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Be an Avenger – Choose the right Conference Call Provider

The massive, multi-film team-up Avengers: Infinity War is here. The film deftly incorporates dozens of characters across various storylines. Several superheroes have been roped in to counter the unprecedented threat on multiple fonts — bringing the central conflict to Black Panther’s Wakanda.

Now, imagine a scenario where Tony Stark has to alert your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man about Thanos’ Henchmen, or even better, call every Marvel comic hero to the war. All this requires a potent conference call framework. The network has to connect everyone at lightning fast speed, eradicating any margin for error at ground zero. So, how does he choose the ideal conference call service?

Here are certain essential features to keep in mind while choosing the right audio conferencing solution:

Ease of Use

Every Superhero in the movie has special powers. But (s)he might not be comfortable using the call conferencing technology you bring onboard. A simple, effective, easy-to-use interface will go a long way towards boosting call participation. It should easily connect all your superheroes through their smartphones and mobile devices. Because heroes are always on the move, right?

Call Quality

You simply can’t rely on a solution which experiences frequent call drops. The poor connection will hinder quality communication and restrict our superheroes from connecting with each other during the epic war. The best option is to subscribe for a free trial from the vendor and experience the conference call service before getting the paid versions, although we aren’t sure whether Thanos will give you the time to opt for a trial, free or otherwise.

On-call Security

If the alien invasion isn’t enough, we do not want cyberattacks to access sensitive information and siphon it off to Thanos and his cronies. It is advisable to have a system that offers complete call visibility and is immune to external disturbances. Suffice to say, it should keep superhero data “safe”, even if being safe isn’t part of their job description.

Call Reach & Flexibility

App-based audio conferencing capabilities often require a strong internet which depends on user locations and signal strength. What your superheroes need is a service which uses mobile networks and regular phone lines, reduces the chances of call drops and enhances the reach effectively. And, judging by their aggressive recruitment policy, we can be certain the Avengers will need a solution that can be scaled up easily.

grptalk – The Superhero Provider for an enhanced conference calling experience!

grptalk is an audio conferencing solution which is applicable to every situation today. It is a cloud-hosted app which eradicates the use of external hardware. grptalk leverages the dial-out feature that improves on-call security. With grptalk, the possibilities are endless. It offers simple call recording, private room discussion facilities, as well as full visibility and control over conference calls. Switch to this

Whether you’re an Avenger who’s fighting Thanos, or a business that’s trying to get to the next level, choose grptalk – the superhero conference call app that has helped the Avengers save the earth (spoiler alert).

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What is Good Audio Conference Call Etiquette?

Former US President Barack Obama might not be in charge today. But, we still remember his style and grace during his presidential tenure. And Anna Post, the great-granddaughter of the queen of etiquette, Emily Post, agrees. She draws parallels on the good qualities of “Mr.Manners” and asks us to learn from Obama on civility, decorum, grace, and dignity.

Just like holding the highest post in the White House, business leaders must inculcate some basic courtesy while managing their teams and maintain a code of conduct. But, conference calls often become one place, where behavioral protocols are neglected, much to the detriment of the entire activity. While it’s true that you might not virtually see the members, but you must keep specific guidelines in mind during audio conferences.

Infusing the appropriate conference calling etiquette is vital, often helping conference participants get the best out of conference calls. And to underscore the point we mentioned above, here are a few tips on good audio conferencing etiquette by grptalk.

Always Introduce Yourself:

As a common practice, you should introduce yourself before speaking, as every participant may not recognize your voice or know who you are.

Ensure You Listen To All Call Participants:

Allowing other participants the time to share their opinion makes it easier for participants to converse, understand each other and identify the agenda of the conference call.

Avoid Joining Your Conferences Late:

Being punctual shows that you value every call participant’s time. Joining calls late exhibits that you do not value every participant, and is deemed highly unprofessional.

Create an Agenda For Every Conference Call:

Remaining consistent with your conference call timeline and agenda, and respecting the time of fellow call participants is always a great practice.

Avoid Background Noise:

Ensure all your call participants have their devices on silent mode while conferencing to avoid background noise. Avoid starting conversations with others in the room during a live audio conference call, and forgetting to mute your phone.

Confirm All Participants Have Hung Up:

Sometimes members may continue their conversation with other participants, while still being connected to the conference, where other members can overhear your conversation. It’s always a good practice to bring the call to a natural end.

I hope this post helped you develop a sense of audio conferencing decorum. The choice to implement it still remains yours – you can either be the obnoxious old timer who forgoes the basic tenets of common courtesy, or you can be the enterprising executive who values proper conference calling etiquette.

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10 Unwanted Things People Do On Audio Conference Calls

While waiting for every participant to join a conference call on time can be frustrating, getting participants to pay attention to the audio conference can is often the bigger challenge.

