Simple Teleconferencing
The simplest form of teleconferencing delivers voice-only communications using telephones connected to a traditional telephone line. Conferences can be initiated in one of two ways: all participants can be required to dial a specified telephone number or a facilitator can dial each participant individually.
Telephones within a single office building are usually connected through a Public Branch Exchange (PBX), which aggregates the building's telephone signals and sends them to a conference bridge. A conference bridge typically is software on a dedicated computer located on the phone company's premises. According to voipbroadcaster.com, it is also possible to house your own conference bridge within your enterprise. The software on the conference bridge connects all the teleconference participants to the same virtual line and sends all telephone signals to all parties, enabling a multi-way call.
The conference bridge can provide additional features to your conference call, including password protection, call recording and special options for a designated facilitator.
Web Conferencing
Teleconferencing on the Internet has added depth to the process with the ability to share video, text and presentations in addition to voice communications. Web conferencing is facilitated by the use of such protocols as XML, ASP, Java and VoIP to transfer digital information from input devices at each participating location between computers over the Internet.
Web-conferencing software gathers information from each user's keyboard, camera and microphone, and displays or transmits the aggregated output to a single source (the user interface) to which each participant connects by navigating to a location on the Internet and entering login credentials. The software allows one participant to act as a facilitator with the ability to control the output on the screen (such as a slideshow presentation), while all other participants have the ability to chat via text and voice during the presentation.
Some web-conferencing software utilizes the traditional teleconferencing method mentioned above for the voice component, while others require participants to use PC microphones. Web-based teleconferencing software can be hosted by a third-party service provider, or it can be purchased and hosted by each participating organization.
The Future
Teleconferencing continues to evolve as communications technologies become more powerful and convenient. Video, voice and text soon may be shared over cellular networks in real time, allowing people around the world to communicate with a group of people from almost anywhere via satellite on their mobile devices.
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