A Consumer Guide to Conferencing Technology

Best with: Known parties or clear agendas

• Anyone can use it
• Doesn’t require any infrastructure investment

• Can support only a limited number of callers
• Call clarity can vary

• Negotiated with phone company

• Allows for integration of voice and data
• Lots of features not available over traditional phone lines

• High bandwidth costs
• Quality of service varies

• Requires a large infrastructure investment

Best with: Known parties, shared documents

• No need to install/manage
• Cost-efficient for companies with fewer than 2,000 users

• Security issues
• May require firewall adjustments

• Approximately 45 cents/min. per user, although companies can negotiate better rates

• Ability to control and monitor usage
• Cost-effective for companies with more than 2,000 users

• Increased demands on network
• Requires multiple servers for secure internal and external use

• Software starts at $1,500, not including server and upkeep costs

Best with: Unknown parties

• Proven to work 87% of the time
• Tools are getting easier to use

• Fails 13% of the time
• Multiparty calls need outside facilitation

• $5,000-$10,000 per location in hardware
• Line costs of $30 to $4,000 per hour for multiparty calls

• More cost-efficient than ISDN if you have the network in place
• Allows for convergence with data
• Great image clarity

• High bandwidth requirements
• Quality of service varies

• $5,000-$10,000 per location for hardware
• Requires a large infrastructure investment