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Arkadin to Host TeleSpan's Annual Teleconferencing Industry Predictions - Press Releases

2012-01-12T17:17:23Z

Prior Predictions Accuracy of 70% for Sixteen Years Running

NEW YORK,NY- January 10, 2012-Arkadin, a leading global provider of collaboration solutions and TeleSpan Publishing Corporation - www.telespan.com - today announced that Arkadin will host the TeleSpan Publishing Corporation web conference on Friday, January 20, 2012 at 1:00 PM EST to deliver TeleSpan's 2012 predictions for the conferencing industry.

]]> The web conference event will occur prior to their release in the annual Predictions Edition of Electronic TeleSpan the industry's foremost newsletter. Predictions will be made by Elliot M. Gold, President of TeleSpan, and will cover trends in voice, video, and web conferencing, as well as TeleSpan's pick of companies that will "hit the wall" or be picked up in consolidations in the next 24-36 months.

Gold has had unparalleled accuracy in making predictions. Since 1996, Gold has made 160 predictions (10 each year) with a running accuracy score of 70% (112 accurate predictions out of 160). This achievement gives him perhaps the highest batting average in the industry (other analyst groups and Wall Street firms typically have accuracies well below 50%). As a result, many analysts on Wall Street have considered TeleSpan "the authoritative source in teleconferencing" for more than a quarter of a century.

Gold will also review his predictions from 2011, giving them a thumbs-up or down. Attendees to the web conference will be invited to raise questions about TeleSpan's forecasts as well as other questions they have about the conferencing market overall.

Attendees can register for the live event using Arkadin at http://bit.ly/u4Bd66

Attendance to the event will be limited, but an archived version will be available after January 20, 2012.

About TeleSpan

TeleSpan was founded in 1981 as an industry analysis firm covering the field of teleconferencing. TeleSpan publishes annual reports covering trends in the industry and a 40-times-yearly newsletter called Electronic TeleSpan. TeleSpan is the most widely quoted source in the field of teleconferencing, famous for its accuracy and for its "Here's what I think" commentaries.

About Arkadin

Arkadin is a global Collaboration Service Provider, offering audio, web and video conferencing solutions. Arkadin enables organisations to communicate and collaborate using customisable, cost-efficient, user-friendly solutions. Founded in 2001, Arkadin has 49operating centres in 28 countries throughout Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin America and North America, offering a full suite of remote collaboration solutions to more than 26,000 clients. To find out more about Arkadin please visit www.arkadin.com.

Arkadin to Acquire ConferencePlus - Press Releases

2012-01-05T20:29:58Z

Solidifies Global Leadership and Momentum in Cloud-Based Collaboration Services.

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Dec 21, 2011) - Arkadin, a leading global provider of collaboration solutions, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire ConferencePlus, Inc., a conferencing services provider and a subsidiary of Westell Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSTL). The acquisition enables Arkadin to significantly increase its market share by becoming the third largest independent collaboration service provider in North America and by consolidating its number two position in Europe and Asia. The transaction is expected to close on December 31, 2011.

]]> ConferencePlus provides Arkadin with a complementary set of services, an expanded presence in North America and Europe, and a company with a shared vision for a best-in-class customer experience. This vision is central to Arkadin's growth since it was founded in 2001. With the market for conferencing services expected to increase significantly to $9 Billion in 2015, Arkadin is well positioned to accelerate its already strong growth globally.

"This is a strategic acquisition of a company that shares our vision. Together with ConferencePlus, we will continue to execute on our strategy for global expansion and growth by delivering a complete suite of collaboration services with the best local customer experience," said Olivier de Puymorin, CEO and founder, Arkadin. "And as the collaboration market matures into unified communications, we will be uniquely positioned as customers seek a strong and experienced partner."

Founded in 1988, ConferencePlus has built an impressive installed base of customers, from global Fortune 1000 companies to small- and medium-sized enterprises as a result of a dedicated focus on a superior customer experience. With the addition of ConferencePlus, Arkadin will have more than 26,000 clients globally.

