Archive for category Guides & Useful Info

[image courtesy of Jom Manilat]

Last week we gave you a useful little guide (well, we hope you found it useful) about which features you should have on your conference call phone to get the most out of Powwownow. We thought we’d follow it up with something similar: a guide to how to keep your conference calls secure.

First of all, I should point out that, on the whole, having a conference call is nothing to worry about and ‘tapping’ into conference calls is a very difficult process. Nevertheless, if it’s something you are worried about, there are a few simple security measures that will help bolster the security of your calls.

Follow the steps below for complete peace of mind on your next conference call.

• As you are probably aware, with Powwownow you are given a PIN to begin a call. This has obvious security benefits because it means only those who know the PIN will be able to access the call. This is of course only beneficial if the PIN remains confidential information – so don’t write it down where it could fall into the wrong hands if you’re worried about the sensitivity of a call.
• Most conference call providers – Powwownow included – will have a ‘lock’ feature that will enable you to lock the call once all participants are on the call.
• A simple roll call will aid the security of a conference call. Knowing who is definitely on the call allows you to make sure there are no unwanted gatecrashers!
• Another feature that will improve conference call security is the ability to end the call when the moderator exits. This means that once the moderator leaves the call the system will hang up the call for the remaining participants.

[photo courtesy of revlimit]

Well, not really. Some conference call phones can make having something as simple and enjoyable as having a Powwownow seem frustrating. So here are a few tips to make sure you get a conference call phone that suits a Powwownow – and, more importantly, suits you!

• First of all, don’t just go out and buy the cheapest conference phone you can find. Try to find a phone with everything needed to meet your conference calling needs. Although you can get a number of budget conference call phones, it’s always best to pay for what you need. If you buy a phone without some of the features you need, you’ll only regret it. You’re better off in the long term to spend the money on a phone that meets all your requirements. Spend some time searching the web to find the right phone for you.
• A conference phone is so much more than a phone with a speakerphone on it. You will find that speakerphones don’t offer anywhere near the same clarity that you get from a conference phone. For example, if there is going to be more than two people taking part in your conference calls you will want to make sure that the phone you choose provides 360-degree coverage to make sure everyone can be heard. Another important detail that you are likely to want is an echo/noise suppression feature to ensure background noise or feedback is kept to a minimum.  Wireless is another option that is likely to be important for you to ensure maximum flexibility and range, although most decent conference phones will have the wireless feature.
• You should consider the range of the conference phone. Many of the top-end models will have coverage of anything up to 20ft or more. If you need more coverage than your phone offers you can look into a number of other options, such as extension microphones or two phones with the ability to sync together to increase coverage. If you want to have a natural two-way conversation where you don’t have to wait for the other person to stop talking completely before you can chip in then make sure the conference phone you choose has full duplex technology. Most conference phones should have this feature.

[image courtesy of Mark Skalny]

We’ve all been there: waiting on hold while the most annoying, seemingly endless piece of on-hold music loops over and over again, almost mockingly.

Which is why we’re a bit excited about the latest feature of Powwownow conference calls. When you next have a Powwownow, you’ll be able to choose the music you and your conference call buddies hear while on hold during your call.

You’ll have fun choosing your music, but finding the right signature sound for your company might take some thought. To demonstrate what I’m talking about, here are a few music choices that certain well-known brands should stay well away from:

easyJet – Fall Out Boy “Sugar, We’re Going Down”

Job Centre Plus – The Offspring “Why Don’t You Get A Job?”

Dreams – Faithless “Insomnia”

Co-operative Funeral Care – Bee Gees “Staying Alive”

Lynx – C&C Music Factory “Going To Make You Sweat”

Natwest bank – Adventures of Stevie V “Money Talks”

Can you think of any more?

Oh, and by the way, to choose your music, just log in to mypowwownow and select the Preferences tab, then make your choice from the ‘Music on hold’ drop-down menu.