Telecom - Setting up Conference Calling

Owned by Patrick Kluge
Last updated: May 02, 2022 by Kimberly Adkins
3 min read

Overview

This article explains how to set up a conference call. 

Table of Contents

If you require a conference bridge for higher capacity, please click here.


The following is a list of the different telephone models available for conferences utilizing your existing phone:

Single-line analog set conferencing (two additional parties for a total of three)

Works on the following phone models: 8102, 8110, 6218, 6219, 6220, 6221

Adding a third party

  1. Ask those on the call to hold
  2. Press the Flash button
  3. Dial the third party's phone number
  4. Press the Flash button
    You should be in a 3-way conference call

Dropping a third party

  1. Press the Flash button 
    You can resume the 2-way conversation

Leaving a conference call

  1. Hang up your line

    The other parties will remain connected as long as one party remains connected to the USF network telephone system.

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Multi-line digital set conferencing (five additional parties for a total of six)

Works on the following phone models: 8410, 8434, 6408, 6416, 6424, 4602, 4606, 4610, 4612, 4620, 4621, 4624, 4625

Adding callers

  1. Ask those on the call to hold
  2. Press the Conference button
  3. Dial the new party's phone number
  4. Wait for an answer
  5. Press the Conference button
  6. Repeat steps 1-5 for each additional party

Dropping callers

  1. Press the Drop button

    If you do not have a Drop button, ask the caller you are trying to drop to hang up their line.

Leaving a conference call

  1. Hang up your line

    The other callers will remain connected as long as one party remains connected to the USF network telephone system

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Voice over IP (VoIP) set conferencing (up to five people)

Works on the following phone models: 9601, 9608, 9621G

Setting up a conference call

  1. Ask those on the call to hold
  2. Press the Conf softkey
    The call is automatically on hold and the second line becomes active
  3. Dial the number of the next party
  4. Press the Join softkey or the OK button to add the new party to the call
  5. Press the Add button 
  6. Repeat these steps 1-5 to add another person to the conference call as needed

Using the conference button to add a held call to an active call

  1. Ask those on the active call to hold
  2. Press the Conf softkey or Add if you are already in a conference
  3. Select the call on hold that you want to add to the conference
  4. Press the softkey below Resume
  5. Press the softkey below Join
    You have successfully added two calls together

Drop the last person added to the conference call

  1. Press the Drop softkey.
    The last party connected to the conference call is dropped from the call.

Dropping a specific caller from a conference call

  1. Select your active call  from the phone screen,
  2. Press Details
  3. Select the person you want to drop
  4. Press Drop

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Using the Bridge

The Meeting Exchange Conference Bridge with a 200 port capacity for handling scheduled conferences is available for users. 

  1. Call Communication Services at (813) 974-4800
  2. Provide them with the following information
    1. Name of the Conference
    2. Host name, e-mail address, and phone number
    3. Number of Participants
    4. Date of Conference
    5. Time of Conference
    6. Duration of Conference
  • Callers outside the local area may incur long distance charges associated with their call.
  • There is no troubleshooting support or assistance available for calls that take place before 8:00 am or after 4:30pm Monday through Friday, weekends or holidays.
  • IT Specialists are available to schedule or assist in conferences during normal working hours Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30pm.
  • If this conference is a regularly recurring conference call, please inform the Voice and Data Communication Specialists.
  • Conferences can be reserved up to 6 months in advance.

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