When the Eyjafjallajokull volcano interrupted air travel last week it caused plenty of headaches for travelers and businesses.

There were 16,000 flights cancelled in Europe on April 16 alone and the cancelled flights cost airlines an estimated $200 million a day according to the International Air Transport Association.

The losses to the wider economy in Europe were estimated at an additional $150 million a day - costs associated with the disruptions to business, entertainment, and schools.

But not everyone was losing out and in the business world one area that saw huge spikes in usage were companies who provide conferencing services. And the reach went far beyond traditional businesses. At least one wedding was performed when a bride and groom got stranded far away from their guests.

'I think the most interesting application of our technology is the use of audio conferences for séances,' said Greg Plum (News - Alert), director of business development at the Conference Group. 'We have also had various dignitaries utilize our services, including Presidents Clinton and Obama.'

Plum said his organization did see a spike in volume during the air traffic interruptions but he wasn't sure how much of the increase was in direct response to Eyjafjallajokull's eruptions.

Plum did offer some advice for helping companies who might want to avoid having to scramble for conferencing services then next time a major interruption hits - or for companies who might just want to cut travel costs and do more work virtually.

But first - know what the different types of conferencing are - audio, Web and video - and that they fit different levels of need.

Audio conferencing is the most utilized form and probably the one most businesses are familiar with. The service is accessed by a dial-in number and security code and allows multiple attendees on the phone call.

Web conferencing is the next step, Plum said. Users can share presentations or their desktop applications with remote audiences and many Web conferencing services also allow for one-way streaming of video.

'Video conferencing is a world unto itself, with service options ranging from very basic point-to-point video chat, to the opposite end of the spectrum now dubbed 'telepresence,' which results in a virtual boardroom, with the remote attendees appearing as though they are sitting at opposite ends of the table from each other,' Plum said. 'With the advent of browser-based, multi-point video conferencing services, conferencing service providers, such as The Conference Group (News - Alert), have added video conferencing services into their product offerings.'

Video conferencing allows users to conduct a multi-party video meeting with nothing more than a browser and a webcam.

'The fact that there are no incremental capital expenses to utilize these services, even small companies are able to leverage the latest generation of video conferencing tools to assist with their daily operations,' Plum said.

And when choosing a provider, Plum cautions that price shouldn't be the only factor weighed in the decision.

'A reputable conferencing provider will provide you with a fair market price, back by knowledgeable support personnel,' Plum said. 'If you experience problems with your conference call and cannot get assistance to address the situation, it doesn't matter how much money you saved.'

And last bit of advice from Plum: 'Make sure the provider fits your needs, and does not require you to modify your needs to match their capabilities.'

Alice Straight is a TMCnet editor. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Alice Straight