How To Conference Call with iTelNet
ITelNet can provide your business with very simple or very advanced conference calling solutions. On the most basic end, we can get you reliable but inexpensive business phone service that includes three-way calling. On the more sophisticated end, we can help you set up a system that will allow hundreds of people to join the same call, and even track them for you as they join the call with passwords!
To get a free quote for conference calling and other business phone services, call us at 1-800-677-0836 or
click here to email
us.
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If holding two phones to your head is your company's idea of
conference calling, call iTelNet for a real solution that takes
advantage of the newest technology
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History of Conference Calling
In early phone technology, a call was linear: it originated on one phone and connected to another phone at its destination. The potential to connect more than two people at a time via a phone call led Bulgarian-born inventor Assen “Jerry” Jorandoff to invent the Jordaphone after the end of World War II. The Jordaphone was the first phone speaker system. The device was the size of a large humidifier and had a built-in microphone and speakers. It worked by putting the phone receiver in a special cradle that amplified the caller's voice and projected it through the speakers so that anyone in the room could hear what was being said. The microphone, in turn, picked up whatever was said in the room and transmitted it back to the phone receiver, which sent the sounds signals back to the caller's phone.
It was a major break-through, and AT&T was none-too-happy about since it replaced the need for many phone calls with just one. Jordanoff argued that the telephone company had no legal right to prevent ancillary devices from entering the market. The dispute ended up at the FCC, which ruled in favor of
Jordanoff. It was the first step in dismantling the monopoly that ticker symbol T had on phone technology. Today, conference calls are an integral part of business and a ubiquitous aspect of people's daily lives.
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What is a conference call?
A conference call connects three or more people in different geographical locations so they can talk to each other on the same phone call. Conference calls can save businesses travel expenses and are therefore not only economical, but they could be considered a “green” strategy: conducting business via conference call instead of driving to several meetings saves on gas and reduces a company's carbon footprint. Knowing how to place a conference call enables businesses with satellite offices to keep better communication flowing and better manage their operations.
There are two main categories of how to conference call:
MeetMe, which is where each participant dials into a specified number, and ad hoc conferencing, in which the call originator calls each participant. The difference between MeetMe and ad hoc is that in ad hoc conferencing, only the originator of the call can add people. Anyone can join a MeetMe call as long as they have the specific number to call and, in some cases, the password or PIN number.
The exact steps of how to conference call and the conferencing features depend on the conferencing service. Some, for example, have a recording feature that enables the call to be recorded and later played back.
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How does conference calling work?
Typically, the participants of a conference call are connected using a conference bridge, which can be a hardware device the company buys. Or, it can be done via a conference call service provider. Service providers can cost more, but often offer features not found on office conference bridges, such as call recording or participant polling.
Companies using Voice Over IP telephones have the ability to act as their own service provider, as long as the voice over IP software they are using supports conference calling. Often times,
small business DSL would even be sufficient.
VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is the transmission of voice data over IP-based computer networks and is the most common system used to transmit data. The data is broken up into packets then forwarded across the Internet by routers, which act as check points. Routers look for the most open road at that given moment to the destination point. Once the packets all arrive at the intended destination, they are pieced back together.
Voice Over IP also enables calls between computers, using any number of proprietary software. With IP technology reaching nearly every computer in the world, it makes sense for businesses to use voice over IP because it enables users to call anyone who has a working telephone number, regardless of where they are on earth.
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How does a conference call work on a voice over IP network?
How to conference call on a voice over IP network is basically the same as conferencing on analog phones: callers connect to a conference bridge but can do it via their telephones or their computers. The way the data is transmitted is also different. Analog telephone systems use circuit switching to route the call signals to the conference bridge, which then connects multiple calls to one another. If all of the callers are located in the same location, such as the same office building, the calls are connected to the bridge through a private branch exchange (PBX), which is a company's internal phone network. All the connections stay open as long as the call continues.
Instead of circuit switching, voice over IP networks use packet switching which only opens a connection long enough to send through the packet as it is transmitted across the Internet.
Most voice over IP networks have built-in conferencing capability or are available as an added-on service. Conference calling is much like
MPLS service in terms of how they connect people.
How to conference call using three-way calling
How to do a conference call depends on the equipment available and the needs of the participants. The most basic type is three-way calling. Most VoIP services include three-way calling in their basic features packages.
To set up a three-way conference, the call originator dials Person B. After they answer, the originator presses the Flash button (or the hang up button if a flash button is not available) on the phone handset. That places Person B on hold and gives the originator a dial tone. The originator then dials Person C's phone number. After Person C answers, the originator presses the Flash button a second time, which connects all three people.
How to Conference Call using Skype
Skype uses VOIP so users can place calls using their computers. Simply download the software from Skype's website, buy a headset and you can talk to anyone on the Skype network from your computer for free by using the conference function.
How to conference call on an iPhone
Call person A and then tap add call, which places Person A on hold. Dial Person B and then tap merge calls. You can merge up to five numbers. This feature gives you an option on how to use a conference call feature: you can also simply put Person A on hold while you quickly call person B, then hang up without making it a conference call.
You can also merge an incoming call by tapping hold call + answer then tapping merge calls.
To temporarily talk privately to wither Person A or B, tap conference then the private button next to the call you want privacy with. Tap merge calls to end the private chat.
To disconnect either Caller A or B, tap conference then private next to the call you want to end. Then tap end call.
How to conference call on a Blackberry
Click the trackwheel and select new call. Highlight the Contact A to call, click the trackwheel and select hold. Now repeat: click the trackwheel, select new call, and highlight Contact B. This time when you click the trackwheel select call. After you've been connected to Person B, click the trackwheel and select join.
Three-way calling is a trackwheel option on selected Blackberry models, which also have a flash button.
How to use a conference call
With a MeetMe type conference call, make sure all the participants are given the phone number to call along with a PIN or password if needed. Typically, the moderator has to open the conference call before the participants can join in. With an ad hoc call, call the participants a few minutes before the designated start time to give people a chance to get settled and so the meeting can start on time. On a side note, iTelNet also does
voice cabling to ensure your office is wired correctly for your conference calling needs.
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Conference Calling and iTelNet
We offer a variety of conference calling solutions so that we can fill your company's exact business phone needs. To speak with one of our experienced telecom executives about how we can improve the phone and internet services needs that your company has, call us at 1-800-677-0836 or
click here to email
us.
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