Hosting Conference Calls

You can create a conference with up to two other parties using the phone’s local conference feature. To quickly set up a conference, you can use the Join soft key to create a conference between an active call and a call on hold.

After you set up a conference, you can hold the conference call (see this article), split the conference call into individual calls on hold, or end the conference call (and your connection to the conference call participants).

Setting Up Conferences

You can set up a conference in one of two ways:

• Using the    soft key.
  
  
• Using the Join soft key, if you have an active call and a call on hold.
  
  

Setting Up a Conference Using the Conference Soft Key

To set up a conference using the Conference soft key:

• Call the first party.
  
  
• Press the   or the Confrnc soft key to create a new call. The active call is placed on hold.
  
  
• From the Enter number screen, place a call to the second person.
  
  
• When the second party answers, press the Confrnc soft key to join all parties in the conference.
  
  
• When the second person answers, press    or the Confrnc soft key again to join all people in the conference.
  
  If configured for single key-press conferences, you do not have to press the Confrnc soft key again.
  
  
• The Active:Conference screen displays:
  
  
  

To set up a conference call with an active and held call:

• If you have an active and held call, press the Join soft key.
  
  
• A conference is created with the active call, the held call, and yourself.

Managing Conferences

To manage a conference, you must currently be in an active conference call.

To manage a conference:

• From the Active:Conference screen, press the Manage soft key.
  
  
• The Manage Conference screen displays.
  
  
  
  In this screen you can scroll to a conference participant and manage the participant’s conference participation, or end the conference call.
  
  
• You can access the following soft keys from the Manage Conference screen:
  
  
  • Hold - places a selected participant on hold. The held participant cannot hear any other participants and no participant can hear the held participant.
    
    
  • Back  - returns you to the Active:Conference screen.
    
    
  • End Call - ends the conference call. The other two participants remain connected.
    
    
  • Info - provides additional information about the selected participant.
    
    
  • Far Mute - mutes the selected participant. The muted participant can hear all participants, but no participant can hear the muted participant

Muting Conference Call Participants

Mute a conference participant so no one can hear the participant. The muted participant can still hear everyone else.

To mute a conference call participant: 

• From the Manage Conference screen, scroll to the participant you want to mute, and then press the Far Mute soft key.
  
  
• The muted participant can hear all participants, but no participant can hear the muted participant.
  
  
• To un-mute the participant, press the UnMute soft key.
  
  
• The following figure shows the far mute feature applied to James Smith.
  
  The “far mute” icon displays next to his name, and the UnMute soft key appears.
  
  

If you press instead of the Far Mute soft key, all other participants can hear each other, but they cannot hear you. When you press , the LEDs glow red.

Removing Conference Call Participants

When you remove a conference participant, the conference call ends, but you remain in an active call with the other participant.

To remove a conference call participant:

• From the Manage Conference screen, scroll to the participant you want to remove and then press   .
  
  
• The participant is removed from the conference, the conference call ends, and the other participant becomes the active call.
  
  
• If you press the End Call soft key instead, you end the entire  conference call. The other participants remain connected.

Obtaining Information About Conference Call Participants

You can display information about a conference call participant, such as their name and number, or if they are on hold.

To display information about a conference call participant:

• From the Manage Conference screen, scroll to the participant whose information you want to obtain.
  
  
• Press the Info soft key.
  
  
• The Participant Info screen displays.
  
  
  
  
• Press the Back soft key to return to the Manage Conference screen.

Splitting Conferences

When a conference is established, a Split soft key is available. When you split a conference, you end the conference and place all participants on hold.

To split a conference:

• From the Active:Conference or Hold:Conference screen, press the Split soft key.
  
  
• The conference ends, and all calls are split into individual calls and placed on hold.

Ending Conferences

You can end a conference, and your connection to the other parties, by pressing the End Call soft key. When you use the End Call soft key the other parties remain connected.

To end a conference:

• From the Active:Conference screen, press the End Call soft key.
  
  
• The two other parties remain connected.