Mark Alexander, President, Arkadin North America, added: "Arkadin's clients have embraced our best-in-class collaboration services resulting in the fastest growth in the industry. ConferencePlus will instantly expand our North American presence and will be the right addition to accelerate our growth."

About Arkadin Arkadin is a global Collaboration Service Provider, offering audio, web and video conferencing solutions. Arkadin enables organizations to communicate and collaborate using customizable, cost-efficient, user-friendly solutions. Founded in 2001, Arkadin has 47 operating centres in 28 countries throughout Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin America and North America, offering a full suite of remote collaboration solutions to more than 14,000 clients. To find out more about Arkadin please visit www.arkadin.com.

Q Advisors, a Denver and San Francisco based investment banking boutique, acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Arkadin, in connection with the transaction.

About ConferencePlus, ConferencePlus, a leading global provider of audio, video, webcasting and web conferencing services, is dedicated to providing high quality, reliable conferencing services that customers trust with their most important events. ConferencePlus is leading the way in providing innovative IP-based collaboration solutions backed by proven technology and exceptional customer service. Headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois with an international headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, ConferencePlus is a subsidiary of Westell Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSTL). Additional information about ConferencePlus can be obtained by visiting www.conferenceplus.com.

About Westell Technologies, Inc. Westell Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Aurora, Illinois, is a holding company for Westell, Inc. and Conference Plus, Inc. Westell, Inc. designs, distributes, markets and services a broad range of broadband networking equipment, digital transmission products, remote monitoring tools, power distribution equipment, industrial-grade edge switches and demarcation products used by telecommunications service providers, utilities and other enterprises. Additional information can be obtained by visiting www.westell.com.

November 2011 ProductivityPlus Newsletter - Newsletters

2011-11-29T19:59:08Z

Required Reading: The 8 R's of Web Conferencing

Is web conferencing the right choice for your organisation? Check out our "8 R's of Web Conferencing" to find out how you could benefit from combining ConferencePlus Online Meeting or one of our other web conferencing services with your next conference call.

]]> 8 R's of Web Conferencing:

Refresh your sales approach with presentations that pop!
Rejuvenate your internal meetings with powerful visual aids.
Retain your employees and improve productivity with online training sessions.
Revitalise your budget by eliminating business travel costs.
Restore your value to customers with integrated audio and online communications.
Reinvent your brand with a marketing tool that builds awareness and loyalty.
Revive the attention of sales prospects with striking visuals.
Recreate the way you do business with the easy-to-use and effective tool of web conferencing.

Visually impact your conference call audience with our fully-integrated web conference services. Whether you're giving a formal presentation to hundreds of people or just brain-storming with colleagues, ConferencePlus has the online meeting solution for you.

Contact ConferencePlus today or visit our website to learn more about ConferencePlus Online Meeting and to take advantage of the many R's of web conference.

On Demand Webinar | Working Together to Address Public Health Issues - Webinars

2011-11-18T15:40:06Z

2011 Ask the Expert Webinar Series

Presenter:Mary Martin Lowe, President of Learning Advisors, LLC, joined ConferencePlus and IACME on November 16th, 2011, to present the latest in our Ask the Expert Webinar series. In this webinar, "Working Together to Address Public Health Issues", Mary presents how public health reports can help providers identify factors outside their control that impact patient outcomes and examples of how collaborations can help providers implement strategies to overcome barriers to change.

]]> Highlights of this fast-paced, informative webinar include:

How to utilize state and local health reports to identify gaps and needs.
How to develop content and form partnerships.
How to create "non-educational" strategies.

Columbia University's TeenScreen Teams Up with Westell's ConferencePlus to Boost their Training and Educational Programs - Press Releases

2011-10-26T14:59:44Z

SCHAUMBURG, IL, October 26th, 2011 - Conference Plus, Inc. (ConferencePlus®), a subsidiary of Westell Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSTL), and a leading provider of global conferencing and webinar solutions, today announced a collaboration with the TeenScreen National Center for Mental Health Checkups at Columbia University to support the non-profit's expanding training and educational webinar program. TeenScreen's webinar program delivers live and on-demand content to primary care providers, schools and community programs to advance its goal of incorporating mental health screenings into routine adolescent health care.
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TeenScreen's initiative to expand its webinar program drove them to find a partner that could offer more in terms of both technology and customer support than their previous webinar platform. This led to TeenScreen's decision to team up with ConferencePlus' Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Services Team. Now with multiple tracking and reporting options to coincide with a customized, user-friendly interface for both live and on-demand presentations and training sessions, TeenScreen has been able to improve access and content deliverability to their wide audience.