According to a study by InterCall, conference participants do all sorts of random stuff while they are on a call, things that they shouldn’t be doing, and things that they wouldn’t want to admit to!

On that note, here we look at 10 unwanted things people do while they are on a call conference.

1.   Doing other work

While multitasking is an in-demand skill in today’s world, getting distracted by other work on a conference call can lead to embarrassing questions, and frustrate the host and your fellow participants. Nearly 2/3rd of all people perform other tasks while they attend a conference call.

2.   Sending Emails

Sometimes, you need to send an email to the conference host or another participant. But, you know that’s not usually the case. And, if you can’t type without looking at the keyboard, you might want to wait until the end of the call.

3.   Eating or Making Food

One out of every two people either cook or eat food while they are on an audio conference. While it’s entirely understandable, given the fast life we live, but it’s very disrespectful towards the host and your fellow participants.

4.   Going to the Restroom

This is probably the nastiest thing a conference participant can do. 47% people admitted to using the restroom while on a conference call. Here’s hoping all these people didn’t forget to mute the call.

5.   Texting

This is pretty normal, right? In today’s world, many of us have found ways to send texts during meetings covertly. While you’re probably being extra sneaky about sending texts, it remains incredibly disrespectful to the host and fellow participants.

6.   Check Social Media

Social media is everywhere. There aren’t many of us who don’t have an account on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Did you know that 4 out of 10 audio conference participants admitted to checking social media while on a call?

7.    Sleeping

Did you know that around 3 out of 10 people sleep while on a conference call? This is easily the second most disrespectful thing to do; the no.1 spot is reserved for the next entry. Imagine trying to complete an important presentation, and your editor is sleeping on the call.

8.   Playing Video Games

This is easily the worst thing to do while you’re on a conference call. And, 1 out of every 4 people admits to playing games during an audio conference. Imagine trying to get someone to pay attention to what you’re saying while they play “Angry Birds” or set off on a “Temple Run.”

9.   Shop Online

Shopping online is a trend that that has permeated every facet of our society today. And, it affects the way we work too with 21% conference call participants having admitted to shopping online during an audio conference.

10. Take Other Calls

Rounding off our list, we would like to give a huge shout out to all those people who can handle two calls at once. While they may not be able to tell you what was the agenda of either call, 6% participants usually take other calls while they’re on a conference.

So, there you have it. 10 things people do on a conference call. Tell us what you do during conference calls. Leave a comment below.

If you’re looking for a smarter conference calling experience, try grptalk today.

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5 Things You Should Never Say on a Audio Conference Call

Over the years, advances in technology have transformed humans into more superior and smarter beings. There is an abundance of solutions that allow us to send and receive text messages, voice calls, and documents, ensuring effective channels of idea exchange, both professionally and personally.

One such solution is call conferencing. While audio conferencing systems have evolved and become more sophisticated, directly leading to better communication, sadly audio conferencing etiquette has remained somewhat wanting, and almost in a state of willful ignorance, with participants often overlooking basic courtesy. On that note, here are 5 annoying things people say on conference calls.

“Sorry, I’m late!”

You have meticulously made all the necessary arrangements to invite, plan, and schedule the conference call. Everything seems okay after receiving the respective RSVPs; you’re all set to go, right? Not exactly. Someone will inevitably dial in 10 mins late, disrupting the meeting and forcing you to start all over again.

“What’s the agenda for this conference call?”

Asking the wrong questions is awkward and might get you into trouble. The point is not to make the host feel incompetent. Do your due diligence and revert to your calendar invite to learn about the conference agenda. Sometimes people fail to comprehend the purpose of the meet, which is normal. However, if you have any questions, just ask the host before the call, so that it doesn’t seem unprofessional.

“Who just joined?”

It’s 2018. The age of artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, and flying drones. So, why should you fly blindly? All you have to do is use a mobile app, desktop, or a laptop to get the instant talker notification.

“Can you repeat yourself?”

In a business setting, you have to choose your words wisely. If you ask a generic question, it will mean two things — (1) you aren’t listening, and (2) it might seem that the explanation isn’t clear. Both scenarios are unacceptable. To avoid these situations, you can be more specific about your queries.

“I can’t hear you because of the background noise”

Often, participants take calls from outside the office space. Background noise can hinder the flow of the conference, and detract from the agenda of the call. Moreover, background noise has also been known to impact participant health negatively.

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How Does Poor Audio Quality Affect Conference Call Participants

Conference calling, Call Conferencing, Teleconferencing, or Audio Conferencing – whatever you want to term it, it is everywhere. Statista’s study on the ‘Global market forecast of audio conferencing,’ determined that in 2015 alone, IT service companies earned revenue of 4,300 million U.S. dollars with audio conferencing services worldwide.

In fact, the prevalence of conference calling is so high across every industry that almost anyone who has ever gone to the office has come across or participated in a conference call at least once.

