Subject: [vhdl-200x] Summary of Teleconferencing Costs
From: Pat Bryant (pkbryant2@attbi.com)
Date: Tue Feb 25 2003 - 17:43:14 PST
Hello!
J. Bhasker asked me to post the results of some of my research
for Teleconferencing. This was part of an effort in the 1076.6 Working
Group (SIWG). We did not use this information when Cadence
offered us to use there Teleconferencing System.
Anyway, here is the information. If you just want a quick summary
go to Table 1. If you want the full details, you can read as much as
you would like.
Pat
---------------------------------------------------------------
Patrick [Pat] Bryant
503.320.4070
pkbryant2@attbi.com
http:://home.attbi.com/~pkbryant2
Summary of Teleconferencing Costs
Below I have listed out the specifics concerning
Teleconferencing rates per company. I have been
investigating a "standard" Audio Conferencing, and in
general they have the following properties.
> Reservations-less systems.
> No setup fees (except for AT&T)
> "Helpful" Technicians 24/7, except for a
few, but are calls were during their
business hours anyway.
> No Monthly Fees (except for TelSpan, but you
get "free" minutes-lines with that.
If you are not interested in the specifics, below is a simple table
list of companies and their monthly costs, based upon
the following assumptions
> Monthly Meeting time is 240 minutes (4 hours)
> 5 Participants from North America.
> 1 Participant from outside North America.
These assumptions were chosen just to give a relative
comparison between the various companies. Most computations
were determined by the formula
cost = <setup_fee> +
<na_rate>(240 minutes)(5 lines) + -- North America
<i_rate>(240 minutes)(1 line) -- International
The one exception is TelSpan which was based upon the
formula
cost = <monthly_fee> +
<rate>*(line-minutes over the 1000 free)
This formula is only on the current "promotional offering"
that TelSpan has going on. The monthly fee gives 1000 min-lines
fee for the month, and we pay $0.09/(min-line) we go over that.
Enough said, now for the summary:
Begin Table 1:
------------------------------------------
Access Genesys Conferencing: $340.60
AT&T: $937.20
BT Conferencing: $304.80
ConfereneCallService: $828.00
Costco: $231.39
(does not include yearly membership dues)
Encounter Communications: $230.40
Global Crossing: $288.00
Premiere Conferencing: $244.80
Summit Conferencing: $278.40
TelSpan Inc.: $189.60
Verizon: $259.20
XO Communications: $360.00
--------------------------------------------
End Table 1:
The people I talked to are very competitive, and thus
if we come back with a proposal many may reduce their
prices.
For those of you interested in the full details, they
are below. I'm also investigating the possibility of
using WEB based conferencing software. They have not
contacted me yet about prices.
Begin Detail Data:
-----------------------------------------------------------
Access Genesys Conf.: 877.473.6093
The following charges apply to "Dial-In" conferencing.
No Setup, monthly, or minimum usage fees.
$0.24 per minute per line.
USA and Canada have toll-free phone numbers.
The rest have toll numbers, and have to
pay for long distance charges.
Features:
> Reservationless system.
> They own their network.
> Technicians are 24/7.
-----------------
Advanced Telecom Group, Inc.: 503.731.5900
http://www2.callatg.com/index_sub2.html
(Never could get a hold of anyone, so will drop)
----------------
AT&T: 800.232.1234
www.att.com/virtualmeetings/audioconfserv.html
The following charges apply to "Dial-In" conferencing,
thus each individual dials a specified number.
$15 setup fee for each conference
$0.68 per minute per North American Line that Dials in
(Only those that dial in will be charged, so
if you reserve for 5, but 4 dial in, we only
get charged for 4.)
$0.38 per minute per International Line that Dial in, and
these locations have to pay for long distance
charges.
Features:
> Can automatically expand to additional users at
the time of the conference. The prices
structure is the same, thus if we reserve for
5, and another North American location dials
in, then we are charged 6 times $0.68 per minute
per location (plus the setup fees).
> Calls can be recorded and/or transcribed for a fee.
- Recordings are $20/hr
- Transcriptions are $50 per 15 minutes.
> At end of conference call, one can request an
estimate of the bill.
> Translations services are available for a fee.
----------------
Audio Visual Supply Co: 503.239.0020
This group sold equipment only. Remove
-----------------
BT Conferencing: 866.766.2242
The following charges apply to Dial-in Conferencing.
> No cost for Setup.
> $0.22 per minute per line (North American)
Access if via a Toll Free Number.
> $0.17 per minute per line (International).
Also, the international participants have to
pay for long distance charges.
Features:
> No reservation is required. After an account is
setup, then we can use a "passcode" by the
participants.
> Highly recommended to setup account a minimum
of 48 hours before the first meeting.
