallConference for as long as they feel necessary, or at least until the moderator is ready to bring the meeting to an end. In today’s competitive business environments, organizations around the world are looking for new and innovative ways to get the most out of their meetings. These organizations have turned to on demand CallConference services because it is a powerful office automation productivity tool that is easy-to-use and inexpensive. Audio is critical to electronic meetings. Over 70% of the information in a videoconference meeting is contained in the audio---if the video goes off, the meeting can proceed with just audio, but if audio is lost, the meeting is over! The audio conferencing industry is in fact on the trajectory to more economic contributions as global productivity evolves and matures. Teleconferencing is for example, now turning the corner from a technology-based-- to an applications-driven—industry in which productivity can be gained through the wise use of On Demand FreeConference.

8/29/2006 3:08:25 PM
Let FreeNet Conferencing Do Travel
By Freenet Staff writer. A growing number of US companies are adopting new technologies to achieve an effective presence abroad without extensive relocation and travel. The economic fluctuations, rising political tensions worldwide and the ongoing threat of terrorism have forced companies to rethink their approach to stationing employees abroad and sending executives to the far reaches of the globe for business meetings. Economics and Risk Managements are two major drivers for use of FreeNet audio conferencing, the widely use method of conferencing. Although few companies have canceled all international assignments or travel, many have minimized their expatriate populations, placed temporary holds on relocations, reduced international business trips or modified their risk management policies. For years, the use of CallConference teleconferencing as a replacement for travel has been steadily increasing, largely for economic reasons. FreeConference Teleconferencing is an especially useful and effective tool during periods of evaluation and assessment, while companies are determining when normal routines can be resumed. A typical in-person meeting, with two people flying to Asia to meet with two colleagues for a joint work session, might cost upward of $5,000. A Web and audio conference for the same four people for four hours would price out at about 50 cents per minute per user, or $480. The audio conferencing industry will be on the path to even long term benefits as FreeNet conferencing technology evolves and matures. The technology's potential is unlimited as the numbers of ways people meet and communicate. It's giving us a new view on the world and we are delighted to be a part of it. The combination of severe economic pressure and increased security concerns has accelerated companies' interest in new technologies for maintaining global communication with fewer face-to-face encounters.

8/4/2006 5:47:34 PM
Trading Airport Lines for Phone Lines
By Freenet Staff writer As any company accountant can readily deduce, traveling to Europe or Asia to meet with colleagues for a joint work session can run into the hundreds of dollars. The cost of flying within the United States is rising sharply as well, especially during peak times of the year. Pencil in the cost of car rentals, meals, lodging, and lost productivity due to cumbersome airport delays, and the expense side of the ledger becomes weighty indeed. Economic belt-tightening and increased safety concerns due to rising political tensions worldwide and the ongoing threat of terrorism have forced many companies with multinational locations to rethink sending executives abroad. However, they have found a prudent solution by using audio conferencing in lieu of in-person business meetings. Trading airport lines for phone lines. The use of this communications tool as a replacement for travel has been rapidly increasing in recent years and at a mere fraction of the cost. According to a recent Frost & Sullivan tracking report, the audio conferencing market generated 14.5 billion minutes in 2003; total traffic volume expects to surpass 35 billion minutes by 2010. The technology's potential is unlimited as the numbers of ways people and businesses connect and communicate. Generally, most conferencing providers charge a monthly fee for providing the bridge that links all the calls together; but with Freenet, accountants can erase even this expense from the books because there is no charge for basic services*. Freenet provides up to 100 lines for as long as three continual hours. And there is no need to go through a reservations department—simply sign in, fill out and submit the short form, and the company will send the login PIN number by e-mail—secure, efficient, and certainly cost effective! Although some business circumstances may necessitate face-to-face meetings requiring an outlay of time and travel expenses, many others can be conducted free by using Freenet as your Free Conference service provider. It’s a line worth having. *Their long-distance carrier will bill participants for minutes used

