Getting something at a low cost is great. Something for free? Even better. However, when it comes to conference call services, that ‘free’ offering may actually come with a hefty price tag you weren’t expecting.
Free conferencing, simply put, means no upfront service fee for users connecting multiple call lines into one meeting. You get the convenience of joining people across long distances, different regions or devices, without having to commit a regular budget or getting tied into a contract.
With so many providers offering free conference call services, the appeal is understandable. But take a closer look. While you may not see an invoice at the end of each month from your conferencing vendor, you’re still paying for the call.
Someone has to pay for the call
For example, in the United Kingdom, free services usually require you to use non-geographic 0844 dial-in numbers. Dialing in from a landline (fixed-line) or mobile to these numbers isn’t cheap – businesses typically pay 5.8 pence per minute to their fixed-line service provider. This means you’ll actually be paying the phone company far more than you’d be paying a conferencing provider!
Costs also shoot up for users who join free conference services from their mobile phones. The combination of dialing in and service charges for dialing an 0844 number, for instance, will come in around 40 pence per minute. Not many companies will want to regularly pass that cost on to their meeting guests.
Good rule to abide by: when something looks too good to be true…well, you know the rest.
If you’re interested in more on the subject, check out our previous posts:
- Conferencing costs: punishing dial-in rates for mobile & international
- Conferencing costs: unused licenses and inflexible renewals
- Conferencing costs: legacy charges and other fees
Or, read our white paper, “Are You Throwing Away Money on Conferencing?”
Also, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for more content around tips and best practices when it comes to choosing a conference call provider.
