Is the audio service really free? Well, it depends on how you look at it and more importantly that you are aware of what you are actually getting...or not getting. Technically, FreeConferenceCall.com does not charge you anything. You will never get a bill from them. Who actually pays for the calls are the callers you have invited to call your number! Essentially, FreeConferenceCall.com is just free US Toll calling, meaning all callers pay their own long distance charges.
How does FreeConferenceCall.com make money? By "routing" callers to specific local exchange carriers (LEC's) that are charging wireless carriers very high rates to "bridge" the cell calls to landlines. The higher the rate being charged, the more calls routed that way. In exchange for the favorable routing, the expensive local exchange carriers collect huge fees from the carriers and kick back a portion of the profits back to FreeConferenceCall.com Since most conference calls last at least an hour, more and more minutes accrue, while the LEC's rake in money, siphoning dollars from the carriers.
Another way FreeConferenceCall.com generates revenue is through their "SIMPLE" audio plans, NOW all clearly listed as 1-800 toll-free numbers and not just US Toll numbers.
(Screen shot directly from their website.)
What are the costs involved in a FreeConferenceCall™?
Only normal long distance charges by each caller's carrier apply. There will be no bill or charges from FreeConferenceCall.com for this service.
The Web Conferencing Blog: It's also a bit of a pain to have to re-register your account every 120 days to keep your toll number active. If you forget to renew, you lose your number and have to re-register. Also keep in mind that the provided number is a US Toll number and does not support international calls even though their site states:
Can international callers participate?
Anyone who can dial a US telephone number should be able to dial a FreeConferenceCall™ number.
The Web Conferencing Blog: (Does sound like much confidence behind that statement.)
Just be aware of what you are getting or not getting and let the callers who call you know that they will be billed long distance charges and watch out for the court battle!
Related Blog:
Regardless of what side you're on as far as the ethics of the practice, it's absolutely a traffic pumping situation. The area code of my freeconferencecall.com number is 712, one of the 2 that wikipedia specifically calls out in their example of the typical traffic pumping setup.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_pumping
Posted by: Sean | October 16, 2014 at 10:24 AM
David,
Thanks for posting this on your blog. My organization uses them (FreeConferenceCall.com) all the time and I was wondering why would they provide this service if they don't make money. Now I understand how it works. Thanks.
Posted by: Paul K | September 26, 2012 at 02:15 PM
goverment and federal offices are using this. what if terrorist groups are monitoring? who checking that out?
Posted by: governmentCHEESE | September 13, 2012 at 12:53 PM
We used freeconferencecall.com but cannot use the service anymore. There were complaints from the guests that accessed the call using the free access numbers provided by freeconferencecall. The calls were not free to our attendees. Probably great for a casul call with a friend who doesn't mind paying to access the conference. But you, the host, won't have to pay unless the access number is a long distance call for you too.
Posted by: Bob Sharon | August 30, 2012 at 09:48 AM
My (second line) VoIP phone company cut my service with the following reason:
Some conference lines have inflated tariff rates for calling. The number you were calling in question has a rate between 7-10 cents per minute, a charge that VoIP-Phone-Company had to pay for. You spent X amount of minutes on the line which incurred a cost over $Y.
Referring to their terms of service:
The terms of service states “excessive conferencing … will be considered indicators that use may be inconsistent with normal use.”
The "excessive conferencing" term might be in most VoIP provider's TOS.
Just be aware of this fact!
Posted by: Rin | June 08, 2011 at 09:15 AM
To the best of my knowledge, FreeConference does engage in so-called "traffic pumping" (look it up). I found one provider that doesn't do this. They're called Rondee and they use phone numbers in the San Diego and Sacramento areas of California, not in some rural LEC.
If you want to check it out: http://www.rondee.com
Posted by: Dean Vesuvio | May 11, 2011 at 09:09 AM
Hi there, free conference call services definitely have their place. Our clients us them all the time.
Posted by: | May 02, 2011 at 09:04 AM
Angela,
I totally agree with your comments!
Posted by: David Chao | April 20, 2011 at 02:56 PM
While many people have unlimited minutes and/or free long distance, many businesses do not. And many companies (mostly scams) are still able to randomly attach additional charges to phone bills simply because some employee used the company number and failed to click some box in order to not sign up for some service. So, while this seems like a great deal, I need to co-ordinate conference calls with 9 locations, all located in different states, I don't want them hit with a giant phone bill because they DON'T have free long distance.
Posted by: Angela | April 20, 2011 at 02:23 PM
I've been a satisfied user for over a year and have never been charged a cent. Cant believe anyone pays for LD anymore, its so cheap and typically bundled.
Thanks for the post I was curious how they kept the lights on, seems like a very legitimate business model to me and very useful service - win/win. (unless you are the CEO of a mobile carrier...)
Posted by: Mike | April 12, 2011 at 12:31 PM