Conference Calling

You can create a conference call on the SIP-T43U phone using either a local conference function or a network conference function. The latter lets you exceed the phone's five participants limit.

A Network conference URL needs to be set up 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 three participants (including yourself). 

Setting Up a Local Conference Call without Additional Configurations

You can set up a local conference without having to deal with any additional configuration by either dialing the other parties, merging existing held and active calls, or during a transfer.

To set up a local conference by dialing 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 Placed Calls 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 and select Send.
  
  
• 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.

Conference Call Actions

While in a conference call 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.
  
  Select Hold to place the conference on hold. Select 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 other but cannot hear you.
  
  Press       to mute the conference. Press    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:
  
  
  • 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.

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.
  
  
• 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.