Glossary of Conference Calling Terms
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | i | j| k | l | m | n | o | p | q | r | s | t | u | v | w | x | y | z
A –
Access Code – A variable-length number that is added to a dedicated line to ensure only authorized participants are permitted to gain entrance. The access number followed by # is entered by the caller after they hear the welcome greeting to enter the conference.
Alternate Dial-in Number – A number other than the primary number that callers can call to join a conference call. Typically alternate dial-in numbers are local numbers used to access a conference call in another country. See Tied Lines for more information.
Announce Caller Names A feature that records a caller’s name when they enter a conference call and then plays it to the rest of the participants on the call.
Attendee – An attendee is a caller on a conference line. Often the attendee is distinguished from the moderator as a caller who is not running or moderating the call and may have fewer controls over the conference call.
Attendee Code – An attendee is a caller on a conference line. Often the attendee is distinguished from the moderator as a caller who is not running or moderating the call and may have fewer controls over the conference call.
Audio Conference Another term used for conference line, bridge line, conference bridge or teleconference. All terms are used interchangeably
B –
Boot – An action taken from the Call Dashboard to remove a person from the conference call.
Branded – Refers to the act of putting a company’s identity on something. For example, all conference lines provided by Branded Bridge Line are branded with the customer’s brand.
Bridge Line – Another term used for conference line, audio conference, conference bridge or teleconference. All terms are used interchangeably.
Bridge Name – Name that is assigned to a conference number. This name appears on the Call Dashboard to give users context for what the conference line is used for. For example, “Staff Meetings” might be the bridge name for a line used to hold staff meeting calls. Bridge Name is modified in Line Settings.
C –
Call Answer Greeting – This is a configuration setting for setting the professional greeting that is played when a caller joins a call. All callers hear the same greeting when they join the call.
Call Dashboard – A user interface where each conference line can be monitored and each conference call in progress can be managed.
Call Lock – A setting in the Call Dashboard for locking a conference call so no other callers can join.
Call Management UI – A user interface that provides access to the Call Dashboard and other utilities for monitoring, managing and configuring conference lines.
Call Recordings – Audio recordings of conference calls. Call recordings can be turned on in line settings and accessed in call records.
Call Records – Records of past conference calls, indicating the phone number of each caller, the time they joined and the time they left the call.
Conference Bridge – Another term used for conference line, audio conference, bridge line or teleconference. All terms are used interchangeably.
Conference Call – A meeting conducted by telephone or computer with 2 or more participants.
Conference Line – Another term used for bridge line, audio conference, conference bridge or teleconference. All terms are used interchangeably.
D –
Dashboard Only Permissions – Permissions assigned to system users. Users with Dashboard Only permissions can only view the Call Dashboard. They can not modify line settings or other configurations.
Deaf or Deafen – A control in the Call Dashboard that suppresses the conference call audio to a specific participant or set of participants so private conversations can take place.
Dedicated Lines – Telephone lines that are dedicated to one company and not shared across many companies.
Desktop Notifications – Browser notifications that pop up when new callers join a conference line. These are enabled in General Options.
Dial-in Number – The telephone number of the dedicated line each participant or caller dials into gain access to a conference call.
E –
Entry Chime – The sounds that plays to callers when a new caller joins the conference line. The configuration can be modified in line settings.
Enterprise Plan – A conference calling plan suited for large corporations that conduct a large volume of conference calls and need up to 5 dedicated lines.
Exit Chime – The sounds that plays to callers when a caller leaves the conference line. The configuration can be modified in line settings.
F –
Full Privileges – A level of permissions granted to users who require administrative rights over the account. Users with full privileges have access to the Call Dashboard, line settings, Plans and Billing and Users.
G –
General Options – The settings in the Call Management UI for modifying company details, notifications, and integrations to other services.
H –
Hold Music – The audio that is played for a caller after they have successfully entered a conference call and before other participants have joined the call in an un-moderated call. Calls that have a moderator PIN configured will play the hold music to all participants until the moderator joins the call.
I –
International Conference Call – A telephone call made from one country to another country, typically incurring international toll charges. International conference calls can be achieved without incurring international toll charges by using tied lines.
J –
Join From Browser – A feature that allows users to join conference calls from their computers and mobile devices using a microphone and headset. Join from Browser is accessed from the Call Dashboard
L –
Lecture Mode This is a setting intended for large conference calls. When lecture mode is turned on, all participants except the moderator are muted to reduce noise. Muted participants can be un-muted from the Call Dashboard or by pressing *6 on their telephone. Lecture Mode is turned on and off in Line Settings.
Line Configuration Permissions Permissions that are granted to users allowing them to change the configuration of conference lines in their account. Line permissions are granted when adding and modifying users from the User screen.
