Anyone with an internet connection can join international conference calls and pay very little, if anything.

If you work for a company that does a lot of international business, you may have to make international conference calls as a regular part of your job. These conference calls work just like the ones made within the United States, but you have a number of participants dialing in from other parts of the world. However, while the process is similar, there are a few differences you have to keep in mind to prevent your international conference from turning into a nightmare. One of these major concerns is cost.


Years ago, calling long distance in the United States was fairly expensive, especially if you talked for more than a few minutes. Cell phones have removed that cost, but international calls are still considerably expensive. Even using your cell phone to call internationally is cost-prohibitive. For conference calls, which can last an hour or more and may involve people from several different countries, the costs would be astronomical. If all of your international business partners called you, they would each be billed for making an international call. If you phoned out to each of them, you would be billed for each separate international call you made. When the international conference call is between branches of the same company, the company absorbs the cost either way. When it’s between your company and several others, if you called the meeting, you may be expected to telephone out each time and absorb the cost. This expense can add up very quickly. That’s why it’s important to look at options for cheaper calls.

Conference Call Providers

There are a number of conference call services that offer low rates for calls. They usually charge a monthly fee to their clients, but that fee is much less than you would pay for making the calls yourself, especially if your business is making these international conference calls on a regular basis. Some of these conference call providers give all participants a toll-free number. They dial the number, enter a special password, and then can hear and speak to others. Others may give each participant a local number that, when called, connects to the other participants via the internet.

Conference Calls Online

While some conference call providers use the internet to connect people, it’s possible to simply use an online conference call site or other type of software to make cheap or even free conference calls. For example, you can create voice or even video conferences using programs like Yahoo! Messenger or Skype for free. You can also make free conference calls with Uberconference, a website that not only creates a conference call but also lets you see all participants’ online profiles, adjust audio levels, and even record the call for downloading later. The basic service on Uberconference is completely free, while those who want more features or want to create an account for their business can pay a small monthly fee for these extras.

Calling online also removes the extra expense of buying speaker phones, microphones, and whatever other equipment your office might need for a more traditional conference call. Many laptops come equipped with a microphone and webcam now, and if they don’t (or you need equipment for a desktop), the equipment is very affordable.

Other Issues to Consider

In addition to the cost issue of international conference calls, there are a few other things you should take into consideration. Remember to check the time difference between all participants. You may have to make special arrangements for those who might usually be asleep during most of your standard business hours. Also remember to ask if anyone on the call will need translation services. Even if someone speaks fairly fluent English (or whatever language the conference attendees will use), he or she may have some difficulty with your industry’s specialized jargon. If your call requires a password or PIN to join, also make certain all of your participants have it before the meeting.

The Future of Conference Calling

While conference calling services are still going strong, more and more businesses are turning to online services and making their international conference calls over the internet. The ease of use of services like Uberconference makes it simply too convenient and affordable. Many of these programs are offered in multiple languages and for multiple computer operating systems, as well, so there are very few barriers to using them.

Save Where You Can

The bottom line is that international conference calls were once incredibly expensive for companies, especially if they had to be made on a regular basis. Email has replaced some of the need for this, but now conference calls are making a comeback thanks to the many affordable online options.

Author Bio
Peter is a business analyst who loves to share entrepreneurship and marketing secrets with the world. Overcoming Business challenges is his passion and he aspires to reach at the highest rung of this field.