Difference Between Direct Dial and 800 Calls

Written by lifang May 04, 2008 16:39

All conference calls have 2 components that can be paid for separately or together:

1 - The cost for the use of the bridge.
2 - The cost for the long distance phone call to the bridge.

The host of the call can choose to pay for both parts or for only the use of the bridge.

Direct Dial Calls:   The host chooses to pay for only the bridge use. That reduces his/her cost because all participants are dialing a regular area code and are paying for their own long distance call to the bridge. The host pays for the bridge use portion and the participants will see the long distance portion on their own, regular phone bill. At CONTACT, the bridging equipment is in the 706, 720, 770 and 641 area codes.

800 Calls:  The host chooses to pay for both the bridge and the participant's long distance call to the bridge. This call is more expensive because Domestic participants will dial an 800 number at no expense to themselves. The cost for their lines into the bridge, as well as the cost for the use of the bridge is borne entirely by the host.

Because 800 numbers do not work overseas, in the case of both domestic and international callers on the same conference call, Direct Dial and 800 lines can be mixed. The bridge places each participant into the same conference by pass code.