O2 has launched Just Call Me, a new conference calling solution for businesses. The service turns a mobile number into a conference bridge, removing the need for lengthy and complex dial in details and hidden premium rate charges, said the company.
According to O2 Business's own research, over half (52%) of UK workers found conference calls to be more personal, and one third (32%) felt they helped them manage their time more efficiently.
But conference calls are often not widely used in the workplace with the main reasons cited as noisy environments (24%), and difficulty with scheduling calls in diaries (19%).
Furthermore, over a third (38%) of respondents believe it is easier to get a point across during a conference call, whereas nearly two thirds (58%) of workers worry that the content of their emails will be misconstrued.
Paul Lawton, General Manager of SMB for O2 Business, said: "Our research shows that there's often a reluctance amongst UK workers to pick up the phone even though it might be a better option.
"With O2 Just Call Me we've made conference calling as easy as it can be. O2 Just Call Me forms part of our recently launched business apps portfolio, giving our customers a range of communication tools so they can work smarter and more effectively."
The average UK worker now spends 288 hours, equivalent to 36 working days of the year, writing emails according to the study from O2 Business.
Research has found that over a third of employees feel 'overwhelmed' by their inboxes, sending on average 4,118 emails a year and receiving 6,225.
Despite over half (56%) believing that calling is more effective, the study into workplace communication revealed that the UK is becoming increasingly over-reliant on email with nearly two thirds (59%) of workers using this form of correspondence more than any other.
O2 Just Call Me provides an alternative to email overload, said the company. The app can host a call for up to 20 participants, with no PIN codes and no premium rate dial-in numbers.
Participants do not need to have the app installed themselves and to join a call they just need to dial the host's mobile number as normal.