cheap teleconferencing

January 16, 2007 9:01 AM

I'm looking for a cheap reservationless toll-free audio-only teleconferencing provider.

I don't need any frills, just a service where the moderator can dial in with a PIN, followed by the participants. It needs to be toll-free in the US, billed by the minute, no monthly minimum.

There appear to be about eight billion companies offering this at the moment, but I'm not having any luck finding reviews amidst the avalanche of spammy dreck that Google returns.

posted by Armitage Shanks to Technology (10 answers total)

We use Intercall where I work. Seems OK. No idea on price.
posted by GuyZero at 9:04 AM on January 16, 2007

www.freeconference.com is what I use, though their reservation-less numbers are toll numbers.

In fact, you can get reservationless toll conferences right now, without even signing up.
posted by Merdryn at 9:12 AM on January 16, 2007

Oh, and in case the name doesn't give it away, freeconference.com is free as long as you don't mind NOT using toll-free numbers.
posted by Merdryn at 9:14 AM on January 16, 2007

We use Global Crossing Ready-Access at work (large corporate employer). It's always been reliable for us, but I have no idea of the cost.
posted by cabingirl at 9:16 AM on January 16, 2007

Second FreeConference.com - used it for a while with no problems (moved to company-provided solution).
posted by noahv at 9:27 AM on January 16, 2007

Response by poster: Thanks for the answers. I looked at freeconference.com, but there doesn't seem to be an option that's both toll-free and reservationless.

Anyone have experience with any of these?

Unlimited Conferencing -- 7c/min
Televox Conferencing -- 11c/min
rentabridge -- 10c/min
posted by Armitage Shanks at 9:42 AM on January 16, 2007

Previously -

here
here, and
here
posted by nanojath at 10:00 AM on January 16, 2007

I'll second good experience with Global Crossing at my last job
(this was a couple years ago) - same answer I gave in one of the previous threads I linked. I don't recall the price but I do recall researching it and finding it competitive.
posted by nanojath at 10:01 AM on January 16, 2007

Costco has a service for around $0.07 per minute. My old firm used it and it was reasonable.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:22 AM on January 16, 2007

I know you want toll-free, but if most of your peeps are dialing in via mobile phone, they're not paying the toll anyway.

Might be something to look into, and give the free one a try. I may look into this and save my department a few bucks...
posted by altcountryman at 8:32 PM on January 16, 2007