Audio teleconferencing is the most commonly used among the different forms of teleconferencing. Also known as voice conferencing, Audio teleconferencing is defined as an audio communications session between two or more people who are at different locations. In this case, communication between the participants is established by conventional telephone technology. With the help of audio teleconferencing services, one can communicate over the Internet through e-mail, and phone. In online audio teleconferencing, individual users can meet electronically. In this case, each participant is equipped with microphones, earphones, and Web cams to communicate with others.
Compared to other types of teleconferencing, Audio teleconferencing is simple to meet any conferencing needs. This two-way voice communication is widely used in fields of education, business, and commerce, thereby allowing participants to communicate when they are geographically separated.
Using audio teleconferencing, one can hold meetings or conferences such as sales meetings, staff meetings, and marketing meetings for business purposes. Audio teleconferencing is also ideal for investor relations, new product launches, press conferences, project management, strategic planning, legal issues, and more.
In order to implement audio teleconferencing, the prime requirements are a speakerphone and a telephone bridge. Usually, audio teleconferencing services are offered through a supplier, independent of the telephone company.
Audio teleconferencing is less expensive to install, operate, and maintain than other conferencing hardware. Audio teleconferencing can be used with other media including print, video, and computers. Even though it possesses significant advantages, it has some disadvantages too. Its main drawback is that audio problems may occur when connecting a phone to a sound system.
In the field of business and management, the benefits of audio teleconferencing are immense. Audio teleconferencing helps to work with clients no matter where they are. It helps in quick decision-making. Besides these advantages, it also helps to reduce the cost of travel.
Audio teleconferencing is in every way a versatile medium of communication.