A call center is a centralized department designed to handle phone calls from current and potential customers. Call centers can be inbound call centers and/or outbound call centers and be located either within a company or be run by hiring another company specializing in handling call centers or customer service outsourcing. When it comes down to it, the main difference between call centers and contact centers is in the name. A call center generally takes or makes calls, while a contact center keeps in contact through any customer service channel.