Audio and Video Teleconferencing Overview
A teleconference is when two or more people who are geographically distant have a meeting of some sort across a telecommunications link. This includes audio conferencing, video conferencing, and or data conferencing.
A regular telephone line only supports three-way calling. You can only call up to two other phones at the same time. To talk with three or more parties requires the use of a Multipoint Control Unit (MCU), also known as a bridge. Bridge services are available from both ITS and AT&T.
Coming in early 2007, ITS will offer videoconferencing in most library meeting rooms on USC's campuses, as one of the core services included in the TCC. We will post additional information on this page as soon as it becomes available.
Conference Phone Rental
ITS Teleconferencing Services
AT&T Teleconferencing Services
Teleconferencing audio units (Polycom SoundStation) are available to rent on a half- or full-day basis. The rental fee includes setup and retrieval. Usage, installation and/or monthly service charge of a telephone line and bridge services are not included.
These phones allow multiple people in the same room to share a phone call. They work with a regular (RJ-11) telephone jack. Such a line is limited to three way calling even when used with a conference phone, so bridge services are still needed to call three or more parties.
| Half day | $34.00 |
| Full day | $50.00 |
For further information on conference phones, please contact the Customer Support Center at 213-740-3814.
ITS Teleconferencing Services (Non-Library Locations)
ITS has a Polycom Bridge to support both audio and video multipoint conferencing. These conferences are available two ways: a temporary number created per reservation or a lifetime lease conference number ("virtual meeting room") created once.
A lifetime lease conference is given a 213-821-xxxx telephone number that is available for use 24 hours a day, seven days a week, eliminating the need to make reservations as is the case when using AT&T's teleconferencing service. An audio conference only supports phone calls. A video conference number supports both videoconferencing by H.323 and audio conferencing by phone.
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For more information on Videoconferencing, click here.
ITS can order an 800 number for a department that will point at an audio Meeting Room. This allows the department to pay for those calling the room, but has a monthly fee plus the cost of the calls.
To accommodate more than ten participants, or if you have additional questions regarding this service, please contact Mike Walker.
AT&T Teleconferencing Services
ITS has negotiated a reduced rate for AT&T audio conferencing. AT&T teleconferencing reservations can be setup with your USC department name and a USC account number. The USC rates favor using toll-free dialing. Their service is well suited to those conferencing less than once a month and wanting to cover the costs of everyone's calls. Those with more frequent conferences would do better with ITS's services.
For more information on AT&T's pricing, please contact Mike Walker.
Last updated: Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 11:06AM PDT