[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.