8/4/2006 5:28:02 PM
Keeping in Touch for Free with FreeConference Call
By Freenet Staff writer Whether you want to chat with many family members at once, plan personal functions with a group of friends from different locations, or reminisce about the “good old days” with far-flung former classmates, Freenet can make it easy and inexpensive. More practical than making several one-on-one phone calls, more personable than instant messaging, Freenet can link the entire group together for up to three hours at a time—with a single phone call—and billed by your local carrier for only the long-distance charge. Best of all, you can schedule the call yourself, 24/7, with no need to first contact the service provider’s operators or reservations department. Simply click on the “Signup Today” link and fill out and submit the short form. Freenet will send you a secure PIN number that up to 100 participants can access, each automatically notified by e-mail invitation if requested. Your privacy is assured, there are no hidden charges for basic services, and no account is required. Freenet provides the latest digital technology for crystal clear reception; you supply the phone and the sparkling conversation. There is no special equipment to buy, no installation necessary, and no setup hassles to deal with. Automated, do-it-yourself reservation is the latest innovation in audio conferencing. Give them a try. With gas prices at an all time high, airline travel becoming more expensive and wearisome, and the limited amount of time available to meet friends and family in person, Freenet offers a viable solution. While not replacing that face-to-face reunion, they can keep you in touch by telephone by being linked together in one call, inexpensively and at any time

8/4/2006 5:25:45 PM
How to Conduct an Effective Conferencing Meeting
By Freenet staff writer You signed up with Freenet for your first long-distance business meeting, received the secure PIN number via e-mail, and self-scheduled a two-hour long conference call with a hundred associates for 7:00 pm. By 9:00, you were stressed out, had ringing ears from too much meaningless babble and distracting background noises, and felt that that meeting was highly unproductive and disorganized. The time and money you thought you were saving from getting together in person was not really saved at all. What went wrong? Long-distance meetings conducted by phone require the same, if not more, amount of preparation and protocol as face-to-face ones do—and there are ways to ensure that your next telecom meeting proceeds more smoothly than did the first. Here are a few tips to consider for effective conferencing. First of all, keep in mind that participants will be communicating by voice only, therefore visual cues and physicality will be non-existent. You will not be able to read body language or see gestures. Notes, sales charts, spreadsheets, or other graphics—if they must be incorporated into the meting—should be sent to everybody ahead of time, so time won’t be lost in explaining the information contained in them. A day or two before the conference begins, make sure everyone has the login PIN number, and remind them of the start time—relative to their time zone! And remember that it is more than a phone call—it is a meeting, so plan accordingly with tasks, goals, and expectations clearly stated. Set an agenda and a time limit for each topic to be covered, rehearse what you are going to say, and keep the event simple and short. (Ideally, the meeting should not run longer than an hour because people tend to get bored, tired, or lose their focus while on the phone any longer than that). If you are planning future teleconferences, try to set a consistent schedule as you would face-to-face meetings, so that everyone will get into the habit of remembering them and being there on time. As the meeting begins, all participants should connect a few minutes early—entering late is particularly disruptive in teleconferences. Remind all participants that touch-tone phones work best—avoid using cell phones or phones that pick up background noise. Have them call from a quiet location; if that isn’t possible, remind them to use the mute button until they are required to speak. (Muting the phone while listening to the moderator’s speech, presentation, or training session will cancel out noises like barking dogs, rustling paper, pencil-tapping or other distracting background sounds). Have a roll call with each caller saying hello and introduce themselves, because even though you may never meet in person, it’s a good icebreaker and team spirit builder. During the meeting, it is best to keep small talk to a minimum, and thus keeping it on track. Staying on schedule can be more easily accomplished if you hold off suggestions, comments, questions & answers sessions, and/or discussions towards the end. You might want to conclude the meeting by summarizing some of the main topics covered. Be sure to end early or on time, thank everyone for attending, and remind him or her of the next meeting time. If notes have been transcribed or the call has been recorded, make sure everyone gets a copy or has access to playback; this way, participants can review what was discussed or get clarification if a portion was unclear or missed. You can indeed save time and money by using FreeConference for your next teleconference. By taking these tips into consideration, you can save aggravation and confusion as well.