> Contact person for setting up the account is
"Mark" at 888.286.7970.
-------------------
Commercial Satellite Services: 503.257.0008
This is equipment only: remove.
--------------------
ConferenceCallService: 800.272.5663
www.conferencecallservice.com/audio.shtml
The following are Dial in Charges, but they said
they could go lower.
> No cost for setup.
> $0.59 per minute per line (North America)
with a toll-free dial in number.
> $0.50 per minute per line (International)
but they have to pay for long distance
charges.
Features:
> Reservation-less.
> Operators are available 24/7.
> There will be a designated "Account Manager"
for our account if we have difficulties.
> Contact person is Monitrah Cruss (sp?) at
877.898.0200 x2714
---------------------------------------------
Costco: 877.431.4333
www.accessline.com/accessline/webmaster/Costco2/Costco_new/
The ability to conference call does require that you either
have SmartOffice or SmartNumber, and Smart800. The summary
of this:
> Cost is $0.162 per minute per line for North
American calls (we pay for 800 connection of
6.2 cents per minute per location).
> Cost is $0.10 per minute per line for International
calls, and they have to pick up a long distance
charge.
> Monthly phone service for SmartNumber is $12.99
Features:
> WEB site to create reservation and getting passcodes.
> Warning, we have to maintain a phone account with Costco
for getting conferencing.
-----------------------
Delta A/V Systems Inc: 503.786.3733
Equipment Only: Remove
------------------------
Encounter Communications Corp.: 503.321.3400
The following charges apply to "Dial-In".
> No cost for setup.
> $0.16 per minute per line from any where.
> Toll-Free access lines for most places, expect for
India and surrounding countries.
Features:
> Reservation-less passcode, so access any time.
> Need 48 hours to setup account.
> Operators from 5AM to 6PM Pacific Time, otherwise
they are "on call" from their homes.
> Contact person is Candice L. at phone number above.
> There is a WEB Control Interface for the cost of
$0.21 per minute per line The "host" can
"see" who is connected, mute individual phones,
and so forth.
----------------------------------------
Global Crossing: 800.252.5150
www.globalcrossing.com/xml/services/serv_conferencing.xml
The following apply to Dial-In.
> Cost is $0.20 per minute per line.
> Toll Free for North America, International have to pay
long distance charges.
Features:
> Reservation-less.
> WEB Site to "manage" account.
> Operators are 24/7.
> Global Crossing has their own network in NA.
> Contact person is "Shawn" at phone number above.
----------------------------
MCI Teleconferencing: 800.480.3600
Information is coming via e-mail.
-----------------------------
Premiere Conferencing: 800.234.2546
www.premconf.com/
The following charges apply to Dial-In.
> No cost for setup
> $0.17 per minute per line, from anywhere.
However, toll free in NA, long distance
for India.
Features:
> No monthly costs.
> No reservation needed
> The $0.17 per minute per line is a reduced
rate to be competitive with others.
> Contact person is "Tim" at 913.982.1892.
-------------------------------
Summit Conference Service: 800.906.4290
The following charges apply to Dial-in.
> No cost for setup.
> $0.20 per minute per line for North
American participants with toll-free
number.
> $0.16 per minute per line for International
calls, and they have to pay long distance
charges.
Features:
> Operators are 24/7.
> Reservation-less
> Contact Person is "Clay" at 800.906.4290 x501.
> Meeting can be recorded, and charged only if
distributed. Cost is based upon the length,
in minutes, and the number of copies distributed.
---------------------------------
TelSpan, Inc.: 503.693.7887
The following charges apply to Dial-in.
> Monthly Flat Rate of $150/Month. This
includes 1000 minute-line/month. Then it
is $0.09 per minute-line after that.
Features:
> The above costs are a "promotional" that is
going on now, and thus time is limited. When
they have sold a specified number, then the
promotion goes away. This just started, and
thus we have a couple of weeks (about mid-Aug).
> Operators available when we normally call.
> Reservation-less system
> Contact person is Keith Locke at phone # above.
-------------------------------------------
Verizon:
www22.verizon.com/conferenceconnections/vz/html/home.html
The following apply to Dial-In. Information from WEB site.
> Cost is $0.18 per minute per line.
Features:
> On-Line setup for account
> Warning: Not all phone calls will be toll free in NA.
--------------------------------------
XO Communications: 877.617.2111
www.xo.com/xofferings/voice/conferencing
The following apply to "Dial-In".
> No setup charges.
> $0.25 per minute per line.
> Toll-free lines for NA, long distance charges for
International.
Features:
> Reservation-less.
> Operators 24/7
> WEB site to "manage" calls and accounts.
> Can "dial-out" for international.
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