"Our ability to provide engaging and relevant content has improved dramatically through our work with the ConferencePlus Healthcare Team," Ms. Garrison said. "Their attention to detail, technological support and sophistication has truly modernized our webinar platform and made it easier for our audiences to connect," Ms. Garrison added.

The ConferencePlus Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Services Team specializes in developing and delivering communications solutions for the medical industry. Drawing on extensive professional experience within the medical communications world, the ConferencePlus Healthcare Team provides a complete end-to-end service package that combines pre-planning, technical support, event facilitation and post production options for a variety of media options. In addition to customizing live and on-demand webinar programs like the solution created for TeenScreen, ConferencePlus' range of program development includes speaker and Key Opinion Leader (KOL) Training initiatives, Virtual Advisory Board meetings, Medical Sales Staff meetings and training, online CME activities, and much more.

"Our Healthcare Services Team highlights ConferencePlus' commitment to providing best-in-class solutions and exceeding customer service expectations," said Tim Reedy, CEO and President, ConferencePlus. "By offering the highly regulated healthcare market the high level of specialized customer support and services they need, we continue to grow this segment of our business consistently. At the same time we continue to expand the breadth of our expertise and the range of the customized services we can provide our customer base."

More information about the services offered by the ConferencePlus Healthcare Team can be found on their recently re-launched website at http://www.healthcareconferencingservices.com/, or by contacting the Team by phone 800-567-1533 or by email at healthcareservices@conferenceplus.com.

About ConferencePlus
ConferencePlus, a leading global provider of audio, video, webcasting and web conferencing services, is dedicated to providing high quality, reliable conferencing services that customers trust with their most important events. ConferencePlus is leading the way in providing innovative IP-based collaboration solutions backed by proven technology and exceptional customer service. Headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois with an international headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, ConferencePlus is a subsidiary of Westell Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSTL). Additional information about ConferencePlus can be obtained by visiting http://global.conferenceplus.com.

About Westell Technologies, Inc.
Westell Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Aurora, Illinois, is a holding company for Westell, Inc. and Conference Plus, Inc. Westell, Inc. designs, distributes, markets and services a broad range of broadband networking equipment, digital transmission products, remote monitoring tools, power distribution equipment, industrial-grade edge switches and demarcation products used by telecommunications service providers, utilities and other enterprises. Additional information can be obtained by visiting http://www.westell.com/.

About TeenScreen
The TeenScreen National Center for Mental Health Checkups at Columbia University is a non-profit public health initiative and national policy and resource center devoted to increasing youth access to regular mental health checkups. The TeenScreen National Center is affiliated with the Columbia University Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Launched nearly 10 years ago, today there are more than 2,300 TeenScreen sites in 46 states nationwide, through the TeenScreen Primary Care and TeenScreen Schools and Communities programs. As a pioneering force in the early identification of mental illness in teens, TeenScreen has been recognized as a national model and is listed in the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices and the Best Practices Registry for Suicide Prevention. To learn more about TeenScreen, please visit http://www.teenscreen.org/. TeenScreen recently launched new online training and development resource support for its Schools and Communities Program. To learn more about the program and to download the new materials, please visit: http://www.teenscreen.org/programs/schools-communities.

October 2011 ProductivityPlus Newsletter - Newsletters

2011-10-19T19:25:06Z

Webinar Hosting... It's Not as Scary as You Think

Have you ever thought about hosting a webinar? You've probably attended a few and seen invitations to many more, but hosting one yourself - much too frightening to think about... right?

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Why would your organisation want to host a webinar?

