Conference Calling

You can create a conference call on the T54W/T57W phones using either a local conference function or a network conference function. The later lets you exceed the phone's ten participants limit. 

A Network conference URL needs to be setup in advance using the web user interface. Speak to your phone system administrator about this and about using a network conference if the local conference is not sufficient for you.

Local Conference

You can create an audio conference call with up to ten participants (including yourself). 

Setting Up a Local Conference Call without Additional Configurations

You can set up a local conference with out having to deal with any additional configuration by either dialing the other parties, merging an existing held and active calls, or during a transfer.

To set up a local conference by dialling the other parties:

• Place a call to the first party.
  
  
• Select Conference to place a new call.
  
  The active call is placed on hold.
  
  
• Dial the second party’s number.
  
  You can also select the desired contact from the search list, placed call list or the Directory.
  
  
• When the second party answers the call, select Conference to add the second party to the conference.
  
  
• Repeat the above steps to add more parties to the conference.
  

To Merge two calls into a conference:

•  Place two calls on the phone.
  
  
• Select the desired call for a conference and ensure that the call is active.
  
  
• Select Conference.
  
  
• On a T54W phone, highlight the desired held call and select Send.
  
  
  
  On a T57W phone, tap the desired held call from the left sidebar.
  
  
• The active call and the selected hold call are joined into a conference.

To create a conference while transferring a call:

• Select Conference after talking with the contact you want to transfer a call to.
  
  
• The target contact and the caller are joined into a conference with you.

Creating a Multi-party Conference with a DSS Conference Key

You can also create a multi-party conference by configuring a DSS key to function as a conference soft key. This lets you call all the conference participants at the same time instead of one at a time.

To set up a DSS conference key to create a multi-party conference:

• From the idle screen select Menu and navigate Features > Dsskey.
  
  
• Select the desired line key.
  
  
• Select Key Event from the Type field.
  
  
• Select Conference from the Key Type field.
  
  
• (optional) Enter the string that will appear on the phone screen in the Label field.
  
  
• Select Save.

To initiate a multi-party conference:

• Select the DSS conference key you set above on the idle screen.
  
  
• Do one of the following:
  
  
  • Enter all contact numbers you want to add to the conference.
    
    
  • Select History or Directory to select the desired contact.
    
    
• Select Send.

Conference Call Actions

While in a conference calls you can perform the following actions:

• Holding or resuming - when you place a conference call on hold, other participants cannot hear each other until you resume the held conference call.
  
  Press or tap Hold to place the conference on hold. Press again or tap Resume to resume the held conference call.
  
  
• Muting or unmuting - when you mute the local microphone during a conference call, other participants can hear each but cannot hear you.
  
  Press  the Mute key (  on the T57W phone or    on the T54W phone) to mute the conference. Press Mute again to unmute the conference.
  
  
• Splitting a conference call - you can split the conference call into individual calls by selecting Split. After the split, the conference call ends, and other parties are placed on held calls.
  
  
• Select End Call to end the conference call.
  
  When you end the conference call, the other parties drop the call. However, the system administrator can set up your phone so that the other two parties remain connected when you end the conference call.
  
  
• Managing conference participants - select Manage and select the desired party to manage it with one of the following options:
  
  
  • T54W
    
    
    • Far Mute - the muted party can hear everyone, but no one can hear the muted party.
      
      
    • Far Hold - the held party cannot hear anyone, and no one can hear the held party.
      
      
    • Remove - to remove the party from the conference call.
      
      
  • T57W
    
    
    • Tap   to mute the party. The muted party can hear everyone, but no one can hear the muted party. The icon changes to  .
      
      

    • Tap   to hold the party. The held party cannot hear anyone, and no one can hear the held party. The icon changes to .
      
      

    • Tap   to remove the desired party from the conference call. The phone prompts you to remove the party or not.Tap OK to remove the party from the conference call.

Network Conference

A network conference, if enabled by your system administrator, allows you to initiate a conference with multiple contacts.

To set up a network conference with multiple parties:

• Place a call to the first party.
  
  
• Select Conference to place a new call.
  
  The active call is placed on hold.
  
  
• Enter the number of the second party, and when the second party answers the call, select Conference to add it to the conference.
  
  
• Select Conference to place a new call.
  
  The conference call is placed on hold.
  
  
• Enter the number of the new party, and then press    or  Send (on a T54W phone) or just Send (on a T57W phone.)
  
  
• When the new party answers the call, select Conference to add the new party to the conference.
  
  
• Repeat the previous four steps until you add all parties.
  
  
• The conference is set up after the intended parties answer the call.