Conference bridge is the equipment used to connect three and more phone lines. The companies that produce it include: Multisuns, Xopworks, LINX, Forum Communications. The conference bridge can be simple and complicated (from 8 to 960 ports), expensive and very expensive.

There are two points of view about conference bridge equipment. One is supported by the makers and distributors of the equipment: do not out source your conferences to the third party. Buy and install the conference bridge equipment of your own. In this way you do not need to save on your conference costs that might be quite high if you hold them regularly with a high number of participants. Reduce your monthly fees on conferencing, get conference bridge equipment that nowadays comes in many flavors and do not need sophisticated maintenance.

The other point of view is: why to buy or lease, install and maintain expensive equipment that you need to use from time to time when you can hire a professional conference call company that has the experience to conduct your conferences (web conferencing, video conferencing or audio conferencing) at affordable rates. The conference call companies have the most advanced equipment and can meet the needs of any customer. Outsourcing your conferencing to conference call providers is an ideal solution for you and your business. And it costs just pennies.

Certainly, your final decision depends on the needs of your company. You can easily make calculations if you need your own conference bridge or you can be happy with outsourcing your conferences to conference calling services.

In case you conclude your company needs a conference bridge of your own you should pay attention to the below characteristics:

• Features (in-house solution should provide the minimum required for a proper audio conferencing or web conferencing: digital recording, 800# dial in number, PIN to enter to join the conference call, reservationless alls and etc)
• Internet accessibility (Internet based access)
• VoIP (voice over Internet becomes more popular thanks to the lower rates the consumers pay for this type of communications)
• Web conferencing (sharing PC’s screen and applications make conferencing more efficient)
• Scalability (start with analog bridge, switch to a digital one – they should both provide the similar set of features to make the switch painless)
• Network deployment and support (time required to install the system, skills required to maintain it)