Audio Conferencing Dictionary
Conference Call: A conference call is a telephone call in which the calling party wishes to have more than one called party listen in to the audio portion of the call. The conference calls may be designed to allow the called party to participate during the call, or the call may be set up so that the called party merely listens into the call and cannot speak. It is often referred to as an ATC (Audio Tele-Conference).
Conference calls can be designed so that the calling party calls the other participants and adds them to the call. In most cases, the participants are able call into the conference call themselves. They do so either: (1) by dialing into a "conference bridge" (a specialized type of equipment that links telephone lines), or (2) by using a special telephone number set up for that purpose.
Usually, most companies use a specialized service provider who maintains the conference bridge, or who provides the phone numbers and PIN codes that participants dial to access the meeting or conference call.
Types of Audio Conference Calls
Reservationless: enables you to conduct a conference call at anytime without having to make a prior reservation. With your personal reservationless account, you are in complete control of your meetings.
Passcode/Reserved: is an automated service that utilizes a one-time passcode for enhanced security.
Attended: provides operator support for initiating the conference. Your conference operator will "meet and greet" all participants and announce the start of the meeting. Additionally, the operator is available to provide support any time you press "*0" during the conference.
Fully Managed: Gives you continuous support for your most important, high visibility conference events. Experienced operators actively manage the conference and offer support for queuing questioners, polling participants and exchanging information with the conference host.
Glossary of Conferencing Terms
Annotation – enables the presenter to use a marker tool to illustrate key points during a web conference.
Application Sharing – Application sharing is a feature that allows two or more people to view and/or work together on the same application from one remote system. Users can input information and control the application using the keyboard and mouse. The user who initiated the application can lock out other users from altering the document so that the feature becomes more of a live demonstration tool.
Application viewing – enables the presenter to show documents, spreadsheets and applications with the audience
Audio Bridge/Bridge – Equipment that mixes multiple audio inputs and feeds back composite audio to each station after removing the individual station's input. This equipment may also be called a mix-minus audio system.
Bridge - The phone number that is linked to a specific conference call. The bridge is also the piece of equipment at the conferencing company, that links a phone number to the conferencing platform.
Browser – Also called a Web Browser. A program used to access the text, graphic, audio, video and animation elements of the Internet and Intranets. Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer are the most commonly used browsers.
Browser-based application – Application that does not require software to install
Call Lock - This feature allows the host to lock the conference so that no other participants join.
Chat (host or participant initiated) – chat with individuals, send broadcast messages, or designate an individual participant or a group to conduct Q&A sessions
Collaboration – The simultaneous viewing and modification of a shared document or computer application. Also referred to as document conferencing.
Collaborative Learning – Learning through the exchange and sharing of information and opinions among a peer group. Computers excel in mediating collaborative learning for geographically dispersed groups.
Conference Continuation - Conference Continuation allows a conference to continue after the host has disconnected. This is the ConferenceAnytime default setting.
Conference Quickstart - Conference Quickstart allows a host to turn off Music on Hold so participants may start the conference prior to the host joining.
Conference Record - Through a DTMF command, a host may record an audio conference for later playback (via a toll or toll free number). The recording will remain archived for two weeks or until another conference is recorded on that particular subscription
CPE – Customer Premise Equipment. Terminal equipment located on the customer premises which connects to the telephone network.
Distance Learning – Incorporation of audio and web technologies so that students can "attend" classes and training sessions presented at a remote location.
Document Sharing – A web conferencing feature that enables multiple participants to view and edit the same computer document.
DTMF or Dual Tine Multi-Frequency signals – Also called touch-tone dialing. The tones that are heard when you press the buttons on a touch-tone telephone.
E-conferencing – E-conferencing refers to innovative technologies that allow people to communicate or "conference" over the Internet. Audio conferencing, web conferencing, and collaborative conferencing, are all components of e-conferencing.
E-Learning – Broad definition of the field of using technology to deliver learning and training programs. Typically used to describe media such as CD-ROM, Internet, Intranet, wireless and mobile learning.
