Conferencing:

Do I have to schedule calls with Global Conference Call before I make them?

No. For your convenience, all of Global’s conferencing programs are designed to let you schedule them and never have to call us to pre-schedule.

What do I tell my participants to do and how do I notify them of a conference call?

When you sign up with Global Conference Call you will receive a set of instructions by email. The bottom half of this email is separated. This part of the email is designed for your guests. It contains instructions, the dial-in number, the guest PIN, and an area for you to fill in the date and time. Simply fill in the date and time, and then forward this portion of the email to all your participants.

What is the best kind of phone to use for my conference call?

You will need a touch-tone telephone. Cell phones with good reception work great also. We recommend you use a landline telephone (i.e. a corded telephone) as opposed to a handheld cordless phone, such as common kitchen phones. Some of these cordless phones produce tones that are not recognizable by our bridge, so when entering your PIN number it may not be recognized by our system. These phones can also create static that may be heard on the call.

Can I have participants call in from other countries?

Absolutely. Our company name is Global Conference Call for a reason. Anyone with a touch-tone phone and a stable phone connection to the US anywhere in the world can call into our bridge and conference anytime.

I live outside of the US/Canada and I want to participate/host a conference call. Can I do that?

Yes! Global Conference Call’s Silver and Platinum accounts would suit you best for these calls. All you need is a touch-tone phone and a good connection to the US.

Will my PIN codes ever be deactivated?

Your PIN codes will be active until you tell us to deactivate them. If you haven’t used our service in over six months, we suggest you call in and check with us to make sure, so your call will go smoothly as scheduled. On our Platinum plan, you will be charged each month until you notify Global you would like to discontinue your service.

Will I ever be charged extra for making too many calls?

Never. There are no minimums, maximums, or anything in between with Global.

What’s the difference between direct-dial (503 area code) and 800 conferencing?

When you sign up for Global’s Gold program, this is 800 conferencing. An 800 number, as you may already know, does not cost anything through your long-distance provider. Using the Gold program, your participants will be able to conference without incurring long-distance charges. With direct-dial conferencing, participants will pay their normal long-distance rate for a call to this 503 area code.

Can people dial-in internationally if I have a Gold account?

Yes. They will not be able to use your 800 toll-free number because it does not work outside of the US and Canada. They will dial a number to the US, (503 area code), and will incur their long-distance charges from their phone company for this call. The $.15 per minute will also apply to these persons. To set up an account of this type, give us a call and we can explain this type of call further.

How do I keep the information on my conference call secure?

There are many issues of security that can arise when sensitive information is being given out on a conference call. For added security in your conference you may lock the call; that is to say no leader or guest will be able to enter after you activate this feature. You may also request our name-announce feature, a feature you ask us to put on your account at no extra charge upon your request. (For details see name-announce). We will work with you to resolve any additional security concerns you may have.

If I have a platinum account set at 12/25/50/75 participants, can I up the limit for just one call?

Yes. Just give us a call and we will work with you to meet your specific needs for this special call.

Can I have high volume calls (higher than 75)?

Yes. We ask that if you are expecting more than 75 callers you call ahead to double check your capacity and make sure the time is not at peak hours. Weekends are always a great time to hold high volume calls. If you are an existing customer and you need more than 75 lines for a special call event, give us a call and we will work with you to arrange this.

I lost my dial in number and PIN codes. Can I deactivate the old ones and get new PIN's for security purposes? Yes, and there is no charge for this service. If there is ever a security issue, Global will work with you to make sure sensitive information is kept secure.

Do all conference participants need to be in the same area?

No. Conference calling is meant to allow people from all over the world to have meetings without having to travel to the same area. It’s just like calling someone in another state or country; only everyone dials the same number to be on a call together.

What is the difference between my Guest and Leader PIN codes? Why do they come in a set like this?

Guest and Leader PIN codes are useful for hosts with more than ten participants. The host of the call should use the Leader PIN code and will have additional features that allow better control of the conference call. These Leader features are: * 2 to begin recording your call, *5 to mute and un-mute all participants using the Guest PIN, *7 security – locks the call so no guests or Leaders may enter the call. Muting Guests is a great way to cut down on background noise on larger calls.

Is there a minimum service contract?

No, there are never any contracts or minimum service agreements with Global Conference Call’s conferencing services.

Record & Keep © Technology

I lost my Record and Keep file number. I need help finding it.

Call our customer service line (800-472-6034), and have your conference date, time, and PIN number available. We can look up the number and give it to you over the phone.

How long is my Record and Keep file kept on your web server after it was uploaded?

Once we upload your recording it will be on our server for a minimum of four months. Make sure you download your recording onto your computer by then, or upload it onto your website. The conference file is yours and can be utilized however you wish.

