Different business communication applications are typically categorized and viewed in terms of the type of conversations that they facilitate. Telephone systems, for example, are typically used to handle incoming and outgoing calls for a company; including human operators and digital automated systems that can forward calls and provide employees with various phone functions. There are also business communication applications used in computer networking and discussions between employees, including internal messaging programs and hosted data systems. Other types of applications used by a company can include videoconferencing platforms and hardware that can allow employees to quickly and easily share ideas through audio and video broadcasting.
One of the most common and important types of business communication applications is the telephone network and system used by a company. As technology has improved, a number of new systems have been created and can be used to manage and organize incoming and outgoing calls in a variety of ways. Human operators can still be used with business communication applications, allowing an employee to transfer incoming calls and assist with internal contacts within a company. There are also numerous programs that can be used to allow people to quickly and easily forward or transfer their own calls, and various applications can be used for recording and storing incoming messages.
Computer networks and information systems are also provided through various types of business communication applications. These systems can include local or internal business networks that allow employees to quickly communicate and share ideas through their computers. Instant messaging systems can be used within these local networks, allowing employees to quickly send each other messages, which are typically encrypted and secured within the network. There are also business communication applications that allow a company to easily set up a host computer on a network, to which employees can connect to access and share data more effectively.
Videoconferencing and similar types of business communication applications allow employees at different locations to more easily converse through both audio and video. Different pieces of hardware and various programs can be used for this type of messaging, allowing direct broadcasts of audio and video, as well as group conversations with numerous individuals. Business communication applications can also allow employees to see the work that others are performing or displaying, which can make long-distance presentations more effective. There are even technological solutions that allow employees from long distances to share information in real time, through shared file access and video chat, allowing two people on opposite sides of the world to work together on a project simultaneously.