Line Settings Settings for modifying the behavior of a conference line. Settings include naming the line, setting the call answer greeting, turning on Lecture Mode, setting hold music and turning on call recordings./features/audio-conferencing-custom-hold-music/
Live Chat A support mechanism for supporting users who have issues or questions. Live chat is access from the Call Dashboard and allows the user to have an online chat session with a support person.
M –
Minutes Used – An indicator at the top of the Call Dashboard indicating how many plan minutes were used in the current billing period.
Moderator – The caller in charge of managing the conference call. A separate moderator PIN can be set in Line Settings. The caller that enters the correct moderator PIN is considered the moderator. If a Moderator PIN is set, all callers will hear hold music until the moderator joins the call.
Moderator PIN – Number entered by a caller who is considered the moderator of a call. The moderator PIN is set on the Line Settings configuration screen.
MP3 File – A compressed digital audio file. MP3 files are used for the Call Answer Greeting as well as the Hold Music. Users can upload their own or use what’s provided by the service. More information about MP3 files can be found at How MP3 Files Work.
Mute – The ability to suppress a caller’s audio. The caller can mute their own audio or other caller’s audio by logging onto the Call Dashboard and clicking mute next to the caller’s name. Callers can also mute their own audio by pressing *6 on their phone.
N –
Notifications – Email messages that notify users of certain events. The events users can get notified on include an email indicating when a new caller joins a conference line or a call summary email when a conference call ends. The call summary includes details regarding who was on the call and for how long they participated.
O –
On-hold Entertainment – A setting option in Line Settings that allows you to select hold music or upload your own MP3 file. On Hold Entertainment is played when callers are waiting for other callers to join or the moderator.
Organizer – The person who is responsible for arranging the conference call. The organizer enters a moderator PIN to join the call. Organizer is used interchangeably with moderator.
Organizer Access Code – The code entered by the organizer or moderator to enter the call and join the rest of the callers into the conference. This term is used interchangeably with moderator PIN.
P –
Participant – An individual who is joins conference call.
Participant Code – This is a code entered by conference participants in order to join a conference call. It is used interchangeably with Attendee Code.
Permissions – Software privileges that provides a system user access to certain aspects of the system. New users can be assigned 3 levels of permissions: Dashboard Only, allowing users to see who has joined a call only; Line Configurations, allowing users to modify line settings; and Full Privileges, allowing users all of the same level of access as the account owner.
Personalized Greeting – A custom Call Answer Greeting that was recorded by professional voice artists and contains the confernce call welcome message.
PIN – A variable-length number that is added to a dedicated line to ensure only authorized participants are permitted to gain entrance. The access number followed by # is entered by the caller after they hear the welcome greeting to enter the conference. PIN is used interchangeably with Access Code.
Plans and Billing Tab in the Call Management UI used to modify the plan subscription or update payment information.
Professional Greeting – This is a configuration setting for setting the call answer greeting that is played when a caller joins a call. All callers hear the same greeting when they join the call.
Professional Plan – A conference calling plan suited for medium corporations that conduct a moderate volume of conference calls and need 2 dedicated lines.
Q –
Q&A – When in Lecture Mode, the moderator can open the call up for a question and answer period by un-muting all callers or specific callers.
R –
Reservationless Conference – A conference call that does not require advance reservations.
Roll Call – A message played when *3 is pressed during a conference call. The message contains the list of participants who are already on the call.
S –
Secure Conference – A conference call secured by PIN access using dedicated lines (not shared) and has the ability to lock the conference with Conference Lock.
Starter Plan – A conference calling plan suited for entrepreneurs and startups that conduct a small volume of conference calls and only need 1 dedicated line.
T –
Tagline – The branding used by a company to highlight their brand in their Call Answer Greeting.
Teleconference – A meeting conducted by telephone or computer with 2 or more participants. This is used interchangeably with Conference Call.
Tied Lines – Two or more conference lines that are tied together into the same conference call. Often times tied lines are used to allow participants from other countries to dial a local number in order to enter the call.
Toll-Free – A conference number that is free to call from within a geographical boundary. Fees are charged to the owner of the phone number rather than the caller.
Transcription – A written representation of a conference call. Transcriptions can be ordered from the Call Records page for any call provided Call Recordings was turned on.
U –
Un-mute – The ability to re-enable a caller’s audio during a conference call. The caller can un-mute their own audio or other caller’s audio by logging onto the Call Dashboard and clicking un-mute next to the caller’s name. Callers can also un-mute their own audio by pressing *6 on their phone.
Users – A person who has an account created and permissions granted through the Users tab on the Call Management UI.
V –
Voice over IP (VOIP) – A technology that converts your voice into a digital signal, allowing you to make a call directly from a computer. This is the technology that enables web conference services from your computer.
W –
Web Conference – A conference call that uses VOIP (Voice over IP) technology over the Internet. Users can initiate a web conference by logging into their Call Dashboard and selecting the Join from Browser button. Users can also get a shareable link for the call and email to others so they can join via the Internet.