Can I request a Record and Keep file that was done more than one month ago?

Yes. Anytime after the file is made Global Conference Call will process your Record and Keep request.

What is the difference between requesting a .wav, .mp3 or a CD through Record and Keep?

A CD will be sent to you USPS Priority mail. The CD format is in stereo and will play on your computer or stereo. An .mp3 is slightly smaller than a .wav file and the quality of the two are almost identical. Either format you prefer can be chosen. .mp3 files are easier for those of you who already have a collection of mp3 files in one place, or an .mp3 player.

How long will my recording stay on my account so I can call into my account and listen to it?

Your recording will stay on our system for two weeks. Thereafter it will no longer be accessible by phone. After this time, or even before you may request this recording if you would like a copy of it.

Can I order more than one CD?

You may order up to three copies of the same recording. However, this can add up quickly and we suggest you make duplicates yourself, or for larger quantities there are companies that will mass-produce your recording.
 

Features:

How do I know I am recording?

You will hear a voice say, “Conference recording has been turned on”.

What does the Name-announce feature do?

After all participants have entered their PIN codes, a voice will prompt you to speak your name. As the participant enters the call the name they spoke will be announced to all participants on the line. This is most advantageous for smaller conferences, when you want to know exactly who is there. For larger calls this feature can become bothersome. To turn this feature on, give us a call and request the Name-announce feature for your account. There is no extra charge for this feature.
 

Troubleshooting:

Why is there a previous recording playing on my line, and how do I get rid of it so I can have my call now?

A participant has called into your conference room and started a recording playback without knowing a conference call was going to take place at this time. If this happens, call us immediately and we will stop the playback of this recording so you may continue with your conference as scheduled.

Why do I hear music when I enter the conference room?

You have entered a Guest PIN code, and a leader has not yet arrived. You will hear music and not be able to hear other Guests until a Leader has entered the conference.

Why did I hear a voice telling me I put in an invalid command when I put in my PIN code?

If you are dialing in with a calling card, some of them have features activated by the numbers on your telephone. The calling card will not recognize the PIN code numbers you put in and you may hear a voice from the calling card company telling you it does not recognize the command. This is not a voice command/prompt from our system. To resolve this, try another calling card, or better yet simply use your normal long-distance provider.

I called into my conference call and half way through everyone was cut off. What happened?

If there is one Leader on your call, and that person hangs up or gets disconnected, all guests will be disconnected. This is to prevent users on our Gold program from staying on the line at the Leader’s expense. This feature is called Auto Hang-up and can be turned off upon your request.
 

PowerPodium:

Why can’t I see the presentation on PowerPodium?

Chances are your computer may not meet the specifications for use of PowerPodium. For best viewing, make sure you are on a PC and you are opening the page in Explorer with Flash installed. Macintoshes will not display PowerPodium correctly. If you are an AOL user your AOL browser may not work. If this happens use Explorer.
 

Miscellaneous:

What does the abbreviation PIN stand for?

PIN is short for Personal Identification Number. There are 2 PIN codes for each account. One PIN code is for Leaders. There may be as many leaders as you wish (all participants may be Leader PIN code users). The other PIN code is for Guests. Guest will hear music on hold until a Leader PIN code user arrives.

Where is Global Conference Call’s home office?

Global’s home office is located in Iowa City, Iowa.

Can I be invoiced?

We do not normally invoice customers because credit card billing is convenient for our customers and it keeps our costs down. We always send an email verifying a charge has been made on the credit card of record. We include details of the conference call so you can keep track of all billing. Your credit card statement will show ‘Global Conference Call’ as the billing company, so its easy to identify. However, for high-volume users we will invoice. Call us for details. (800) 472-6034 or 1 (319) 337-5501.

Do you offer free trials?

Absolutely. All of our services are available to try, so you don’t have to risk signing up without experiencing our services first-hand.

If I want to discontinue my services, how do I do that and is there any fee?

You may cancel your conferencing services at any time. There are never fees for canceling, or not using our service.

Will I be pressured by a salesperson to sign up when I call, or will I have to listen to offers?

Global Conference Call will never pressure you to sign up with us, or bore you with offers you don’t need. When you call 1-800-472-6034, you will be directed immediately to a live customer service representative that can help you answer any questions you may have, set up a trial call, or help you get started right away. All customer service representatives are trained in every area of the business so you don’t have to deal with being transferred from person to person.

Who owns Global Conference Call’s conferencing equipment?

Global Conference Call exclusively operates all of its conferencing equipment.

I have an additional question that was not answered on this FAQ. Who do I contact?

You may call 1-800-472-6034 with any questions you have or contact us by email at service@gccv.com