Glossary of Teleconferencing Terms

The following definition of technical terms is provided for those unfamiliar with the teleconferencing industry.

Audio Conferencing	Audio conferencing is a telephone call by which callers can speak with multiple people at the same time using a single phone number. This type of service is optimal to support callers needing to connect with three or more persons outside their location.
Call Recording	Conference calls may optionally be recorded for later playback, by participants or those who couldn't make that meeting.
Call Streaming	Recorded calls may be played back over the Internet (audio streaming) as well as over a telephone connection.
Conference Bridge	An electronic device that mixes the signals from three or more locations for audio teleconferencing. The term bridge is also used to describe a multipoint conference unit (MCU) that is used to mix signals from video locations.
Conference ID	Each Moderator is assigned a unique, seven digit number which serves to identify the conference calls which they manage. This number, along with the access telephone number, needs to be provided in advance to each intended participant in a given conference.
Mute	Muting one or more lines means surpressing the sound from that source, either because its noise level is unacceptable or determine which participant(s) are allowed to talk over the conference bridge at any given time. Participants may mute and unmute their own lines, while Moderators and Operators may mute or unmute all lines.
Operator Assisted	With our Operator Assisted conferencing, Copper River Conferencing operators can take on the responsibility for time-consuming tasks like blasting dial-out to all participants within minutes, creating sub-groups and Q&A lines, muting participants' phone lines, recording calls, translating, transcribing and presenting materials.
PIN	Each Moderator is assigned a unique, four digit number which is used to distinguish the Moderator from the participants on the same conference call. This number should never be given out to anyone.
Reservationless	With our Reservationless product Moderators may originate conferences as needed, with no advance scheduling or reservations required.
Screening	On Operator Assisted calls one of the services an Operator may provide is to ensure that only validated participants are allowed to access that call.
Video Conferencing	Video Conferencing extends the effectiveness of real-time audio conferencing by adding a synchronized video element, such that participants can not only hear but see one another.
Web Collaboration	Web Collaboration is the combination of a telephone conference call with an associated visual presentation over the Internet. During a WebCollaboration event callers can speak with several other people at the same time using a single phone number, while also sharing presentation materials, showing and manipulating documents and applications, and/or touring a web site. Each participant with Internet access can see and/or take part in manipulating the information on the screen from their own computer.
Web Conferencing	Web Conferencing is the combination of a telephone conference call with an associated visual presentation over the Internet, in the form of a PowerPoint slideshow which has been uploaded to the conferencing server in advance.