With the increasing importance of conferencing, audio quality often becomes the only yardstick while judging the efficiency of a teleconference. Thus, the onus is on conferencing providers to guarantee excellent audio quality.

While we know background noise, echoes, and voice delays on an audio conference can leave most participants exasperated and angry, but did you know that poor audio quality could have long-term effects on conference call participants, often affecting their health and wellbeing?

As incredible as it may sound, here are three ways poor audio quality affects not only your conference calls but also your health:

How Does Poor Audio Quality Affect Conference Call Participants?

1) Background Noise Leads to More Stress

The folks at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health all agree that background noise on a conference call can lead to increased stress levels. The increased stress directly contributes to low immune response, chronic muscle tension, and increased blood pressure – problems that can eventually lead to life-threatening illnesses like hypertension, kidney disease, and even coronary disease.

2) Impaired Cognitive Function

According to a 2012 study titled how does hearing loss affect the brain, “There is ample evidence linking hearing loss to changes in cognitive ability, particularly when listeners are faced with the task of understanding speech that is acoustically or linguistically challenging.”

The process of struggling to comprehend your fellow conference participant’s speech requires additional work for your brain, especially when the quality of the audio is quite poor. So the areas of the brain used for forming memories, and problem-solving are devoted to trying to understand the speech, which negatively affects your cognitive function, work, and performance.

3) Poor Audio Quality Causes Brain Fatigue

A ScienceDaily study concluded, “prolonged exposure to loud noise alters how the brain processes speech, potentially increasing the difficulty in distinguishing speech sounds.”

Unlike your smartphone, your brain isn’t as good at multitasking, despite what you may want to believe. Usually, the brain reacts to the loudest sound. Unfortunately, echoes, background noise, static, or voice delays can often become the loudest sounds on a conference call, which can lead to brain fatigue as your brain has to work extra hard to process what others are saying.

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Top 5 Benefits of Audio Conferencing with grptalk

According to the folks at The Harvard Business Review, “if you’ve ever been in an organization where communication was not an issue, then you’re the exception rather than the rule”. Most business owners would tend to agree with this statement.

With the rising importance of optimizing current communication processes, audio conferencing becomes essential, and often forms the true backbone of a business, defining its success. But, identifying the right conferencing tool to use can also make a huge difference, and strategically place you ahead of your competition.

To help you make your selection easy, we’ve gone ahead and listed some incredible benefits of audio conferencing with grptalk:

Audio conferencing or conference calling lets multiple (3–20) people instantly connect over a single call, and communicate real-time with fellow stakeholders and employees based out of different locations. It is a brilliant tool for encouraging clear and timely communication within an organization.

Audio conferencing has many obvious benefits, but the advantages & disadvantages depend on the service provider. Here is a list of some of the incredible benefits of grptalk, SMSCountry’s latest dial-out conferencing app:

1. Dial-Out Saves Time:

Time is basically money in today’s world, what you do with your time is crucial to what your business can achieve. Sharing bridge line numbers and personalized PINs for conference participants and hoping everyone joins on time can be tiring. But, grptalk solves the problem by reversing the process and dialing out to participants. So now all conferences start on time, and the host has more control over who joins calls. The grptalk app lets you initiate or schedule conferences in real-time so that you can get the best out of your weekly meetings.

2. It’s An App:

Expensive hardware is one of the main reasons most organizations feel conferencing is inefficient and cumbersome. However, grptalk is an app that you can install on your mobile device, and start conferencing instantly. Now, businesses can forget about equipment delivery or budgetary restrictions. All you have to do is visit the Play Store or App Store, download grptalk and start conferencing. (links to both play store and app store).

3. Participants Don’t Need Internet:

Unlike other conferencing solutions, grptalk participants don’t need to connect to the internet or download the grptalk app to receive calls. Hosts just need to select contacts, create groups and schedule or initiate calls. Call participants don’t require internet to join any conference, all you need is your phone and you are ready to go.

4. Easy Call Management:

Most conferencing solutions have hosts second guessing who joined the call and who didn’t, which makes call management a corporate nightmare. Not anymore though. With grptalk’s user interface, hosts know who joined the call, and at what time. What’s more, the app extends onto a web interface so you can manage every aspect of your call easily, even with 3-500+ members on one call or on grptalk web.

5. Flexible Customized Plans:

Flexible conferencing plans provide many the option to pay as you go, depending on the number of minutes consumed during conference calls. Hosts can select a suitable plan for their business. In comparison to other conferencing solutions, grptalk provides cost-effective and smart pricing options to its users, meaning no contract signups or unexpected charges.

Using an efficient conferencing tool can help you tap your business’ full potential, boost customer reach and most importantly increase sales. Conferencing tools have significantly evolved over the years, and grptalk lets users communicate freely without going the extra mile, giving users the time to focus on the finer details. So, why wait? Use grptalk and simplify how you audio conference today.

Watch our video and to learn more about the grptalk experience.