Generate valuable leads for your sales team.
Conduct internal and external training sessions.
Market your organisation through brand promotion.

How can ConferencePlus get you started?

We combine our expertise in both conferencing and event management to provide you with an easy, step by step process to host your webinar. Whether you plan to have an internal speaker or utilise the services of a professional contracted speaker, all you need to do is call us to get started. From there we will guide you through your options for setting up a customised online registration page all the way through your day-of logistics for handling your event.

We make webinar hosting easy with advanced participant registration, customised online registration pages, and enhanced online event reporting.

Here are just a few highlights of what we can provide:

Capture participant data through your customised online registration page.
Specify the information you want to be collected during the registration process.
Brand your event registration with your logo, copy and promotional graphics.
View online registration reports real-time.
Accurately plan your event and determine the demographics of your audience.
Send e-mail invitations to your participants for registration.
Set-up automated e-mail confirmations with all event access information.

Don't be scared of hosting webinars. Contact ConferencePlus today and start planning to host your next webinar.

On-Demand Webinar | Getting the Most out of Your Customer Success Programs - Webinars

2011-10-19T14:54:07Z

2011 Ask the Expert Webinar Series

Presenter: Paul Gustafson, president of TDA Group, joined ConferencePlus on October 19th, 2011, to present the latest in our Ask the Expert Webinar series. In this webinar, "Getting the Most out of Your Customer Success Programs", Paul presents solutions to the most common problems that can plague customer success programs.

]]> In this webinar, you will see why few marketing programs match the effectiveness of a comprehensive customer success program. The stories told by successful customers overcome skepticism, shorten sales cycles, and help close deals.

Highlights of this fast-paced, informative webinar include:

Setting expectations and measuring success.
Minimizing program costs.
Getting customers to participate in success programs.
Analyzing the effectiveness of a customer testimonial.
Repurposing case study content to maximize program impact.
Selecting the right kind of content (traditional and social media).
Maintaining a library of customer-centric content that sales reps will use.
Creating and distributing well-crafted customer success content.

On-Demand Webinar | Building Relationships that Your Competitors Can't Steal - Webinars

2011-10-10T16:39:45Z

2011 Ask the Expert Webinar Series

Presenter: Chris Lytle, President of Sparque Inc, joined ConferencePlus on October 5th, 2011, to present the latest in our Ask the Expert Webinar series. In this webinar, "Building Relationships that Your Competitors Can't Steal",Chris talks about the approaches to Sales Management for building successful relationships with customers that can give you an edge above your competitors.

]]> Chris also talked about the three key sales metrics that can gauge the actual strength of your current relationship with your customers.

Topic highlights covered:

Understanding the leading indicator of sales success.
The magic question that immediately tells you whether you have a prospect or information seeker.
Using the "magic e-mail" to get stalled deals moving out of the sales pipeline.
Why counting on "sales calls" isn't enought.
The #1 buyer dislike to avoid.
One thing to say to a client to immediately differentiate you from your competitors.
Seven questions to get to the bottom of any sales problem.

September 2011 ProductivityPlus Newsletter - Newsletters

2011-09-15T19:30:12Z

Top 6 Tips for a Successful Conference Call

#1 - For an efficient and effective meeting, plan ahead. In the conference notification, inform participants of the purpose, agenda and time limit for your meeting. During the meeting, encourage participants to stick to your agenda and time limit!

]]> #2 - After modifying the greeting and introduction as needed, forward the Audience Invitation email to meeting participants for easy entry into the meeting .

#3 - Dial in to your conference at least 5 to 10 minutes before the start time to be ready for your meeting. For large event calls, plan a pre-conference of 15 to 30 minutes to review event details with the operator and any co-presenters.

#4 - Distribute any documents ahead of time, or better yet, plan a web conference for sharing documents and applications with your audience.

#5 - It is a good idea for participants and speakers who are not actively speaking to mute their phone in order to eliminate background noise. Then, don't forget to un-mute when speaking!

#6 - Assistance from a ConferencePlus Operator is always available by pressing *0 on your touch-tone phone.