Email Meeting Summary – choose to receive a summary of the meeting (e.g., duration, participants) via email after the conference has concluded
Entry and Exit Options - A distinctive tone will sound as a participant either enter or exits the conference. The host may also elect to have participants enter the conference by name announcement or silence.
Firewall Conformance – ensures that web services will work through corporate firewalls and proxy servers
Full Screen – enlarge the presentation to the full size of the application window
Hand Raising – enables participants to "raise their hands" in response to a question or to get the attention of the host; this tool can also be used to tally "raised hands"
Host dial-out - A tool which allows a host to dial-out from the conference to bring in an expert, other participants, or initiate a meeting "on the fly". Dialout may be launched using a DTMF command or online tool.
Host Disconnect. When the host exits a conference, all participants are disconnected.
Lecture Mode - The host may choose to mute all participants, placing them in a listen only mode.
Listen-Only Mode – Allows participants to listen, without having the ability to speak to others during an Audio conference. This feature is often used with larger conferences to eliminate background noise. This mode is controlled by the host/moderator.
Log-in - Procedure performed by a user to declare that a specific system or application is going to be used. Log-in information is used by the computer to mark and track information specific to the user.
Moderator - The person facilitating the conference or event. The moderator can be the person leading or hosting the event, however it is usually most productive if the moderator is a person other than the primary speaker.
Multiple Presenters/Control Passing – multiple desktops can be designated as a host / web conference leader
Music on Hold - Music on hold prevents participants from joining a conference prior to the host. This prevents unauthorized use of ConferenceAnytime or a meeting from beginning without the host. Music on Hold is the ConferenceAnytime default setting.
Muting Options - Hosts and participants may choose to mute/unmute their own line using a DTMF command from their phone. Alternatively, the host may selectively mute/unmute lines through True View.
Name Record - Name record allows the host to select between three entrance and exit options: Name Announce, Tones, or Silence. Name record captures each participant’s name before they enter into the conference. This is to be used either during roll call or upon entry or exit.
Operator Assistance - Any participant may request operator assistance during a conference by pressing *0 on the touchtone phone.
Optimized Slide Presentations – uses the computer’s memory to store (or cache) slides to improve performance on slower connections, and automatically displays fixed dimension slides when slow connections are detected
Passcode/PIN# - A number attached to the conference phone number. This number is entered to allow a participant into a call. For reservationaless accounts, this number will not change. For scheduled calls, the passcode and bridge combination will never be used again once the call has ended.
Participant Count. This feature provides the host or participants with the number of sites connected to the call.
Participant Disconnect - A host may disconnect individual participants from the conference.
Pointer – highlights key presentation points on slides or in documents
Registration Page - Typically used for Events, a registration page allows participants to sign up to attend a conference call. Once registered, an attendee will receive a conference bridge and passcode for the call. The registration page may be customized to include a company's logo and color scheme.
Roll Call - This feature allows a host to play a roll call of the participants in the conference. Name record must be enabled to utilize this feature.
Roster with Controls – capture participant information and monitor their presence as they join or leave the meeting
Smart Scrolling – synchronizes the participant’s view of a document with the presenter's view
SSL Encryption – ensures the safety and privacy of information shared during the meeting
Web Conferencing – A term that describes the industry forming around the creation of virtual events. This industry is a convergence of technology developed to provide cost-effective interactive communication channels for individuals and businesses.
Webcast - Webcast A presentation in which a live event is recorded and streamed over the Internet, or archived for viewing at a later time.
Web Surf – host-guided web tours during the course of the web conference
White boarding – A term used to describe the placement of shared documents on an on-screen whiteboard. Desktop videoconferencing software includes "snapshot" tools that enable one to capture entire windows or portions of windows and place them on the whiteboard. A user can also use familiar Windows operations (cut and paste) to put snapshots on the whiteboard. One works with familiar tools to mark up the electronic whiteboard similar to a traditional wall-mounted board. Also see Document Sharing.