Before setting up a conference you must consider the number of external calls that your system can connect. Each external caller in a conference will use 1 external channel, so if you have a channels and host a conference that connects 8 external parties, the system will not be able to handle any more calls, inbound or outbound.
For the 54/56XX handsets, the conference key is located here on the keypad:
The process for conference calls is as follows:
- Connect a call to the first participant
- Press the conference key (existing participant is put on hold)
- Connect a call to the second participant
- Press the conference key (all three calls are merged into a conference)
To continue adding participants:
- Press the conference key (you will effectively leave the conference room, all other conference participants will stay connected to each other)
- Connect a call to requested participant
- Press the conference key (both you and the new participant will be added to the conference, indicated by a beep)