On-Demand Webinar | Local vs. Remote Presentations: Optimising Your Approach for Each - Webinars

2011-09-02T15:34:08Z

2011 Ask the Expert Webinar Series

Presenter: Ken Molay, President & Founder, Webinar Success, joined ConferencePlus on August 24th, 2011, to present the latest in our Ask the Expert Webinar series. In this webinar, "Local vs. Remote Presentations: Optimising Your Approach for Each",Ken talks about how to truly engage and influence your listeners, you need to adapt your presentations to the environment in which it is delivered.

]]> Ken also shared the best practices and guidelines for customizing your presentations to match the unique requirements of your enviornment.

Topic highlights covered:

How pacing differs for local and remote sessions.
Tips for working with slides on a webinar versus an in-room presentation.
Methods for engaging and interacting with your audience.
Best use of equipment and technology aids in each environment.

Westell's ConferencePlus Collaborates with GE Healthcare to Educate Physicians on Vscan Through a Series of Webcasts - Press Releases

2011-06-20T13:04:57Z

SCHAUMBURG, IL, June 17th, 2011 - Conference Plus, Inc. (ConferencePlus®),a subsidiary of Westell Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSTL), and a leading provider of global conferencing solutions, today announced a collaboration with GE Healthcare to educate physicians on the benefits of Vscan™, through a series of webcasts. ConferencePlus will be responsible for facilitation and management of these live events.

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ConferencePlus managed the first live webcast on June 10, 2011, targeted to physicians, office managers and healthcare professionals around the world. This webcast was the first in what will be an ongoing series of webcasts focused on educating this audience on the clinical and economic benefits of using this new tool

"Due to the importance of this program, we decided to collaborate with a trusted healthcare conferencing partner ConferencePlus", said Lynn Bender, Global Education Strategy Manager, Primary Care Ultrasound at GE Healthcare. "We have confidence that the ConferencePlus Healthcare Services team will provide us with the highest level of support while we educate our global audience through an effective, efficient and accessible channel", Ms. Bender added.

"GE Healthcare has been a long time customer of ours and we are very excited to work with them on this unique series of webcasts", said Dan Papa, Senior Vice President, Global Sales for ConferencePlus. "Our relationship has grown over the past six years and it's a tremendous privilege to assist them with their Vscan initiatives as this tool has the potential to redefine the way physicians examine patients." said Mr. Papa.

About Conference Plus, Inc. Conference Plus, Inc., a leading global provider of audio, video, webcasting and web conferencing services, is dedicated to providing high quality, reliable conferencing services that customers trust with their most important events. ConferencePlus is leading the way in providing innovative IP-based collaboration solutions backed by proven technology and exceptional customer service. Headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois with an international headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, ConferencePlus is a subsidiary of Westell Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSTL). Additional information about ConferencePlus can be obtained by visiting http://www.conferenceplus.com.

About Westell Technologies, Inc. Westell Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Aurora, Illinois, is a holding company for Westell, Inc. and Conference Plus, Inc. Westell, Inc. designs, distributes, markets and services a broad range of broadband networking equipment, digital transmission, remote monitoring, power distribution and demarcation products used by telephone companies and other telecommunications service providers. Additional information can be obtained by visiting http://www.westell.com.

About GE Healthcare: GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services that are shaping a new age of patient care. Our broad expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies, performance improvement and performance solutions services help our customers to deliver better care to more people around the world at a lower cost. In addition, we partner with healthcare leaders, striving to leverage the global policy change necessary to implement a successful shift to sustainable healthcare systems.

Our "healthymagination" vision for the future invites the world to join us on our journey as we continuously develop innovations focused on reducing costs, increasing access and improving quality around the world. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, GE Healthcare is a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE). Worldwide, GE Healthcare employees are committed to serving healthcare professionals and their patients in more than 100 countries. For more information about GE Healthcare, visit our website at www.gehealthcare.com. For our latest news, please visit http://newsroom.gehealthcare.com

On-Demand Webinar | Social Media in Healthcare Marketing - Webinars

2011-06-03T15:14:35Z

2011 Ask the Expert Webinar Series

Presenter: Tyler Pennock, Senior Vice President, Digital Media, Cohn & Wolfe, joined ConferencePlus on May 19th, 2011, to present the latest in our Ask the Expert Webinar series. This webinar, "Social Media in Healthcare Marketing", gives medical marketing professionals new ways to utilize social media to reach their audience, while complying with FDA policies, and organizational regulatory guidelines.

