When you need to conference call with a large group of people, or you just want to make the experience more fun, playing music is the best way to do it. You can also add your voice to the conversation, so everyone hears you clearly.
Conference calling is a fun way to communicate. You get to sit back and relax as others talk to you, adding some flair to the conversation. Getting more directed by others is an added bonus!
Using a phone-and-conference-call software package is the best way to do this. The software usually connects you via IP address and uses the normal phone line protocol for dialing and receiving calls.
This article will talk about how to use a Polycom phone (a company that makes communication devices) with a computer or smartphone app in order to call into a conference call on your phone.
Contents:
Find people to conference call with
If you don’t have a Polycom phone, you can still call up a conference call service. A lot of them offer free trials so you can try them out first.
Most of them allow you to add your cell phone number so you can call up a conference calling service and dial in your phone number.
Conference calling is a nice way to keep in touch with people even though the person who answers the phone might not be very friendly. It also helps you find people who are close by who might be able to help you out.
By sharing the same telephone number, people can easily be called and sent an invitation to join your conference call.
Setup the phone
Once your phone is connected to the conference call, you can start calling people or sending messages. You can also begin typing into the phone and handling messages or putting on a headset and talking to someone.
If you are already using a computer or mobile device to send and receive messages, you can still use that. Just make sure that the computer or device is connected to the same network as your Polycom phone.
If you are going to be talking to multiple people on your call, it is best to turn off all of your other phones’ notifications so that you only hear what your main call person is saying. This helps save both time and battery life on your phone devices.
Making a conference call is similar to using the telephone in an everyday situation. You still hold the receiver out toward the person you are speaking to, you just do it on a smaller scale. You also rotate the chair so that it faces away from the person so that they can see what you are saying.
Program numbers into the phone
You can’t do this by just pressing a button on the phone. You have to program numbers into the phone via a conference call app. The app allows you to create groups, assign people to roles such as host, co-host, and caller-roles.
Once that is done, you can then program the phone to ring off with each person’s assigned number. You then simply speak with that person and continue the conversation like normal.
You can also do this in series or on a scheduled basis.
Push the conference button
When you’re on a call, you can press the button on your phone to allow another person to join the call. This is useful for making a call to another phone number or sending an email announcement when someone joins the call.
You can also do this when you’re leaving a message for someone, so they can listen while they take their time to respond.
Call each person and press the conferencing button when prompted
When you’re ready to conference call, go to the phone’s main menu and select Settings. You can also do this via a touch screen or by pressing the A and B buttons on the phone’s front panel.
Type in Conference Mode and then press A or B to enter conference mode. The other person must also do this to join you on the call.
When joining a call, either person can press the Conferencing Button on their phone and it will prompt them to do so.
Make sure everyone is on the line before pressing the conference button
When you’re ready to start a conference call, make sure everyone is on the line. If someone has left the call, you have to re-enter their number to continue the conversation.
You can do this by clicking their name on the line and leaving a message or by passing their phone to another person and giving them the number to call.
If you pass the phone back to your caller, make sure they are listening to what you are saying and that you are hearing them properly. If not, try putting more speakerphone mode on your phone or using an app that allows you to turn off microphone automatically.
Distribute microphones if you have them
If you have a microphone or mics installed in your phone, you can use it to conference call on a Polycom phone. You will need to be the speaker for the phone call and have the ability to answer and respond to questions.
If you do not have a microphone or sound board, you can still conference call on a Polycom phone. Just make sure that your device has the capability of answering and responding to calls.
Most modern phones have this capability as built-in speakerphones are common today. If yours does not, then purchase an audio clip-on earphone that can be connected to the phone and then mounted in place of a speakerphone.
This is an article about how to make a polycom phone work as a voice mail system so that you can take your calls promptly and connect them with your outside speakers.
Enjoy your conference call!
While calling a conference call is a simple process, many people find the steps to do so more reliably and efficiently through Polycom devices.
For example, in the past, people used their cell phones to dial the number for their Polycom phone. Then, when the person on the other end picked up the phone, they was able to go right into a conference call.
Today, people use their smartphones to do this. Having the ability to use your cell phone is an added benefit!
Having access to the basics of a conference call using your cell phone is what most people enjoy about Polycom phones. You get to start and stop calls, change devices that are connected to you, and answer and hang up calls!
You also get some great features that come through a conference call device such as being able to place or take notes, having an answer computer respond during questions and responses, and being able to record sound for speakers or noise for background noise.