Free Conference Calling, Pt. 2

I always take things with more than a grain of salt (even though I keep an eye on my blood pressure) when it comes to the singing of tech praises. So when I first heard about a free conference calling service I was just a wee bit skeptical. Although I'd never experienced the service myself, I kept hearing good things about the company. The former changed this week, as I participated in one of those glorious (free!) calls ...

An old acquaintance of mine set up a three-way call to introduce me to his company's new web marketing technology. (Hey, I'll admit to being a sucker when it comes to hearing about new web marketing technology.) When the invitation arrived in my email box, it provided the option to confirm the meeting via the web or email.

I decided to RSVP via the web, so I could check out the conference technology provider's site. Needless to say, I was plesantly surprised to find out that the call would take place courtesy of the provider I had previously written about.

I dialed into the number at the prescribed time (not a toll-free number, mind you ... not that it mattered, since all of my long-distance VOIP calls are free), plugged in my access code, and waited on hold (with music!) until the other parties logged into the call.

The service worked flawlessly from my end.

The sound quality--with one party in New York City, the other party in Toronto, and myself here in the flooded swamps of Jersey in the midst of a heavy rain (on a VOIP line, no less)--was excellent.

While I'm still not a full-fledged believer, much of my skepticism has evaporated ... maybe this free conference calling stuff really isn't a bunch of hoohah!

I'll write more about the new-fangled web marketing technology once I've had the chance to run it through its paces.