]]> Presentation highlights include:

Weighing the risks of social media marketing in Healthcare segment.
Overview of FDA's recent actions and the proposed next steps.
Case studies to demonstrate the best practices in social media marketing for the healthcare industry.
POZEN Inc.'s plan for developing the digital-based marketing and commercial business model to create integrated marketing strategies.
How to identify the next "big things" in healthcare digital marketing and how to evaluate and prepare for them.

Are you ready to ask the right question? - Conferencing Blog

2011-04-28T15:20:40Z

Our recent Ask the Expert webinar, "Selling to your customers who don't have time to see you" prompted me to write this blog. During that live event, presented by Chris Lytle, it was interesting to see how Chris kept the audience engaged by asking right questions at the right time.

Use questions as a lead-in to a new topic. This is an ideal way for presenters and facilitators to gauge the level of detail you'll need to go into during that section.

Use direct and relevant questions that foster thinking and encourage a response. For instance, if you've just demonstrated something, ask how attendees might use that function in their day-to-day tasks.

It's important to let the audience know how you'll deal with questions. Will you answer questions submitted via chat during the session? Will you address them all at the end? It is good to decide before the webinar how the questions will be handled and then let attendees know what to expect. Many webinars will have a dedicated assistant managing the chat queue during the event and either feeding the most engaging questions and comments to the presenter throughout the presentation or addressing them at the end of the presentation. Either way can work, with a good assistant!

Webinar best practices aren't just about starting on time or making sure the slides are readable. It's equally important to ask the right questions to make an event successful and keeping the audience involved.

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We are bringing our Managed Bridge Solutions at the Interop 2011 Expo in Las Vegas! - Conferencing Blog

2011-04-19T15:33:32Z

Many large enterprises have attempted to deliver conferencing services throughout their organization by investing in on-premise audio or video conference bridging equipment. In most cases this decision is made to eliminate transport costs incurred with using hosted services delivered by a service provider. Too often, however, those companies find that transport cost savings quickly vanish due to the cost of equipment maintenance contracts, hardware and software upgrades, and the costs related to user on-boarding. Add in the need to care for user support, security requirements and address disaster recovery issues, and the case for the purchase of on-premise bridging equipment becomes questionable.

ConferencePlus has developed a unique solution that provides such enterprises with the cost savings and security benefits of an on-premise conferencing solution, combined with the management umbrella of a Conferencing Service Provider. Your employees and conference call participants benefit from 24x7 support, full integration with leading web conferencing tools like Cisco WebEx and Microsoft LiveMeeting and even single-sign-on (SSO) integration with existing systems. All for one low fixed monthly fee with no separate maintenance contracts, and no capital expenditures.

With over 21 years of expertise in this area, ConferencePlus can help you determine if a Managed Bridge solution is a fit for your enterprise.

Stop by to see us at booth #1480 at the Interop Expo, May 10-12, 2011 in Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas to see if you should be considering a Managed Bridge Solution.

We look forward to seeing you at the Interop 2011 Expo!

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Hoping to see you at the Channel Partners Conference! - Conferencing Blog

2011-03-10T20:06:02Z

Spring is almost here and so is the Channel Partners 2011 Conference in Las Vegas! Our ConferencePlus Channel Partners team is off to the sunny city of Las Vegas to meet you. If you are, or want to be a ConferencePlus Channel Partner be sure to see us at the Conference and Expo. ]]> We want to tell you about the complete range of private label branding services that ConferencePlus offers to wholesale resellers and why partnering with ConferencePlus is the best choice for providing superior conferencing services to your clients.

For more information on our Channel Partners Program, contact our Sr. Channel Manager, Tom Kolettis, at tkolettis@conferenceplus.com.

Have a great trip!