By Praful Shah, VP Corporate Development
EagleACD and EagleTeleconferencing

Economic fluctuations, rising political tensions worldwide and the ongoing threat of terrorism have forced companies to rethink their approach to stationing employees abroad and sending executives around the globe for business meetings. However, several growing US companies have adopted new technologies to maintain a global presence.

The most widely used method of conferencing is audio conferencing. Major drivers for global audio conferencing are Economics and Risk Managements.

Although few companies have canceled all international assignments or travel, many have minimized their remote offices, placed temporary holds on relocations, reduced international business trips or modified their risk management policies. For years, the use of teleconferencing as a replacement for travel has been steadily increasing, largely for economic reasons. Teleconferencing is an especially useful and effective tool during periods of evaluation and assessment, while companies are planning when normal routines can be resumed.

According to Frost & Sullivan 2004 U.S. Audio Conferencing Services Market, reveals that the audio conferencing services market generated 14.5 billion minutes in 2003. Total traffic volume expects to reach 35 billion minutes in 2010.

EagleTeleconferencing, with its global bridge capacity to provide over 10 billion minutes of annual calling traffic, has been supporting US industry by providing customer-centric solutions. Following the disruption in travel after September 11, we have observed a marked increase in audio conferencing usage. For most companies, this increase either continued or moved to higher levels. We have noticed that our customers audio global conferencing minutes per month has more than doubled during the last three years as it directly correlates the increase with reduced travel due to health concerns, the war in Iraq, and economical drives.

A typical in-person meeting, with two people flying to Asia to meet with two colleagues for a joint work session, might cost upward of $5,000. A Web and audio conference for the same four people for four hours would cost about 50 cents per minute per user, or $480. As conferencing technology evolves and matures, the audio conferencing industry will be on the path to long term benefits. The technology's potential is unlimited as the numbers of ways people and businesses connect and communicate. It's giving us a new view on the world and we are delighted to be a part of it. To keep up with the growing demand, EagleTeleconferencing has invested millions of dollars to develop a grid type global bridge network infrastructure with a global port capacity of 25,000. The combination of severe economic pressure and increased security concerns has accelerated companies' interest in new technologies for maintaining global communication with fewer face-to-face encounters.

Praful Shah is a seasoned telecom professional with diversified telecom management and operations experience. Currently, he is the VP-of Corporate Development at EagleACD and EagleTeleconferencing. He has held increasingly responsible positions, first in R&D at Johnson & Johnson (where he was awarded a patent for his work) and Bell Labs. Then, he shifted to marketing roles at AT&T including the development of marketing strategies for Europe, India and the Middle East, video on demand for the US market and finally global data and voice network operations, establishing contracts with various telephone companies. His volunteer works includes designing, developing and implementing Computer Technology Park and Outsourcing Center for disabled youngsters in India. He has a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, and a Masters degree in Business Administration from Rider University.

The health care industry has three major drivers for an on-going evolution; innovation, regulation, and technology. These have changed the landscape of the entire industry.

Technological tools are becoming more powerful, easy-to-use, and less expensive. Todays health care industry is focused on delivering quality patient care. The advancement in voice, data, and video communications is greatly impacting the way health care organizations operate and provide effective and efficient care.

EagleTeleconferencing has been supporting the health care industry by providing customer-centric solutions. EagleTeleconferencing, with its global bridge capacity to provide over 10 billion minutes of annual calling traffic has dedicated the past 18 years to understanding the growing needs of audio conferencing. It believes that real-time connectivity among doctors, nurses, patients, insurance service providers, administrators, health care facility providers, and all other associated staff is vital and must be cost-effective. On many occasions, it is not possible for all parties to be physically together, but still need to be connected on-demand to transfer and receive information. EagleTeleconferencing has a worldwide network connection infrastructure and offers a variety of options for this requirement.

The health care market is increasingly becoming a global market place. It is not unusual to find a health care institute with multiple global contacts who can work together without incurring the costs of travel and productivity downtime. The operation structure of the industry is such that network, human, and administrative resources are dispersed geographically all over the country. Organizations of all sizes are making more conference calls than ever before. Audio conferencing is the best way to keep everybody informed. Teleconferencing allows arranging department and committee meetings literally at the touch of a button. Audio conferencing is much better than email because email can be misunderstood. The tone or inflection is not always clear in an email. The ideal way to communicate is face to face, but it is not the most efficient or cost effective.

According to Frost & Sullivan 2004 U.S. Audio Conferencing Services Market, reveals that this services market generated 14.5 billion minutes in 2003. Total traffic volume expects to reach 35 billion minutes in 2010.

EagleTeleconferencing has a number of satisfied customers in the health care industry. They have developed a flexible platform to meet health care industry needs. Their users can vary from 2 people to 10000 people in a very short notice, and they have port capacity to fulfill fluctuating and demanding organization needs. They provide true and simple pay-as-you pricing plan. EagleTeleconferencings grid type network infrastructure allows a global port capacity of 25000. Businesses can begin to use with no investment, zero service disruption, and pay-as-you-go basis. The audio conferencing industry will be on the path to even long term benefits as conferencing technology evolves and matures.