It is a unique telephone number that immediately connects up to 30 people for a conference call.

• No operator is required to set up the call.
• The cost is very low in comparison to a conference call.
• No special equipment is needed.
• No "pin" numbers are needed.
• It is the most efficient medium for virtual involvement. Anyone, anywhere in the world, can dial in!
  Think about the possibilities with this call system!
  
  
• Trainers: offer your training seminars from your office
• sales call updates with your team
• technical calls
• business conference calls - with participants from around the world
• family or friends reunions
• family calls with military members
  
  If you need a group call of any kind, this is the best system!

  It's as simple as picking up your phone and dialing your neighbor! Prior to your scheduled conference call, your leader will give your group the bridge number to call, and the time to call. Since participants will likely live in different parts of the country and the world, the meeting time should always be described in Eastern Time. You will have to adjust your schedule to be calling in at the correct time, depending upon your time zone.

When you dial the bridge number you will hear one or two rings, and immediately you're connected to the call. The leader will say something like, "Hi, this is Don, welcome to the call, who just joined us?" This welcoming pattern will make sure you're on the right call, at the right time, and it allows the leader to take roll. Late callers may dial in at any time.

Note to Leader:
The leader of the call should dial in 1-2 minutes early to welcome participants as they join the call, and to take roll. When you dial in early, you will hear the ringing sound until the second person dials in, and actually "opens" the line. Often the leader will dial in early, no one calls on time, and the leader assumes the bridge is not working.

When someone leaves the call, you will hear a short dial tone. If attendance is required for your calls, take a short roll call at the end of the call to know who stayed on the call. You might ask for a "one sentence" synopsis about the call from each caller.

To ensure timeliness, ask all participants to set their clocks with this website - World Clock

Are there any hidden costs? No. All participants incur their standard long-distance toll to dial into the bridge. For most U.S residents, each call may cost you approximately $4-$6/hour. Check with your long distance carrier for your rates. There are no added teleconferencing charges of any kind--just the regular long distance charge to join the bridge line.

1. Schedule uninterrupted time to participate in the call.

2. End the call at 55 minutes after the hour, to clear the line for the next group.

3. While listening, use your telephone mute button, if available, while on the call. Background noise, dogs barking, TV noise, etc., can be a distraction for everyone on the call. If you don't have a mute button, not to worry, just call from a very quiet location.

4. If you have a 'call-waiting' feature on your line, please disable it before dialing in to the call by dialing *70. After you hang up, your call-waiting feature automatically resumes.

5. Please do not use speakerphones. Their quality simply isn't good enough when broadcasting to a larger group.

6. Your leader may ask for you to share or respond throughout the call. To manage a group who cannot 'clue' into each other visually, please wait with your comments until you've been prompted with a question, or with invited comments.

7. Audiotaping may be permitted in your calls. Check with your leader.

8. Cordless phones and headsets work fine for a bridgecall. However, if you or others hear recurring static or echoes, you may be asked to use a standard telephone line.